Alcohol-Free Has Entered the Chat (and the Festival)

Alcohol-free and functional drinks are stepping up alongside the best at BREW//LDN.

Author

Daniel Rowntree
March 30, 2025

Twelve years ago, a room laughed at the idea of a new kind of beer festival that was Craft Beer Rising the precursor to BREW//LDN.

Last month, we announced High & Dry’s collab with BREW//LDN now in its 12th year.

The goal? To bring alcohol-free, low, and functional drinks to the UK’s biggest craft beer stage.

Some might call it counterintuitive.

We call it a full-circle moment.

Daniel. Founder of High & Dry

This isn’t about crashing the party anymore.

We’re building a new one.

Because the future of drinking isn’t just boozy or bone dry.

It’s inclusive.
It’s intentional.
It’s functional.
It’s fun.
And as we’ve demonstrated, it’s happening.

So here it is: the lineup of brands joining us at High & Dry ft BREW//LDN. A curated crew of pioneers, each redefining what it means to raise a glass.

Let’s meet the makers.

High & Dry x BREW//LDN

Meet the Brands Pouring at the Party

These are the trailblazers pouring at our stand - each one raising the bar for what alcohol-free and functional drinking can be. Whether you’re sober-curious, fully dry, or just want something that tastes great and lets you remember your night - swing by the High & Dry stand at BREW//LDN.

We’ve handpicked SIX standout brands that are changing the game, one pour at a time.

Nirvana Brewing

The UK’s first dedicated alcohol-free brewery.

Born in East London and built on family values (and hops), Nirvana kicked off when co-founder Becky wanted her teetotal dad to enjoy a proper pint again. Since then, they’ve been quietly dominating the alcohol-free scene with beers that can stand toe to toe with alcohol alternatives - just without the falling over.

Here’s a taste of what they’re known for:

🍺 Nirvana IPA
A West Coast-style belter that brings citrus, pine and a little caramel sweetness into perfect balance. Dry-hopped with Mosaic, Nectaron and Simcoe for full flavour, no fuzziness.
0.5% ABV | 33 cals | Gluten-free | Crisp, bold, moreish

🍺 Bavarian Helles Lager
Their flagship lager - and for good reason. Clean, golden, subtly biscuity and just the right level of sparkle. Basically, it’s everything you love about a proper Helles, hold the hangover.
0.3% ABV | 66 cals | Award-winning | Naturally carbonated

NuWave

Beer, but make it biotech.

Forget everything you know about beer - NuWave is flipping the script with alcohol-free brews that are as functional as they are refreshing. Packed with mood-enhancing botanicals and science-backed biotics, these beers are brewed to lift your spirits (without, you know, spirits). Wellness meets a buzz. Gut health meets good times. And taste? Still very much on point.

Here’s a sample of what NuWave’s known for:

🌿 Mood Enhancing AF Lager 
A Bavarian-style lager with a crisp pour, golden glow, and mellow biscuit finish. Infused with biotics and botanicals, this one’s easy on the body and the taste buds.
0.3% ABV | 18 cals per 100ml | Clean, crisp, award-winning

🌿 Mood Enhancing AF Hazy Pale Soft, juicy, and built for the vibe. Citra hops bring the flavour, while a dose of botanicals and biotics brings the balance. A hazy little mood-booster with none of the chaos.
0.5% ABV | 22 cals per 100ml | Tropical, juicy, functional

INTUNE CBD

CBD drinks designed to dial you in - not out.

Born in London and backed by a powerful personal story, INTUNE is the brainchild of founder Hannah Glasson, who discovered CBD while undergoing cancer treatment. The goal? Help people feel present, focused, and, well… in tune. These all-natural, vegan, sparkling drinks blend fruit, botanicals, and just the right dose of CBD for a calm kind of clarity.

Here’s a taste of their feel-good fizz:

🍹 Pomegranate & Ginger
Spicy, fruity, and a little bit punchy. This one blends pomegranate, plum, apple, and black pepper with 10mg of CBD—perfect for afternoons when coffee’s a no, but zoning out isn’t the vibe.
10mg CBD | Sparkling | Warming & refreshing | 60 cals per can

🌼 Elderflower & Hops
Floral, smooth, and refreshingly grown-up. Elderflower meets apple, rose blossom, and a soft hop finish for an alcohol-free spritz alternative that’s seriously chill.
10mg CBD | Lightly sparkling | Sophisticated & soothing | 60 cals per can

Below Brew Co

Craft beer that just happens to be low alcohol.

