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Sky News interview with Nirvana Brewery founder Becky
Dry January kicked off with a bang for Nirvana! Our founder and CEO Becky Kean was interviewed on Sky News Business programme with Ian King yesterday. Becky was chatting about the No & low market with Ian and discussing its amazing growth and the continued success of Nirvana Brewery. We were thrilled to have Becky featured and for the No&Low market getting more coverage!
Not Drinking? Here Are Our 6 Favourite No Alcohol Drinks for 2022!
Our Favourite Non Alcoholic Drinks for January 2022 With more and more people switching to no or low alcohol, we are proud to be part of the movement, helping make the switch to no or low alcohol drinking not only not a big thing, but an enjoyable, exciting and delicious experience. At Nirvana Brewery, we do this by creating truly delicious non alcoholic beers that make you feel like you are not missing out. But, it's not just us making some great drinks. There has never been so many no or low alcohol breweries, distilleries and wineries trying to make great tasting drinks. Being at the forefront of the no/low alcohol movement in the United Kingdom, we have come across a lot of amazing alcohol free drinks in the past few years, giving customers who are making a healthier choice with their drinking more exciting, healthy and delicious options. We decided to tip the proverbial hat to some of our favourite NoLo drinks in the sector. In this list we tried to add a range of different styles and combinations of flavours and ingredients to create a list of drinks you can try again and again. Here are a few of our favourites, in no particular order. Pentire Hailing from the Cornish coast, this plant based spirit contains the essence of pink grapefruit, sea rosemary, woodruff and sea buckthorn (a really bitter berry that has a tropical passion fruit and lemon flavour), as well as wild seaweed. All the ingredients for creating the perfect no alcohol aperitif! What we love about Pentire, is how clean and crisp the liquid is. The flavour profile reminds us of a really classy gin, such as Gin Mare. The spirit isn't based on a sugar syrup, just pure essence of distilled plants and botanicals, ensuring a clean refreshing drink that isn’t cloying and keeps you wanting more. It is extremely light and delicate and the perfect replacement for gin or vodka with a tonic such as Fevertree or our friends at Double Dutch, garnished with some fresh sliced citrus. With a deep love of the environment and the same emphasis on sustainability that we value at Nirvana Brewery, when we need something to elevate our tonic or a pick me up drink after a long hard day, we reach for Pentire. Pentire seems to be all over the web, so if you are into your low alcohol options, you have probably seen their super classy videos target you on social media. If not, check out more about them here : https://pentiredrinks.com/ REAL Kombucha Kombucha is a fizzy, non-alcoholic drink made from sweetened fermented tea and a culture which aids the fermentation process, similar to the mother in a natural vinegar, known as a scoby, (short for short for a ‘symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeasts’, if you want to get technical). The bacteria and yeasts in the scoby ferment the sugar into alcohol and acetic acid or vinegar. The acetic acid is what gives the drink its distinctive sour flavour. If you really want to you can make your own kombucha at home from distilled water, sugar, tea leaves and a scoby which you can purchase online. You soak the tea and sugar in boiled water and leave it to cool completely before adding the scoby. You then cover the liquid and allow it to ferment for a week. This is then poured into an airtight container, more sugar is added to aid a second fermentation, much like it is in sparkling wines such as Champagne – the longer the blend is left, the fizzier it will become. You can then add other fruits, spices or flavourings to the mixture to flavour the end drink. If that all sounds like a bit of a faf, leave it to the professionals and reach for a bottle of REAL Kombucha. We first tried this kombucha back in 2018, just as the kombucha revolution was really kicking off in the UK, much like the trend of hard seltzers is now. To be honest, we had never tried anything like it. REAL Kombucha has a completely different flavour from what you might think would develop from tea, sugar and water, or indeed a drink based in vinegar! Having tried other Kombuchas before and REAL Kombucha, it was obvious that there is skill involved in the process, much like brewing or winemaking. If you are into cooking at home and food and wine matching, then REAL kombucha is a great choice to add another dimension to your next dinner party. Founder David Begg, came up with the idea of making his kombucha to replace wine pairing at the dinner table. This is where REAL Kombucha really comes into its own as the liquid has a similarity to natural wine in terms of its acidity and flavour profile, and with the acidity and tannins you get from the tea, it really holds up well on the dinner table. If you are looking to try it, I would thoroughly recommend the Dry Dragon and the Royal Flush. The Dry Dragon has really grassy and vegetal notes like a good white wine, making it the perfect pairing for foods like cheeses, smoked salmon or seared fish at home. The Royal Flush is our absolute favourite, it’s made from first flush darjeeling tea. The buds that show first from the harvest. The flavour is pure, clean and crisp. According to the REAL Kombucha website you can pair The Royal Flush with anything that you might use a sparkling or full bodied white wine such as a chardonnay with, so foods such as white fish, white meat, and cream sauces work really well. The Royal Flush is also perfect with charcuterie as the acidity cuts through the fat. You can buy Real Kombucha in all sorts of places such as Tesco and Amazon or head over to their site here https://realkombucha.co.uk/ Served Seltzer Cutting down your alcohol, but not cutting it out completely? Served Seltzer Is a really good option. Whichever way you turn these days, whether it's on the tube or on billboards, there seems to be an abundance of Hard Seltzers being advertised. If you haven't come across them before, Hard Seltzers are usually vodka or another neutral spirit, mixed with sparkling water or wine, to create a light mixed drink. Natural fruit juice or extract is used to sweeten and flavour the liquid, whilst avoiding refined sugar as much as possible, to protect the delicate flavour and texture of the drink. The problem we find with some seltzers comes from the fruit extract. Some of the examples we have tried have nearly tasted artificial and bordering on perfumy, which end up being overwhelming and not at all