Northern Monk Alcohol-Free Beers: The Full Range Reviewed
Published May 2026 · 7-minute read · by Rich, founder of Unhopped
Northern Monk's Beyond range is the alcohol-free expression of one of the UK's most-loved craft breweries. Where Mash Gang collaborate with full-strength brewers, Northern Monk are the full-strength brewer — and the AF beers they make use the same brewing pedigree, the same hop bills, the same yeast strains as the Faith pale ale and Reimagined Dream NEIPA that drinkers know from supermarkets and pubs.
Who are Northern Monk?
Northern Monk is a Leeds-based craft brewery founded in 2014 by brothers Russ Bisset and Brian Dickson. From a converted Old Flax Store brewery in central Leeds, they've built one of the UK's most-respected craft beer reputations — Faith pale ale and Reimagined Dream NEIPA are the everyday session beers; the Patrons Project releases push experimental boundaries; the brewery has won repeated industry awards.
Their Beyond alcohol-free range — launched into a UK supermarket landscape that wasn't quite ready for craft AF — has now grown into one of the highest-quality alcohol-free portfolios in the world. The same hop bills, the same yeast strains, the same brewing principles as full-strength Northern Monk, just translated to under 0.5% ABV. That continuity of craft credibility is the brand's core differentiator.
Today the Beyond range covers IPAs, hazy IPAs, hazy pale ales, and the Heaven AF imperial-style stout that sits at the very top of UK alcohol-free brewing.
What makes Northern Monk different
Full-strength craft pedigree
Northern Monk are not an alcohol-free brewery; they're a craft brewery that makes alcohol-free beer. That distinction matters. The brewing equipment, the in-house brewers, the yeast bank, the supplier relationships — everything Beyond uses is the same infrastructure that makes Faith and Reimagined Dream. There's no compromise of capability.
Recipe parallelism
Holy Faith tracks Faith. Beyond New World IPA tracks Northern Monk's New World hop bill. Faith Unwind is a sister product to Faith. The Beyond range was built by taking flagship Northern Monk recipes and re-engineering them for 0.5% ABV — not by starting from scratch. That parallelism gives Beyond beers a flavour signature that's recognisably Northern Monk.
Heaven AF — top of the AF stout pile
Heaven AF Chocolate Maple Stout is the highest-rated alcohol-free stout in our directory (8.9/10). It's an imperial-style stout — much sweeter and richer than dry stouts like Guinness 0.0 — with chocolate and maple syrup adjuncts and lactose for body. Genuinely dessert-territory.
The Northern Monk Beyond range: our top picks
Heaven AF Chocolate Maple Stout (0.5%)
The flagship and the highest-rated AF stout in our directory. Imperial-style — full-bodied, sweet, dessert territory. Chocolate, maple syrup, vanilla character. Contains lactose so isn't vegan; not gluten-free.
Holy Faith (0.5%)
The alcohol-free version of Northern Monk's flagship Faith pale ale. Densely hazy pale yellow, huge tropical hop aroma (mango, papaya, passion fruit), pillowy soft body, low bitterness. The AF beer most often given to convert sceptical full-strength drinkers.
Reimagined Dream Hazy IPA (0.5%)
The hazier counterpart to Holy Faith — bigger, more aromatic, even softer mouthfeel. Northern Monk's NEIPA expertise translated to 0.5% with no obvious compromise.
Beyond New World IPA (0.5%)
A New World IPA — Citra and other American hops, more bitterness than the hazy versions, drier finish. The Northern Monk Beyond beer for drinkers who prefer West Coast over hazy.
How Northern Monk compares to the wider UK alcohol-free category
Northern Monk's Beyond sits at the very top tier of UK alcohol-free brewing. Heaven AF Chocolate Maple is the best AF stout we've rated; Holy Faith is among the best AF hazy pales; the brewery's full-strength craft credibility is unmatched in the AF segment. For wider context, see our UK craft NA breweries guide.
Beers to explore
Northern Monk's full alcohol-free range, ordered by Unhopped score:
