Brixton - beer, craft ale and brewery news and discussion

[felonius monk]

It's becoming more widely available, Heineken 0.0 have ~600 taps. They also put one in the Rovers Return on Corrie to help normalise it on draught. Lucky Saint have ~1000 taps. Guinness have one(The Devonshire) AFAIK.

Guinness 0.0 is a trial at £6.35 a pint at the Devonshire in Soho. It's everywhere in Ireland on draught so not a problem technically so dependent on seeing what volumes look like before a UK rollout.

 

[teuchter]

I saw this as another of the big boys testing the waters to see just how low they can reduce an ABV and people in this country will still buy and drink it. I assume it's below the 3.5% threshold.

Almost everyone I know that drinks beer now complains that there aren't enough low-alcohol options (in this case by low alcohol I mean in the 2-3% range, not 0.5% aka non-alcoholic).

It's a bit of a mystery to me why they are hardly any available.

The charts posted above show that it's people in their 40s & 50s who are the biggest beer drinkers. The same age group who seem to be realising they can't be doing with terrible hangovers caused by drinking 3 or 4 rather strong beers.

Usually (in pubs at least) there's nothing inbetween 0.5 and about 3.8.

 

[jezg]

Guinness 0.0 is a trial at £6.35 a pint at the Devonshire in Soho. It's everywhere in Ireland on draught so not a problem technically so dependent on seeing what volumes look like before a UK rollout.

Agree it CAN be done technically but does need a special install in the pub to ensure no bacterial contamination/fermentation and not every site is suitable. It a site can accomodate the equipment and support 1 keg pw to ensure quality then it should start popping up in more places.

 

[jezg]

Almost everyone I know that drinks beer now complains that there aren't enough low-alcohol options (in this case by low alcohol I mean in the 2-3% range, not 0.5% aka non-alcoholic).

It's a bit of a mystery to me why they are hardly any available.

The charts posted above show that it's people in their 40s & 50s who are the biggest beer drinkers. The same age group who seem to be realising they can't be doing with terrible hangovers caused by drinking 3 or 4 rather strong beers.

Usually (in pubs at least) there's nothing inbetween 0.5 and about 3.8.

Historically there hasn't been demand for that but agree it is changing. We have had a beer called SPARK! which is 2.8%(the old half duty threshold) and now brew it more often and it sells really well in the taproom.

I think the jury is still out on whether it is a good proposition for pubs generally. Beavertown have a similar beer called Satellite and are trying to pioneer this market. Lets see if they succeed!

 

[Rushy]

I've always been confused by the name Low Voltage. Sounds like a low ABV

 

[teuchter]

I think the jury is still out on whether it is a good proposition for pubs generally.

It also doesn't really seem to exist on supermarket shelves.

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

NA beer I'm seeing on tap more and more often. Usually at more middle class pubs of course. I tend to drink it at home between Monday and Wednesday so I give myself a bit of a break from the alcohol, however I've noticed a lot of the beers are full of sugar, so I'm wondering if it's not better just to stick to Coke Zero if I want an alcohol free cold refreshing drink.

 

[teuchter]

however I've noticed a lot of the beers are full of sugar,

Not sure that's true - which ones?

If a Coke zero would work for you, fair enough, but for me the whole point of NA beer is that I can still drink beer (which I really like) rather than something like coke.

What seems to me to be missing, is that most NA beer drinkers do actually like beer (otherwise they'd just have something else) ... which is why its odd that the selection so often consists of multiple very similar insipid lagers.

 

[Winot]

The Jackalope in Marylebone. Note two 0.5% beers on tap. Also very good Xi'an noodles downstairs.

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

Not sure that's true - which ones?

If a Coke zero would work for you, fair enough, but for me the whole point of NA beer is that I can still drink beer (which I really like) rather than something like coke.

What seems to me to be missing, is that most NA beer drinkers do actually like beer (otherwise they'd just have something else) ... which is why its odd that the selection so often consists of multiple very similar insipid lagers.

Usually drink Heineken 0.0, because it's widely available and sold at Aldi where I shop. I would buy their own brand stuff as its cheaper but it's in bottles and I don't own a car and the cans are lighter. That being said today I bought some new random alcohol free beer in small cans from Aldi for much cheaper.

Anyway, Heineken 0 has 3.9 grams in it per 330ml can, that's compares to 0.3 of the alcoholic stuff. If I have 3 cans a night that's almost 12 grams of sugar, which I think is probably excessive? Plus my teeth are knackered and I'm not even 40 yet so wanna avoid it as much as possible.

 

[Not a Vet]

I’ve been keeping a log of the NA beers as I’ve found them:
Beers tried, in no particular order:

1. Asahi. Pros 0.0, clean taste but not much of anything else.
2. Moretti. 0.05. Has an almost botanical taste. The more I drink, the less I like. Imported
3. San Miguel 0.05. Whoever signed this off needs to drink it. Nothing like its brother. Imported
4. Corona 0.05. If you stick lime in, it tastes like corona normal but that in itself is not saying much
5. Peroni 0.05. Fair play, doesn’t taste of much but neither does normal peroni so that’s a win
6. Bevertown ipa 0.03. Not bad, tastes just like an ipa but then again so does grapefruit juice
7. Guinness 0.0. Mouthfeel just like the real thing

 

[jezg]

I’ve been keeping a log of the NA beers as I’ve found them:
Beers tried, in no particular order:

1. Asahi. Pros 0.0, clean taste but not much of anything else.
2. Moretti. 0.05. Has an almost botanical taste. The more I drink, the less I like. Imported
3. San Miguel 0.05. Whoever signed this off needs to drink it. Nothing like its brother. Imported
4. Corona 0.05. If you stick lime in, it tastes like corona normal but that in itself is not saying much
5. Peroni 0.05. Fair play, doesn’t taste of much but neither does normal peroni so that’s a win
6. Bevertown ipa 0.03. Not bad, tastes just like an ipa but then again so does grapefruit juice
7. Guinness 0.0. Mouthfeel just like the real thing

Maybe give our Switch a try, similar to Beavertown Lazer Crush. Keen to know what you think of it.