pleasant. We came across Served last year and were instantly impressed with the flavour profile and how clean the palette was. This comes from using a house made gluten free spirit which is distilled 4 times from maximum purity. The spirit is made from wonky beetroot that may not otherwise be used, and the fruit used to flavor and sweeten the seltzer is also wonky, meaning that it probably wouldn't make it onto the supermarket shelves, so Served get extra points for sustainability too. As a refreshing, ready to drink, it is great to have a few cans of Served in your fridge, sitting next to a mixed case of Nirvana beer of course, as your preferred non alcoholic option. Going to stock up on some Served? Head over to their site here https://www.serveddrinks.co.uk/ Everleaf What do you get when you mix a conservation biologist who has experience as a bar owner? One of the best non-alcoholic spirits ranges on the market. The founder Paul Mathew, spent most of his working life as a conservation biologist, spending years observing the natural world, learning how best to interact with it. A few years later, Paul opened his bar and got to know the wants and needs of his customers, learning what makes them tick, the flavours that matter, and suggesting the perfect drink for their mood. This led to the creation of Everleaf and a completely new offering for the non alcoholic sector. Much like Pentire, this liquid is perfect for replacing the gin in your gin and tonic, but what we do love about Everleaf is the variety in the range. Everleaf currently have 3 different liquids featuring different botanicals from that specific geographical area: Mountain contains ingredients like strawberry and cherry blossom extract creating a floral, bittersweet cocktail, perfect for people trying to satisfy their pink gin craving. Marine contains over 16 different botanicals including citrus such as lemon and bergamot, as well as classic gin botanicals such as juniper berry. We really like the addition of olive leaf, which gives way to a delicious refreshing saline finish. Lastly there is Forest. This spirit has layers of flavours such as vanilla, orange peel and saffron. This Forest spirit creates the perfect liquid to use as a base for an alcohol free Old Fashioned or Manhattan. Definitely one of our favourites. Want to try Everleaf range? https://www.everleafdrinks.com/ Lyre Being big fans of an Aperol Spritz or a Cosmopolitan, (yes, we sometimes like a cocktail too!) we were delighted when we came across Lyres' range of non alcoholic spirits. Made with extracts, distillates and essences sourced from around the world, Lyre spirits and ready to drink cocktails are really handy to have stocked up in the drinks cupboard. What we love most about Lyre is the variety, not only of flavour profiles, but of the range. They have created a selection of drinks that allow you to create a whole non-alcoholic liquor cabinet, so you are really empowered and excited to recreate all your favourite classic cocktails without the ABV in the comfort of your own home, or even get adventurous and try new ones. As with a lot of the other non-alcoholic spirits, Lyre have their own philosophy, which puts the want of the customer at the forefront giving them the products they need for that full cocktail experience at home and have their own excitement around the cocktails and serves they can create. Recently, Lyre opened up their range to include ready to drink cans, making it even easier to pop a few canned cocktails in a bag if you are going to a friend's house and want to make sure you are not tempted by their mixology skills! From a spirits point of view, we especially love the White Cane Spirit. In the ready to drink format, the Amalfi Spritz is amazing, as well as the rum and coke alternative with the White Cane Spirit . Want to try some of Lyres' range, head over to their site here. https://lyres.co.uk Nirvana Beer What can we say, we love what we do here at Nirvana and are especially proud of our beers and the quality in every bottle. Be it our Bavarian Helles, our flagship lager which is crisp, clean and beautifully balanced and according to our customers, stands head and shoulders above the rest of the non-alcoholic beers on the market, or our dark and rich stout, perfect as the evenings draw in or as an ingredient in our rich and dark braised beef, or our chocolate porter cake (Blog links) . It all started when our founder, Becky’s dad, decided to stop drinking alcohol. At the time, the range of alcohol-free beers on the market was not great and the flavour of these beers left a lot to be desired. We believed that people who choose not to drink shouldn’t be excluded socially, and should have an amazing drinking experience as well. Becky just wanted to see her dad’s face light up again with a decent bottle of alcohol-free beer and now, as a brewery, we want to do it for all the no and low alcohol fans around the world. If you want to be part of our journey or maybe send a gift for the beer lover in your life, head over to our shop and order your case of Nirvana Beer today. Shop Here.
NEW BEER LAUNCH: LONDON PORTER
Another season is upon us, and that means it’s time for our latest limited-edition seasonal launch. Nothing says autumn/winter quite like a dark beer, so join us in getting settled by the fire with a bottle of our limited-edition London Porter. With this beer, we’re celebrating our roots as a proud London brewery. What better way than to pay homage to a beer style born and bred in the capital; the London Porter. Of course, being the UK’s only alcohol-free brewery, this beer is akin to a classic porter in everything but the ABV, coming in at just 0.5% ABV. In 18th century London, beers were traditionally aged at the pub; breweries would carry out a primary fermentation before shipping it out to be served straight away or aged in pub cellars. But the porter was born from pioneering breweries who decided to experiment with aging their beer in-house, keeping the beer in traditional porter tuns to ferment and eventually mellow, becoming sweeter than the stouts of the day. Those same breweries introduced other advances in brewing, such as the use of thermometers. We’re tipping our cap to those early beer pioneers who taught us about changing the game in beer. So what about the Nirvana Brewery version? Pouring a rich dark brown, roasted malts take centre stage, bringing notes of caramel, coffee and just a touch of chocolate. We kettle brewed with a light sprinkling of the classic British hop variety Fuggles, enhancing the notes of spice and oak. Warming, complex and indulgent, this beer is one to savour with your feet up. Pair with hearty British Food for maximum enjoyment. Available for a limited time on our webshop with free shipping over £35. BUY LONDON PORTER
6 reasons why you should try no alcohol in 2022.
