Happy January.
Or rather, happy Dry January.
For those of you succeeding in going the entire month without a drop of alcohol, a genuine well-done to you. You’re killing it, fair play.
For the rest of us though, going cold turkey might be proving a tad difficult this year. That doesn’t mean, however, that we need stay stuck on the same old stuff. Rather, we can make small changes to our alcohol consumption, drinking products that aren’t quite as high in alcohol… but aren’t entirely alcohol free either.
So, please enjoy this list of 5 of our favourite lower alcohol drinks this January. You might just find your new beverage of choice.
1. Brooklyn Special Effects low alcohol, 0.4%
So low alcohol it’s pretty much alcohol free, Brooklyn’s Special Effects low alcohol beer is as close to the real thing as you’re going to get.
A hoppy lager with a piney aroma and bitter finish, the beer gets its sweetness from pale caramel and dark roasted Munich malts, and its scent from Mosaic, Citra and Amarillo hops. A near-perfect choice if you’re craving something refreshing.
You can order Brooklyn Special Effects here.
2. Stillgarden Give & Take, 22% ABV
A gin-like spirit made from Macedonian Juniper and local nettles, 22% is probably as low are you’re going to get when it comes to a spirit.
Stillgarden Distillery’s new Give & Take botanical spirit is contains flavours of ginger, coriander, basil and chamomile and when paired with a natural tonic water, all discerning G&T drinkers are sure to love it – and all with only half the alcohol content.
You can grab yourself a bottle here.
3. RAMONA, 7% ABV
Fancy a beverage but not in the mood for a wine? No bother, because there’s a new little drink called RAMONA that’ll sort you right out.
A sommelier-created spritz the drink is made using sustainable production methods, and has no added sugar, no gluten, and no artificial anything. At 7% ABV it’s a little stronger than the other drinks on this list, but it’s still a light enough option if you’re in the mood for wine… but don’t want to actually have wine.
You can buy RAMONA on Winelab.ie now.
4. Metalman Tiptango, 2.5% ABV
A tasty, fruity beer made hopped with Mosaic and Citra, this super session IPA made be low in alcohol but it’s still as delicious as the stronger beers in its line.
Started in Tipperary and now based in Waterford, Metalman has been brewing delicious beers since 2011. The rest of their products aren’t quite as low ABV, so you’d want to stick to the Tiptango if you’re looking for something super light.
Find out more on their website here.
5. Tutts Clump rhubarb cider, 4% ABV
It can often be hard to find a good cider that’s not high in ABV, or completely alcohol free.
Luckily, we’ve come a long way since the days of Bulmers Pear all day, all night. Now, there’s a whole host of new craft ciders that are as delicious as they are low ABV. One of them is Tutts Clumb rhubarb cider, a drink that’s just 4% alcohol, made with real rhubarb syrup, and fairly divine.
Unfortunately their site is only shipping to England and Wales at the moment, but if you see it pop up anywhere else, be sure to let us know.