 

[Rushy]

Maybe give our Switch a try, similar to Beavertown Lazer Crush. Keen to know what you think of it.

I like them both but it's it fair to say that drinks like Laser Crush and Erdinger are beer alternatives rather than beers?

 

[teuchter]

Usually drink Heineken 0.0, because it's widely available and sold at Aldi where I shop. I would buy their own brand stuff as its cheaper but it's in bottles and I don't own a car and the cans are lighter. That being said today I bought some new random alcohol free beer in small cans from Aldi for much cheaper.

Anyway, Heineken 0 has 3.9 grams in it per 330ml can, that's compares to 0.3 of the alcoholic stuff. If I have 3 cans a night that's almost 12 grams of sugar, which I think is probably excessive? Plus my teeth are knackered and I'm not even 40 yet so wanna avoid it as much as possible.

I don't think that's the case for all/most NA beers ... Lucky Saint for example would have 0.33g per 330ml.
Most NA beers have fewer calories than "real" ones.

 

[jezg]

I like them both but it's it fair to say that drinks like Laser Crush and Erdinger are beer alternatives rather than beers?

Good question. They are fermented and are made with malt(barley) but Lazer Crush for e.g. uses an interesting yeast called Pichia kluyveri whereas beers are normally fermented by Saccharomyces yeasts. The former can produce some interesting flavour compounds some say are like peach iced tea.
Switch for e.g. is fermented with a Sacchromyces yeast but one that doesn't ferment maltotriose.

 

[Rushy]

Pichia kluyveri

I think I'd need something with a stronger ABV before I could tackle saying that.

 

[felonius monk]

Adnams Ghost Ship 0.5% is acceptable (and available in Tesco)

 

[technical]

Historically there hasn't been demand for that but agree it is changing. We have had a beer called SPARK! which is 2.8%(the old half duty threshold) and now brew it more often and it sells really well in the taproom.

I think the jury is still out on whether it is a good proposition for pubs generally. Beavertown have a similar beer called Satellite and are trying to pioneer this market. Let’s see if they succeed!

A friend left some Beavertown satellite at mine last weekend - I’ve just tried it and I like it. Not sure I’d drink it in a pub tbh, but as a midweek beer at home it tastes pretty good

 

[jezg]

A friend left some Beavertown satellite at mine last weekend - I’ve just tried it and I like it. Not sure I’d drink it in a pub tbh, but as a midweek beer at home it tastes pretty good

Yeah they're trialling it in some Youngs pubs but it's been quite slow I think, maybe people want a bit more % if they are paying e.g. £7/pint. Small Beer have a similar challenge.
It has a nice new hop in it called Krush. We use it in our Defiance GF Pale Ale which is 3.4%.

 

[jimbarkanoodle]

Yeah they're trialling it in some Youngs pubs but it's been quite slow I think, maybe people want a bit more % if they are paying e.g. £7/pint. Small Beer have a similar challenge.
It has a nice new hop in it called Krush. We use it in our Defiance GF Pale Ale which is 3.4%.

Testing the waters to see how many mugs are willing to pay £7 for a 2.8% beer. Young's pubs are good choice to do this trial. Glad to hear its not going well.

 

[Winot]

Testing the waters to see how many mugs are willing to pay £7 for a 2.8% beer. Young's pubs are good choice to do this trial. Glad to hear its not going well.

 

[jezg]

I've always been confused by the name Low Voltage. Sounds like a low ABV

Reason we chose it is it is lower ABV than Electric which is a west coast IPA vs LV which is a session IPA. We tend to riff on Electricity theme for our hoppy beers.

It's also Bowie inspired from his album Low.

 

[editor]

Reason we chose it is it is lower ABV than Electric which is a west coast IPA vs LV which is a session IPA. We tend to riff on Electricity theme for our hoppy beers.

It's also Bowie inspired from his album Low.

Yes, there's no shortage of big corporates cashing in on Bowie's connection to the area.

I hosted several Bowie nights in Brixton and raised thousands of pounds which we gave away to local music youth charities. Perhaps you could consider doing the same?

 

[jezg]

Yes, there's no shortage of big corporates cashing in on Bowie's connection to the area.

I hosted several Bowie nights in Brixton and raised thousands of pounds which we gave away to local music youth charities. Perhaps you could consider doing the same?

Pls change the tune, no pun intended. We can't directly support youth organisations, for obvious reasons. We are the headline sponsor of the BCO and this allows them to do their Summer/WInter estates tour, amongst other things.

 

[editor]

Pls change the tune, no pun intended. We can't directly support youth organisations, for obvious reasons. We are the headline sponsor of the BCO and this allows them to do their Summer/WInter estates tour, amongst other things.

It's clear we're very different people - so please don't take any of this personally - but as a lifelong Bowie fan, I'm really fucking fed up with seeing so many huge companies all shamelessly cashing in on his connection to the area, especially when there's absolutely zero connection between their product and what Bowie meant to so many people.