Drink alcohol? Maybe you'll go booze-free for January? There are many reasons why you should try to drink no alcohol or low alcohol in 2022. This blog provides some useful information about why you should consider sobriety for a month and how it can affect your life if you overdo it. We all know that drinking too much is bad for your health but there are a lot of other benefits of going alcohol-free you may not know about. In this blog post, we will discuss 6 of the most important ones to your well-being. Further to having some options for good health, you'll have some pointers for next time you are in a bar with a group of friends. The first one is order a Nirvana Beer! Drinking Non-alcoholic beer is a great way to enjoy a drink without the ABV. We think of our beer, as a delicious drink first and a non-alcoholic beer second, giving you such a great taste that satisfies people who love their booze and nondrinkers alike. Just because you are staying sober, shouldn't mean you stop enjoying yourself. Reason 1 - You will get better sleep. You might not realize it but alcohol derails your sleep patterns and makes you restless during the night, much like drinking coffee too late in the day. This is why sleeping through the whole night without waking up becomes harder if you are drinking too much. Further to that, the quality of your sleep is also made worse by alcohol, which is why you feel so groggy the next morning. Non-drinkers or people who don't drink alcohol report being less tired and having more energy than regular consumers of alcoholic drinks. With 1/3 of your existence spent sleeping, this sounds pretty important. So maybe skip stocking up on gin and other booze in the January sale and have a coffee instead, just not too close to bedtime! Reason 2 - Your skin will get better. Many people have noticed an improvement in their skin after they go alcohol-free. It is due to toxins accumulating in your body when you drink too much which can cause acne and aging as well. The good news is that this will improve significantly once you stop drinking. There are also other benefits to quitting including better digestion, and looking younger for longer! Reason 3 - You can save a lot of money by not drinking. This may not be your main reason for quitting but you should know that the amount of money you spend on alcohol can add up pretty quickly. If you drink a little bit every day, this can become an issue over time and it is something to consider when thinking about whether or not to quit drinking in 2022. Still sober curious? This may tip you over the edge! Research suggests it could be up to £10,000 a year. Why not find out for yourself here at this cost of drinking calculator! Drink Calculator Reason 4 - You will become more productive at work and school. No alcohol in 2022, even for just January, is good for your health and can also have a positive impact on your productivity. Many people are more productive when they don't drink because it gives them clarity of mind, awareness, and focus which is what you need to succeed and progress at work or school. Reason 5 - Your social life will improve. If you stop drinking it will be much easier for you to make plans and go out with your group of friends. Many people who drink too much find that they don't want to socialize as often because of their hangover, the financial impacts, or the fact that they need a few drinks to get in the mood for going out. When this is no longer an issue, it is much easier to spend time with friends, have a good time, and be in the moment. Not only that you are free to enjoy the nonalcoholic beers on offer and still drive home! Reason 6 - You will be healthier. When you stop drinking your immune system becomes stronger which means that you are less likely to get sick as often. The best part about quitting alcohol in 2022 is that this benefit alone can improve the quality of your health and fitness and overall wellbeing. One of the biggest benefits of quitting drinking is that you won’t have as many hangovers and miss more days from school or work because of them. With a big discussion about mental health at the moment, now is a good time to join the non-drinking folk and try not drinking this January. Simply kick the booze for a month, have some fun with non-alcoholic alternatives and see if you see a difference in your mental health. Research suggests when you consume alcohol-free products, for example, non-alcoholic beers or non-alcoholic spirits, you are much more likely to have a greater awareness of your health, both physical and mental. Alcohol-free is a trend here to stay. With one in three young people in the UK teetotal, alcohol intake is down and non-alcoholic drinks and low alcohol drinks are on the rise. In general, alcohol consumption is down in sales across all age groups in the UK. As an alcohol-free beer company the rise of sobriety and the demand for booze-free, and low alcohol drinks by consumers in a bar, restaurant, or supermarket is great news and we fully support young people in the UK looking for no alcohol beverages with taste and at the same time fun. Hospitality has responded. Food and non-alcoholic wine matching? Low alcohol drinks pairings? Sugar-free beverages as standard? Catering to sobriety is becoming big business and with the hospitality business on its knees post-Covid, restaurants the world over are crafting superb experiences for the non-alcoholic tastes. With research suggesting that the trend for sober experiences is growing amongst consumers, and with sales growing every year, no or low alcoholic options look set to grow on drinks and cocktails lists. The New Year is the perfect time to think about what you want your 2022 to look like. If you’ve been struggling with drinking or know someone who has, this might be a good year for them to try going alcohol-free. Sober Curious? Pick a low alcohol drinks strategy Not drinking alcohol doesn't need to be the be-all and end-all. With so many alcohol-free beer, gin, and wine brands on the market, you have so many drinks to choose from. Bars are stocking so many good, gluten-free, low alcohol beers that taste as good as, or better than the real thing, and non-alcoholic spirits that you can mix with the likes of tonic water or sparkling water. Non-drinkers used to be stuck with sugar-laden soft drinks diluted with ice, and wine that was too sweet; now you can plan to have booze-free drinks that are of such high quality, they are being served in Michelin Star restaurants. There are so many non-alcoholic beverages on the market to help you achieve a healthier lifestyle, there is one for every style. If you want to find out more, check out our friends at Dry Drinker. 