Big Drop Alcohol-Free Beers

Big Drop Brewing Co. was the UK's first dedicated alcohol-free craft brewery when it launched in 2016 — and it remains one of the most decorated, with multiple 'World's Best' awards and a range that spans everything from pale ales to milk stouts.

Who are Big Drop Brewing Co.?

Founded in 2016 by Rob Fink and James Kindred, Big Drop was born from the same founder frustration that drove Athletic Brewing in the US and Lucky Saint in London: alcohol-free beer was uniformly bad, and somebody had to fix it. Fink, an ex-lawyer, and Kindred, a brand designer, set out to build the UK's first brewery making only alcohol-free beer.

From the start, Big Drop focused on full-flavour, full-body craft styles rather than mass-market lager. Their Paradiso Citra Pale Ale won 'World's Best Low Alcohol Pale Ale' at the World Beer Awards in its first year, which put the brewery on the map internationally. They've continued winning awards ever since, expanded into Australia and the US, and become a regular feature in supermarket NA sections across the UK.

What makes Big Drop different?

Craft-style focus

Big Drop has never chased the mass-market lager space. Their range leans hard into the kinds of beers craft drinkers actually want to drink — hoppy pale ales, dry stouts, rich milk stouts, fruited sours. If you're an existing craft beer drinker who's cutting back, Big Drop is probably the brewery whose range will feel most familiar.

Proprietary brewing process

Big Drop uses a custom-developed brewing process that stops fermentation at a very low alcohol level (around 0.5% ABV) without relying on aggressive dealcoholisation. This preserves hop character, malt complexity, and mouthfeel far better than most industrial NA processes.

Award-winning consistency

Few alcohol-free breweries have the awards cabinet Big Drop does. Paradiso, Galactic Milk Stout, and Pine Trail Pale have all won top international awards. If you're looking for a brewery with a verifiable quality record, Big Drop's track record speaks for itself.

The Big Drop range: which should you try?

Big Drop Paradiso Citra Pale Ale (0.5%)

The flagship and the award winner. Bright tropical notes from Citra hops, a soft malt backbone, and a clean bitter finish. Works with almost any food, drinks wonderfully well on its own, and remains one of the benchmark NA pale ales in the world.

Big Drop Galactic Milk Stout (0.5%)

The beer that proved you could make a proper stout without alcohol. Rich, chocolatey, with natural sweetness from lactose and a full creamy body. A must-try if you've dismissed the idea of alcohol-free stout — and a perfect winter evening beer.

Big Drop Pine Trail Pale Ale (0.5%)

The outdoorsy American-style pale ale. Pine, citrus and resinous hop character with a dry bitter finish. The NA beer of choice for hikers, runners and anyone who wants something hoppier than a lager but less intense than an IPA.

Is Big Drop alcohol-free beer worth it?

Big Drop is the easiest recommendation in the UK alcohol-free beer market. Wide range, consistent quality, award-winning track record, widely available in supermarkets and online. If you're building a starter six-pack of NA beers to figure out what you like, include at least two or three Big Drop options.

See our guide to the best UK alcohol-free pale ales for more context, or browse all alcohol-free pale ales.