New year, new you? Don’t cutting back on booze and dry January put a stop to your favourite Manchester independent breweries. We’ve done a round-up of the best alcohol-free and low-alcohol alternative to ease the pain and maximise the gain.
Low alcohol drinks to try.
Yes, First Chop, £22.80 (case of 12), available online
Yes is a beer from First Chop that is low alcohol but big in flavour. What’s more, it’s vegan friendly, so two birds with one stone for those trying Dry Jan and Veganuary (probably out of context for vegans).
Fresh, Cloudwater, £3, available online
A firm favourite, Cloudwater hasFresh, an alcohol-free IPA that is a total thirst quencher with zesty orange and peach flavours.
Non-Pale Ale, Burton Road Brewing, £2.75, available online
Didsbury based Burton Road Brewing has introduced the Non-Pale Ale. Perfect for those missing tropical hop flavours, Non-Pale Ale is the perfect 0.0% beer.
Kombucha (various flavours), Hip-Pop, from £16 (pack of six), available online
For those trying to escape the beer flavour, Hip Pop is a Manchester based Kombucha brand. Available in a huge range of flavours including winterberry, blood orange and guava. Your gut will thank you for the switch too.
Grove 42, Seedlip, £29, Harvey Nichols
Grove 42 is a non-alcoholic spirit that combines emulates the experience of drinking alcohol via complex botanical flavours.
Where to drink
For those heading into town to cure January blues, there are loads of places that you can pick up a low/no alcohol drink. Our favourites include Elnecot, Brewdog Hotel and Love From.
Elnecot offer some of the best mocktails in the city for £6. Out favourites are the Earl of Ancoats and Anita’s Day Off which include ruby grapefruit, lime, with Earl Grey Syrup and pineapple, passionfruit with Elnecot shrub respectively.
There are a few Brewdog bars dotted around Manchester, but the best is the Brewdog Hotel on Fountain Street. You can pick up a pint of their classic Punk AF IPA, and make sure you take it up to the secret rooftop garden.
Finally, Love From is a new bar that was basically made for those doing Dry Jan. The bar is Manchester’s only alcohol-free cocktail bar, expect a massive range of bevs made in partnership with some of the biggest players in the drinks business like Beavertown, Lyre’s and Everleaf.