3 Quickfire tips to Lower your Alcohol Consumption. There are many reasons why people choose not to drink and there isn’t an “ideal” reason that fits all drinkers. But we can say that in general, when you give up drinking, it will change how your brain operates in relation to dopamine and cravings. You may find yourself feeling more confident at social gatherings because of the lack of self-consciousness from being sober while everyone else drinks--and maybe even have some extra money saved up too. Our top tips for lowering your alcohol intake is: Have a substitute in the fridge When you want to reach for a bottle after a stressful day you have something you enjoy ready to go. Out of sight You don't have to get rid of your liquor cabinet, just maybe move it out of your eye line so it doesn't get your attention. Plan Devise a strategy for when you go out and role play in your mind how you will react when your friends offer you a drink. Need to stock up on non Alcoholic Beer? Of course, you do! Not drinking alcohol has never been easier with Nirvana Brewery. We have a range of non-alcoholic drinks for beer drinkers of all styles, for example, our on-trend low alcohol London Porter or our alcohol-free Bavarian Helles Lager, perfect if you like that old-world style. Or mix it up with our mixed case. Whatever your drink we have you covered! Click to shop here!
Nirvana Beer Foccacia
This is the perfect recipe for a lazy Saturday, when you want to have something delicious for your supper. You can stretch this recipe out on a non-stick tray until its about 1 centimetre think and then top with tomato sauce and mozzarella cheese for a focaccia pizza! Also try red onion marmalade, brie and bacon to match perfectly with the Traditional Pale Ale in the recipe! This dough is really versatile so let your imagination run wild. This recipe makes 2 Loaf tins, or 1 large tin. It freezes very well. Ingredients 500 grams strong flour 30ml olive oil (plus 15ml extra to oil the tins) 1 bottle of Nirvana Traditional Ale, at room temperature (Any other Nirvana Ale or Lager will work) 20 grams yeast (dried is fine) 30 grams semolina 8 grams salt Method 1. Preheat the oven to 220 degrees. Ensure the windows are closed in the kitchen. You want to make the room as warm as possible so it helps the dough prove, or expand, developing flavour and texture. 2. Add the yeast, oil and beer to a bowl. Stir to dissolve the yeast. Don't worry if the oil is sitting on top of the liquid. 3. Mix the flour, semolina and salt together in a mixing bowl. 4. Add the wet mix and turn on the mixer, or kneed by hand, until the dough is smooth and all the ingredients are incorporated. Continue to knead for 7-10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. 5. Cover the bowl with a cloth and place in a warm place to prove until double in size. 6. Brush the baking tins with the oil and decant the dough into the tins, without knocking out any of the air. 7. Brush the top of the dough with the olive oil and use your fingers to make dimples, again, trying to keep in as much air as possible. 8. Allow to prove in a warm area for 40 mins. 9. Bake at 220 degrees for 25-30 mins until golden brown. Remove from the oven and place on a wire rack too cool before serving. 10. Enjoy, with a nice cold Nirvana beer, some cheeses and charcuterie!
NEW BEER LAUNCH: ELDERFLOWER LAGER
The summer weather hasn’t quite made an appearance but that doesn’t mean the summer drinks can’t, so we’re here to bring you a little sip of sunshine in a bottle; say hello to our new alcohol-free Elderflower Lager! We’ve teamed up with our pals and AF superstars Wise Bartender to bring you this delicious limited-edition beer - when Tom at Wise Bartender came to us saying that he wanted to put elderflower in a beer, we practically bit his hand off to give this one a go! So what does it taste like? We created a classic lager base, and fermented it low and slow just like a good lager should be. With biscuit notes and hints of sweetness from the malts perfectly balanced with floral hints from the elderflower, it’s cool, crisp and refreshing. Thirst quenching and deliciously moreish, this beer is the perfect companion for your summer BBQs, lazy afternoon, heck even weekday mornings...you get the idea Coming in at 0.5% ABV, this is one summer banger you’re not gonna want to miss. Grab yourself a case before it’s gone for good - available now on our webshop while stocks last with free delivery over £35. BUY ELDERFLOWER LAGER
What Are The Benefits Of Alcohol-Free Beer
What are the benefits of alcohol free beer? Drinking culture in the UK has, for a very long time, revolved around the presence of alcohol. Whether it's at home, in a friend's house or the pub. But how much of this social culture is genuinely reliant on the consumption of alcohol itself? For many people, the answer would be -‘Entirely, of course!’. However, there are lots of benefits to socialising besides drinking beer and that go unnoticed due to the over-powering idea that getting drunk is the reason we enjoy going to the pub. After doing a bit of research, we found quite a few reasons for you to switch to alcohol free beer. Some may be surprised to hear! Cut down not out. Some studies have shown that drinking (in moderation) could actually be beneficial to our health by helping to prevent heart diseases, but often the negative effects of alcohol outweigh the positives. Alcohol free is better for you overall. Scientists in Germany found non-alcoholic beer slowed down blood coagulation and platelet activation to strengthen the blood flow. Studies also found an increase of antioxidants in the blood, plus, an enrichment of vitamin B6 from nonalcoholic beer can even protect the heart and helps to soften the chemical effect linked to Cardiovascular disease. Drinking non alcoholic beer can be stress relieving. Low alcohol beers are a mineral-rich, electrolytic beverage that bears a similar particle concentration