Bishop Nick Martyr Pale Ale
By Bishop Nick · UK
Bishop Nick’s alcohol-free American pale: “a bold, alcohol-free pale ale with US hops leading the way”, the Braintree brewery says, with “a delicate floral nose and spicy bitterness balanced by a sweet malt core”. Bishop Nick says it’s vegan friendly and gluten free.
At 0.5% ABV, this isn’t alcohol-free under UK guidance, which keeps the term for 0.05% or less. We list it with alcohol-free beers, as UK shops do. How UK labels work
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What is Martyr 0.5?
Martyr 0.5 is the only alcohol-free beer from Bishop Nick, the Essex brewery that Nelion Ridley started in Felsted in 2011 and moved to Braintree in 2013. His family had run a different brewery, Ridley’s, on the River Chelmer, for six generations until it was sold in 2005. Bishop Nick is named after Nicholas Ridley, the Bishop of London who was burned at the stake in Oxford in 1555, and Martyr is his beer too: the brewery dedicates its full-strength Martyr, a 4.5% American IPA, to “our uncompromising Bishop”.
Bishop Nick calls the 0.5% version “a daring, full-flavoured brew for those who crave taste without the booze”: US hops, a floral nose, spicy bitterness and a sweet malt core. It doesn’t name the hops, and it doesn’t publish the ingredients or a calorie figure. It says the beer is vegan friendly and gluten free.
It comes in 500ml bottles, from Dry Drinker or by the case of 12 from Bishop Nick’s own shop. For more beers like it, see our guide to the best alcohol-free pale ales.
Flavour Profile
A guide based on the style and Bishop Nick’s description (a floral nose and spicy bitterness over a sweet malt core), to help you compare at a glance — not a definitive tasting.
Key facts
| Official name | Martyr 0.5 |
|---|---|
| Brewery | Bishop Nick, UK |
| Style | Pale ale with US hops; Bishop Nick’s menu calls it an American Pale |
| ABV | 0.5% ABV, according to Bishop Nick |
| Pack | 500ml bottle |
| Calories | Not published |
| Ingredients | Not published: Bishop Nick names only “US hops” and “a sweet malt core” |
| Hops | American, Bishop Nick says; it doesn’t name the varieties |
| Allergens | Not listed by Bishop Nick or Dry Drinker; Bishop Nick sells it as gluten-free |
| Vegan | Vegan friendly, Bishop Nick says |
| Gluten | Gluten free, Bishop Nick says |
| How it’s made | Not stated by Bishop Nick |
| Brewed | Not stated; Bishop Nick’s brewery is in Braintree, Essex |
| UK availability | In stock online |
Sources: Bishop Nick’s website and shop, Companies House and Dry Drinker, checked October 2026. The label on the can or bottle is always the final word.
How Martyr 0.5 sits in the Bishop Nick range
| Beer | Style | ABV | Per 100ml | Unhopped score | UK status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martyr 0.5 (this beer) | Pale ale with US hops; Bishop Nick’s menu calls it an American Pale | 0.5% | Not published | Not yet rated | In stock online |
The Bishop Nick beers in our directory, checked October 2026. Scores are Unhopped ratings out of 10. Martyr 0.5 is Bishop Nick’s only alcohol-free beer.
About Bishop Nick
Bishop Nick is a family brewery in Braintree, Essex, started in 2011 by Nelion Ridley, whose family had run a different brewery, Ridley’s, for six generations until it was sold in 2005. It is named after Nicholas Ridley, the Bishop of London burned at the stake in 1555. Martyr 0.5 is its only alcohol-free beer.
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