Northern Monk Alcohol-Free Beers: The Full Range Reviewed

Published May 2026 · 7-minute read · by Rich, founder of Unhopped

Short answer
Northern Monk are one of the UK's most respected craft breweries — and their alcohol-free range (Beyond, Faith, Alcohol-Free Heaven) sits at the top of the AF category. Brewed in Leeds, the range covers hazy pales, IPAs, and an imperial-style chocolate maple stout. Most beers are vegan; some contain lactose. World-class brewing translated to <0.5% ABV.

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 Alcohol-Free Heaven 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

Faith Alcohol Free 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.

Alcohol-Free Heaven — top of the AF stout pile

Alcohol-Free Heaven 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

Alcohol-Free Heaven (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.

Faith Alcohol Free (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 Faith Alcohol Free — 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. Alcohol-Free Heaven Chocolate Maple is the best AF stout we've rated; Faith Alcohol Free 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:

Northern Monk Alcohol-Free Heaven
Stout
Northern Monk Alcohol-Free Heaven
Northern Monk · UK
0.5% ABV8.9
Northern Monk Faith Alcohol Free
Hazy Ipa
Northern Monk Faith Alcohol Free
Northern Monk · UK
0.5% ABV8.8
Buy at The Alcohol Free Co →
Northern Monk Reimagined Dream Hazy IPA alcohol free
Hazy Ipa
Northern Monk Reimagined Dream Hazy IPA
Northern Monk · UK
0.5% ABV8.7
Northern Monk Beyond New World IPA alcohol free
Ipa
Northern Monk Beyond New World IPA
Northern Monk · UK
0.5% ABV8.6
Northern Monk Faith Unwind Hazy Pale alcohol free
Hazy Ipa
Northern Monk Faith Unwind Hazy Pale
Northern Monk · UK
0.5% ABV8.4
Northern Monk Peak Citra Lager alcohol free
Lager
Northern Monk Peak Citra Lager
Northern Monk · UK
0.5% ABV—

Frequently asked questions

Where is Northern Monk brewed?
Northern Monk brews in Holbeck, Leeds, where it runs two sites: the Old Flax Store (home of its taproom) and its main production brewery on Sydenham Road. They've been there since 2014. Northern Monk says its alcohol-free beer is brewed in Leeds, alongside the rest of its range.
Are Northern Monk's alcohol-free beers vegan?
Most are. Faith Alcohol Free and Beyond New World IPA are vegan. Alcohol-Free Heaven contains lactose so isn't vegan. Some experimental releases vary — always check the label of new beers if vegan suitability matters.
Are Northern Monk's AF beers gluten-free?
No — Northern Monk's AF beers are brewed with malted barley, wheat, and oats, so contain gluten. They're not suitable for coeliacs.
Who founded Northern Monk?
Northern Monk was founded in 2014 in Leeds by Russ Bisset and his brother Brian Dickson. The brewery has built one of the UK's strongest craft beer reputations and was an early mover into serious alcohol-free production with the Beyond range.
What's the difference between Faith, Faith Alcohol Free, and Faith Unwind?
Faith is Northern Monk's full-strength (5.4%) hazy pale ale. Faith Alcohol Free is the alcohol-free (0.5%) version, brewed to track the Faith flavour profile. Faith Unwind is a separate alcohol-free hazy pale, slightly different recipe — softer, slightly lower body.
What's Alcohol-Free Heaven?
Alcohol-Free Heaven is Northern Monk's flagship alcohol-free imperial-style stout. The Chocolate Maple variant (the most-quoted version) is rich, dessert-territory, with cocoa and maple syrup adjuncts and lactose for body. Highest-rated AF stout in our directory at 8.9/10.