to blood. This allows the particles to be taken in and absorbed much faster than other beverages, meaning the effects are felt much quicker. As well as this, potassium is a common mineral found in beer that is known for balancing adrenaline, making you feel calmer and less stressed. Alcohol-Free Beers Help your muscles recover post training. The electrolytes in beer help reduces muscle shaking and rehydrate the body after exercise. And, on top of this, the bitter substance found in hops has an all-round soothing effect on the body! Although it has trace amounts of alcohol, drinking alcohol free beer after physical activity can aid recovery, compared to other sports drinks, as well as other great health effects, such as protecting the immune system. In recent years, various sports people have being realising the other benefits of replacing the isotonic drinks with their higher calories and artificial sweeteners. This has proven so popular that breweries have been established to cater for this market such as Athletic Brewing Company. So next time you finish a run, ditch the soft drink or the light beers, vote for better recovery and better sleep post workout! Non Alcohol Beers can have a sedative effect leading to better sleep. This study found that, when tested on healthy female nurses, the hops in non-alcoholic beer had a sedative effect on their bodies, allowing them to have a more restful night’s sleep. Not only lower alcohol content, but fewer calories! For those watching their diet, drinking an alcohol-free beer can be an excellent way to reduce not only calorie intake, but your alcohol intake too. Typically, an alcoholic beer falls between 180 and 250 kcal per pint, whereas alcohol-free beers are often as low as 50-80 calories per 330ml bottle. Hop-forward beers, like our Hoppy Pale Ale, tend to be the lightest of the lot. Alcohol-Free beers support a healthy lifestyle. For those of us looking to lead a healthy lifestyle, switching for one of your normal full strength beer is a great way to drink less alcohol, have the same feelings but avoid those empty calories. Watch out for alcohol-free beers with added lactose, as this tends to send the calories creeping up and isn’t suitable for a vegan diet. At Nirvana, all of our beers are vegan with no added lactose, so it is a great way to try nonalcoholic craft beer with all the benefits of non alcoholic drinking too. So if you are looking for new non alcoholic beers or low alcohol or a non alcoholic drink. Trick your brain with low alcohol drinks. Did you know, your body associates the smell and flavour of ordinary beer, which leads to the brain releasing dopamine; the same feel good chemical you get when you drink consume alcohol. Research has found that drinking non alcoholic beer gives you the same feelings of a full strength beer. Alcohol free beers are suitable during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Pregnancy usually signals the end of your favourite tipple for at least 9 months and beyond if you’re breast-feeling. But with a huge selection of alcohol-free options now available, expectant mothers have many excellent substitutes when wanting to go out and enjoy themselves. Not only that, but some scientists believe it to be beneficial to you! The folic acid found in beer helps to stimulate the production of milk during breast-feeding. As always though, consult your doctor if you have any queries or concerns about alcohol-free beer during pregnancy. Alcohol Free beers can have the same flavour as the original. Our Bavarian Helles Lager (which has the same brewing process as the classic Helles wheat lager without the alcohol (Try the finished product here) is chock-full of folic acids, and rich in vitamins and minerals, with even less calories and greater nutritional benefits than light beer or beer with more alcohol. Because we are true to the production style, the flavour is nearly the same. Non alcoholic beer rehydrates you. It’s well known that not drinking enough water can leave us feeling weak, light-headed and tired. You know that feeling when you’re sitting at your desk and brain fog sets in - you struggle to concentrate and feel the onset of a headache. While alcoholic drinks certainly feel thirst-quenching, the alcohol inside actually dehydrates you more. An alcohol-free beer however gives you that much-needed rehydration while still feeling like a treat. Add to that, the electrolytes in alcohol-free beer help you to absorb the water more effectively - that’s right, non-alcoholic beer is actually an isotonic option. Nonalcoholic beer kills the hangover. While we’re on the subject of hydration, a problem that the majority of human beings find when they get drunk, is the horrendous after effects that arise the morning after affecting you physical health as well as your mental health. This is because of dehydration caused by alcoholic intake, the lack of core salts, vitamins and minerals in the body, and is usually dependent on how inebriated you are when you fall asleep! The moreish quality of regular beer, however, tends to make you want another and another and thus the blood-alcohol levels continue to rise until peaking around the time you decide to sleep. But could simply switching to alcohol-free beer towards the end of an evening eradicate this problem entirely? Worth a try we think! Why not try alcohol free beer? It settles that urge we all have to drink more alcohol while, at the same time, hydrating you with electrolytes, replenishing lost vitamins and minerals and easing you softly out of that drunken state. Give it a go! Drinking non alcoholic beers has other health benefits! Lots of us like to drink alcohol, but some times that is not an option. Perhaps you are the designated driver, or maybe you are trying to achieve reduced anxiety or reduce inflammation or perhaps you are just generally trying to lower your alcohol consumption. When you harness the benefits of non alcoholic beer, remember you also get the benefit of reduced calories and alcohol consumption. Non alcoholic beer, have you tried it? So, are you ready to leave your regular beers in the fridge, not sacrifice taste and reach for a healthier option? Try our non alcoholic beers we’ve got a fantastic range, from classic Bavarian beers to flavoured IPAs and lagers, check out our store here.
