Theakston Alcohol-Free Beers

T&R Theakston has brewed in Masham, North Yorkshire, since 1827 and is best known for Old Peculier. Its alcohol-free beer is Nowt Peculier, a 0.0% version of Old Peculier launched in November 2024, which the brewery calls a dark ruby ale.

Who are Theakston?

Robert Theakston began brewing in 1827, when he and his business partner John Wood took the lease of the Black Bull Inn in Masham and started brewing in its cellar, the brewery says; by 1832 Theakston had sole ownership, according to Wikipedia. In 1840 a brewhouse was built behind the inn, which Theakston calls “possibly the first purpose built brew pub”.

In 1875 control passed to his sons Thomas and Robert, who completed the current brewery that year, Theakston says; Wikipedia says they formed the T&R Theakston partnership and built the new brewery on Paradise Fields, near the original site. Theakston describes it as a Victorian tower brewery.

A history of ownership

The business became a limited company in 1905, bought Masham’s Lightfoot brewery in 1919, began buying pubs in 1935, eventually 25 of them, and bought the Carlisle State Brewery in 1974, the brewery says. In 1984 Matthew Brown PLC acquired a controlling interest “after a contested court action”, and in 1987 Scottish & Newcastle took over Matthew Brown.

In 2003 the family bought the company back from Scottish & Newcastle, which Theakston’s history describes as a first in modern brewing history. The Morning Advertiser reported in October 2003 that the heirs of Robert Theakston had bought back control, with Simon Theakston leading the board with his brothers Nick, Tim and Edward, and that Scottish Courage would keep a minor shareholding and continue to distribute Theakston beers; Wikipedia says the four brothers bought back a majority shareholding. Michael Theakston said then: “For many years now I have harboured a vision of my four sons regaining control of the brewery.”

Whether that minor shareholding, or any other outside stake, remains today, we couldn’t find out. In 2013 Theakston signed a long-term supply agreement with Heineken UK, which had bought Scottish & Newcastle in 2008, the brewery says; that is a supply deal, and we found nothing saying Heineken owns part of Theakston. Because we can’t rule out a group’s stake, we don’t mark Theakston as independent. Since January 2024 Simon Theakston has been chairman and Richard Bradbury managing director, the brewery says.

Old Peculier and the cooperage

Old Peculier, 5.6% according to Wikipedia, is named after the Peculier of Masham, a parish outside the jurisdiction of a diocese; Theakston refers to the town’s medieval status as a “Court of the Peculier” and calls the beer legendary. It was Champion Strong Ale of Britain at the Great British Beer Festival in 1990, Theakston says; Wikipedia gives 1989, for the cask version. The range also includes Best Bitter, XB, Lightfoot, Pale and Barista Stout, launched in 2015, and since 2004 Theakston has sponsored the Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate.

Theakston has employed coopers since its founding and still hand-crafts wooden casks on site, it says, and Wikipedia calls it one of the few UK breweries with an in-house cooperage. In 2021 Euan Findlay was “Trussed-In” as a journeyman cooper, the first Trussing-In in more than 20 years, according to Wikipedia. We found no volume or staff figures; Theakston brews cask-conditioned and keg ales and bottled and canned beers for the UK and overseas, and a new fermenting room in 2005 tripled capacity, it says.

Nowt Peculier, Theakston’s alcohol-free beer

Nowt Peculier is a 0.0% alcohol-free version of Old Peculier, sold alongside the original; a brewery post dated 26 November 2024 announced it in time for Christmas and New Year. Theakston calls it “a rich-flavoured, dark ruby ale”, brewed to the original recipe with the traditional Fuggle hop and Challenger and Progress bittering hops, with the alcohol then removed by “advanced filtration technology”, it says. Morrisons’ listing puts it as “brewed with the same ingredients in the traditional way and then filtered to remove the alcohol”.

The brewery describes subtle notes of cherry and banana and a gently bitter hop finish; Wise Bartender adds roasted malt. None of the sources we read calls it a stout. Morrisons’ listing gives 26 kcal (110 kJ) per 100ml, with 5.6g carbohydrates, of which 0.4g sugars: about 130 kcal in a 500ml bottle. It contains barley and wheat, Morrisons says, so it isn’t gluten-free.

On strength, the brewery says 0.0%; Morrisons’ data field gives 0.05%, with “0.0% Alcohol free” on the label. Wise Bartender tags it “WAFA - Commended”; we didn’t find the award’s results to confirm it. It’s the only alcohol-free Theakston beer we found.

How Nowt Peculier compares

Dark alcohol-free beers from UK and Irish brewers in our directory. Calories as published; checked 1 November 2026. Scores are Unhopped ratings out of 10.

The Theakston beer in our directory

Calories from Morrisons’ listing. Calories as published; checked 1 November 2026. Scores are Unhopped ratings out of 10.

Where to buy Nowt Peculier

On 1 November 2026 Wise Bartender had Nowt Peculier at £3.50 for a 500ml bottle (an affiliate link); Dry Drinker listed it but didn’t have it in stock. It’s also in our guide to alcohol-free Christmas beer.

Facts checked against Theakston’s own website, the Morning Advertiser, Wikipedia, Morrisons, Wise Bartender and Dry Drinker, 1 November 2026.