5 Beer And Food Pairings
In case you don’t live in London and haven’t seen the posters, it’s National Vegetarian Week! Run by the Vegetarian Society from 14 – 20 May, National Vegetarian Week seeks to get people trying out a vegetarian diet for a week, or just generally celebrate all of the delicious veggie options out there. As a vegan alcohol-free beer, we wanted to share some of our favourite recipes that go great with our bestseller - an ice cold Bavarian Helles Lager. Or, with our lager cooked right in. KASHMIRI PANEER MASALA Vegan Beer Battered Fish and Chips, Courtesy of ‘The Cook and Him’ Kicking off our list with an oldie but a goodie, we’re all familiar with sipping on a cool, refreshing beer alongside our favourite spicy dish. The great thing about Indian food is that the huge variety of spices and flavours make vegetarian curries anything but dull. We’ve chosen this Kashmiri paneer masala from The Telegraph. It requires a few unusual ingredients, but the amazing rich and spicy flavour is worth making the effort to source them. ‘FISH’ AND CHIPS Next up is a recipe featuring the beer baked in, from lovely site The Cook and Him. They’re bringing us a tasty vegan alternative for the classic British fish & chips. As the author of the recipe, Sam, says, before devising this she thought there’d never be something to replace the taste of salty fish, but this will satisfy all of your cravings. MARGHERITA PIZZA Taking a leaf out of Italy’s book for this classic pairing, we’d suggest enjoying a homemade pizza with a Nirvana lager; the salty pizza brings out the best of the well-balanced malt and hops. Although mixing up your own dough might be more time-consuming than calling your local takeaway, the effort that goes into it is well worth the difference in taste. We love this recipe from Gino D’Campo. Buon Appetito! UN-CHICKEN SATAY Another cuisine that we’ve always found to complement a good lager is Thai. Although Chicken Satay is a hugely popular one, it’s also famously not vegetarian (what gave it away?). Luckily, we’ve found this tasty veggie (and vegan) friendly alternative over on Vegan Recipe Club, which uses either tofu or seitan in place of meat. PECAN PIE One to satisfy your sweet tooth whilst enjoying a crisp lager, Steady Drinker, recommends pairing Nirvana Lager with a pecan pie. BBC Good Food have got us covered as usual with this delicious all-American recipe. As an added bonus, they use a ready-made pastry here, saving your tired hands after all of that pizza dough kneading. If this list doesn’t whet your whistle, you can check out loads of great veggie recipes on the National Vegetarian Week website. We’re confident that you’ll quench your thirst for a meat-free meal! Fancy picking up a case of Bavarian Helles Lager and giving it a try?
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY: THE WOMEN BEHIND THE BEER
This International Women’s Day, we’re celebrating the women behind the scenes at Nirvana Brewery. Most of you know our Co-founder Becky, beer lover and businesswoman extraordinaire, but there’s more people behind the beer who make up the Nirvana family and it seemed only right to shine a light on them today. Sue, our business powerhouse Sue Meet the unsung hero behind the Nirvana story, Sue Kean. Mother to founder Becky, she is the woman who made our brewery possible. While husband Jim might have the passion for alcohol-free beer, Sue is the main investor who helped bring the vision to life. A highly successful career woman, she raised 6 children while smashing the glass ceiling to reach a C-level position in the insurance and investment industry, which she still works in today. She is a testament to what women can achieve in the business world, and a big inspiration to us all! Michelle, our accounting star Michelle Michelle first walked through our brewery doors in answer to our advert looking for someone local to take on our accounts and was an instant hit with the team. With her kind and helpful nature, Michelle is always bringing a smile to the faces of the brewery team and her skills at keeping the cashflow going and the books balanced are unparalleled. Michelle has turned her hand to many industries, and after a short career break raising her two beautiful children, she hit the ground running in her beer career when she joined the team in 2019. Rachel, our marketing buff Rachel Introducing our Head of Marketing, Rachel. Rachel started her marketing journey over 13 years ago in the technology world, and moved into the bubbly world of drinks after joining Nirvana in 2018. She is organised and strong minded, with a creative flair for writing. She’s a fountain of ideas: most of what you see from Nirvana comes from her, plus a lot of what you don't see. We owe her a lot of gratitude. Cheers Rachel! While we love brewing a great tasting beer without the alcohol, it’s not the only thing that goes into running a brewery. We’re grateful to all of the women who have helped us along our journey, and also want to give a shout out to the other women who made a huge impact on Nirvana before moving on to other things – Jayro, our content queen and social media extraordinaire as well as sometime photography model, who is now pursuing her love of classical music and working with children. Vim, our business planning and number-crunching whizz and all-round lovely lady who moved on to an exciting new management role, and Lizzie, big sister to Becky and partner to Drew, who is our resident brewhouse yogi and is always available to lend a hand, from being a smiling face at events to getting stuck in with packing boxes. Thank you ladies! Join us in raising a toast to women in beer, whether they’re getting stuck in the mash tun or helping the business run from behind their keyboard. Cheers! 2019 Nirvana team photo with our friends Vim & Jayro - back when we were allowed to hug! Lizzie, our resident yogi BUY NIRVANA BEERS
VALENTINE’S DAY ALCOHOL-FREE BEER & FOOD PAIRING MENU
Beer isn’t necessarily the first thing that you think of when you’re considering food pairing – you’d instinctively go for a fine wine, or perhaps even a cocktail. But did you know that alcohol can numb the taste receptors in the mouth? When we’re talking alcohol free drinks, what they’re missing in booze can really add to the taste sensation, as it helps complex flavour profiles come through which pair beautifully with food; so we’re here to tell you why alcohol-free beer and food might just be the pairing you never knew you needed. And with Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we’ve put together a delicious menu with pairing for a cosy night in. We know that the standard takeaway and a lager might not quite cut it for a special night, so if you’re after something a little extra than your usual night in, you’ve come to the right place. Treat yourself, your partner, your housemate or your whole family over a beer. We’ve dropped in options for meat-lovers, vegetarians, and vegans alike, so everyone can be included. Starter - Fig & goat’s cheese with a honey dressing, paired with Bavarian Helles Lager The classic approach when considering pairings is to look for something that either complements your food, or cuts through it – for example, the way that bitterness in a drink can cut through the sweetness in food. For the starter, we’re kicking off the menu with a complementary pairing in the form of baked fig and goats’ cheese with a honey dressing, matched with our Bavarian Helles Lager. The Hallertau hops in the lager give a delicious nectar finish to this beer which suits the honey dressing perfectly, whilst the sweetness of the dish brings out the hop bitterness in the beer. You could serve this starter on a bed of rocket, adding a peppery bitterness to the overall flavour, or a babyleaf salad. For a vegan alternative, we recommend figs with cashew cream cheese like the one in this delicious recipe from Ceri Jones, a brilliant London based chef. The honey mentioned in this recipe could be easily omitted or swapped with a dash of maple syrup. Main Course - Grilled steak and dauphinoise potatoes (or vegan burger) paired with Organic Pale Ale Moving on to the main course, we’re opting for a ‘cut-through’ approach to pairing and suggesting our Organic Pale Ale with your favourite cut of steak, grilled and served with dauphinoise potatoes. The malts which give this pale ale its characteristic toffee notes pair beautifully with the meat, while the gentle bitterness of the hops add a pleasant and enjoyable contrast which cuts perfectly through the creaminess of the potatoes. Serve with green beans on the side, cooked but still retaining a crunchy bite to counteract the textures of the rest of the dish. For the veggies or vegans amongst you, serve steak-cut salted chips with a vegan aioli and this delicious grilled portobello burger that we spotted on the Peta website. The spicy flavours complement this hoppy beer perfectly, giving you a refreshing bitterness with each sip without exacerbating the heat. Dessert - Tiramisù with Dark & Rich Stout For dessert, we’d pair with a slightly more indulgent beer – our Dark & Rich Stout. While a traditional alcoholic stout can be so heavy it feels like a meal in its own right, our alcohol-free version is much lighter, opening up a world of pairing options. The dark malts we use in the beer bring out rich flavours of chocolate and coffee, with notes of vanilla, pairing perfectly with an indulgent tiramisù. Now while you might want to skip the boozy marsala wine or dark rum in the traditional Italian mamma’s recipe if you’re going alcohol free (sorry mamma), there’s a host of brilliant rum alternatives available, as well as simply adding a flavouring of your choice which doesn’t contain alcohol. Otherwise, just load up on the coffee! Here’s a traditional recipe with options for removing the alcohol. We spotted lots of excellent vegan recipes for tiramisù, but our favourite was this from Vegan on Board which is low-fuss, easy to follow and thoughtfully considered to emulate the texture and flavours of a classic tiramisù. The dessert tiramisù takes its name from the Italian for ‘pick me up’, and we’re sure that you’re going to want to pick up this delicious pairing menu over and over again. Are you going to give our pairing menu a go? Let us know in the comments! Or head right to our online shop to pick up your mixed case to set off your pairing evening. BUY NIRVANA BEERS
IS NIRVANA *REALLY* THE UK’S ONLY ALCOHOL-FREE BREWERY?
Let’s start with the short answer. Yes! Almost 5 years into our journey, we’re still the only alcohol-free beer brand with our very own brewery. If you’re satisfied, feel free to head on and browse our other blog posts. For the long answer, read on… Here at Nirvana, we’re the UK’s only physical brewery dedicated to alcohol-free beer. By ‘physical’, we mean that we have our own premises where we only brew Nirvana beers. In 2016, we took an empty industrial unit, and we worked hard to create our brewery just the way we wanted it; from tanks to mash tun, to our mezzanine office and tap room, we created a brewery from scratch to craft our very own Nirvana. Back then, many people said opening a brewery solely dedicated to alcohol-free beer couldn’t be done - no-one was focussing on alcohol-free beer, let alone building their own brewery! But here we are, coming up to 5 years later and still brewing beer we love so that anyone can feel included, no matter what they're drinking. Why did we want to build a brewery if no one else was? Because we’re committed to producing alcohol-free beers on our terms. We like to go our own way, and for us that meant pursuing the dream of our very own brewery, ensuring that we have full control over our recipes, our production processes and timescales, and the flexibility to tweak, create new brews and more. We wanted to change the game in no-alcohol beer, and that meant having a space where we could experiment, learn, and perfect the craft in our own space. But aren’t there other breweries dedicated to alcohol-free beer? While there are other brands dedicated to alcohol-free beer, no-one else brewing only under 0.5% currently has their own brewery. Other brands use existing alcoholic breweries to create their beers for them (known as a contract brew), re-label an existing alcohol-free product with their branding (white label) or, less commonly, they may have their own brewing team who use other breweries facilities to brew their beer (gypsy brewing). When the Nirvana team, including Co-founder Becky and her family, were setting out to pursue our dream of creating a range of craft alcohol-free beers, we quickly realised that by white-labelling or contract brewing, it often means that the brand doesn’t actually own the recipe for the beer – the brewery do. Our Taproom We realised that if at some point in the future we decided to brew beer elsewhere or build a brewery, the recipes would have to be recreated from scratch! This was a problem for us, as we wanted to make sure we owned our recipes and had the flexibility to adapt, improve and change as we saw fit. Why do other brands call themselves a brewery if they don’t have one? Well, some would argue that if you make beer in any capacity, you are a brewery. But it doesn’t necessarily mean you *have* a brewery. Does having your own brewery matter? No! We’re not here to criticise how other people make their beers – it’s not important to us. We’re proud to be at the forefront of the alcohol-free beer community watching it grow and seeing new styles and tastes appearing. We simply took a chance on going our own way when there was no market and no alcohol-free options, because we wanted to create a world where there was. It took the early innovators like Nirvana Brewery to demonstrate that there really *is* a market for craft alcohol-free beer! That attitude of going our own way has brought us to where we are today. And choosing to go your own way? Well, that's what we like to call Nirvana. We can’t invite you inside just yet, but you can watch a virtual brewery tour on our YouTube channel. Or, if you’re ready to try our beers for yourself, head to our online shop. Beer Yoga at the brewery! BUY NIRVANA BEERS
NIRVANA'S CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE
2020 has been a strange year, that’s for sure, and lots of us won’t be spending the festive season celebrating in the same way as usual. But gifting is not cancelled, so we can show that special someone that we care by dropping a gift at their door! It just so happens that we’ve got some exciting new gifting products just in time for the festive season. Hint – they all involve beer. And they’re all vegan, so suitable for the plant-based person in your life. If your recipient is in our local area of E10 or E17 postcodes, you can also use code LOCAL17 for free delivery! The taster gift – 3 bottle beer gift pack. New for the festive season this year are our 3 bottle gift packs, perfect to give someone a little taster if they’re just dipping their toes in the water of alcohol-free beer. They’ll get a bottle of each of our 3 bestselling beers – Bavarian Helles Lager, Hoppy Pale Ale and Classic IPA, all tastefully packaged in our limited-edition gift packs. The boxes are sent with an outer protective layer, keeping the box itself in perfect condition for wrapping up and putting under the tree. The person who knows what they like – 12 pack. Need a gift for someone who knows exactly what they want? Grab a 12 case of any individual beer style and ship it straight to their door. Choose from any of our 6 regular beer styles, whether they’re a hophead in search of the beer packed with Mosaic hops (Hoppy Pale Ale) a fan of English bitters or mellow hops (Organic Pale Ale) or something else – get them 12 (or 24 if you’re feeling extra generous) of their favourite beers. Our 12 and 24 boxes are tastefully branded but don’t give too much of a hint about what’s inside – and we’ll never include anything like payment information or pricing in our boxes so you can safely send it straight to your mate’s door. The one who wants it all. Know someone who’d love to try a bit of everything in our range of alcohol-free beers? Our mixed cases will do the trick. Each 12 or 24 beer mixed case contains an equal number of all of our beers (including specials where they’re available) and is sure to help the avid beer-seeker wet their whistle this Christmas. The gluten-free gift. Someone in your life needs to avoid gluten in their diet? Our alcohol-free Dark & Rich Stout is packed full of dark roasted malts with hints of chocolate and vanilla aromas, and is under 20ppm gluten, making it safe for those who need to be gluten-free. Find it in either 12 or 24 cases as above. The one who loves brewery swag. Got the one mate who loves a brewery t-shirt and rocks a different one everyday? Throw in one of our classic Nirvana red or black t-shirts with your beer order, or grab one of our new-style navy blue t-shirts for the person who wants to shout it loud “Proudly Low Alc”. We’ve also got the perfect tote bag for the eco-conscious shopper to wear with pride (and stuff full of beers, we hope). The “I’ve got no idea what they want” or “last-minute panic buy” Let someone you love choose their own Nirvana this year – our gift e-card can be emailed to you, or directly to the recipient, and includes a code to use on our website. Gift e-cards can be used as partial or full payment on any order – so if you don’t know their favourite style of beer, let them pick it out themselves by sending them a Nirvana Brewery gift card. Oooor maybe you just left it a little late for a gift (hey, we’re not judging – we’re known to be Christmas Eve shoppers!) then panic not – our gift cards are emailed over straight away. There’s no expiry date and you can choose from values of between a tenner and £100. Last order date for Christmas delivery on physical products is 20th December, before our elves head off for their Christmas break. Gift cards are digital so can be ordered anytime. Are you ready to give the gift of Nirvana beer this Christmas? BUY NIRVANA BEERS