Born out of a love for good beer and a desire to keep things balanced, Below Brew Co has been turning heads since their first 1,000-can drop sold out instantly. Fast forward a few years and they’re shipping to 10+ countries, racking up awards, and still doing it their way - bold flavours, banging designs, and zero buzz required.

Here’s a flavour of what they do:

🎯 Forgot To Take My Pils
Old-school meets new wave. This crisp, refreshing pilsner layers Saaz, Perle, Hallertau Blanc and Mandarina Bavaria hops for a citrusy, herbal hit that’s all vibe, no wobble.
Low ABV | Crisp, hoppy, refreshing | Full craft cred, zero hangover

🍺 Heaven & Helles (Gluten Free)
Classic German style, Below twist. Tettnanger and Hallertauer Mittelfrüher hops bring soft floral and herbal notes to this clean, balanced lager. Oh—and it’s gluten free, too.
Low ABV | Smooth, subtle, sessionable | Lager done right

UNLTD.

New age beer for new age living.

Founded by two party veterans turned wellness warriors, UNLTD. was born out of one simple mission: bring big beer flavour to a lifestyle that doesn’t slow you down. Their brews are low-alc, low-cal, and loaded with B-vitamins and designed to fuel your ambition, not fog it up. Think of it as beer, upgraded.

Here’s a taste of what they’re serving:

🌞 UNLTD. IPA
Packed with citrus and tropical aromas, this 0.5% IPA doesn’t skimp on body or bitterness. Deep malt complexity + that perfect hoppy bite = the kind of beer you actually want to drink at 7pm... and still feel fresh at 7am.
0.5% ABV | Full-flavoured | Balanced & bold

🍋 UNLTD. Lager
Light citrus, a touch of honey, a whisper of caramel. It’s a clean, crisp pour with just enough character to keep it interesting. Smooth on the way down, with a refreshingly bitter finish.
0.5% ABV | Easy-drinking | Sessionable & satisfying

Firebrand Brewing Co.

Born in a milking parlour. Raised on Cornish spring water and American hops.

From the rugged edges of Bodmin Moor to their shiny new setup in Launceston, Firebrand has been quietly (and deliciously) building their reputation as one of the UK’s most exciting craft breweries. All-natural ingredients, bold flavours, and a logo that screams Cornish pride—this is beer brewed with heart and serious skill.

Here’s a look at what they’re bringing to the alcohol-free table:

🍺 Little Wave Alcohol-Free Lager
Clean, crisp, and wildly refreshing, this lager gives you everything you want from a classic pour, minus the booze. Smooth on the palate, easy on the body, and just 31 calories a can.
Alcohol-free | Crisp & clean | 31 cals | 2.9g carbs per 440ml

🌴 Shorebreak Alcohol-Free Hazy Pale
Tropical, hoppy, and light as a sea breeze, Shorebreak is brewed with Simcoe, Citra and Cascade hops for that juicy, hazy hit—minus the headache. It’s been name-dropped by The Telegraph and The Guardian, so yeah, it’s kind of a big deal.
Alcohol-free | Tropical & smooth | Vegan | 32 cals per 440ml

Snippets - High

A new study found that cannabis-based medicines significantly improved pain, sleep, and anxiety symptoms in patients with hypermobility disorders like hEDS and HSD—adding to calls for more robust clinical trials. Read more here.

Alcohol sales in Canada hit historic lows last year—especially beer—while legal cannabis sales jumped 11.6%, fueling ongoing debate over whether weed is replacing booze. Read more here.

Driven by rising interest in psilocybin-assisted therapy, the global psychedelic mushroom market is projected to more than double by 2031, with a forecasted value of $3.3 billion. Read more here.

Colorado has issued its first licenses for state-regulated psychedelic mushroom therapy, paving the way for supervised “healing centers” to open later this year—marking a major milestone in the mainstreaming of psilocybin. Read more here.

A new study in mice found that combining psilocybin with semaglutide significantly improved insulin sensitivity, reduced liver fat, and preserved muscle function—suggesting a powerful potential treatment for metabolic liver disease. Read more here.

Snippets - Dry

Lucky Saint has become the first alcohol-free brand to join the Portman Group, marking a milestone for the AF category in the world of responsible drinking. Read more here.

De Kuyper has debuted Batched 0.0%, a new line of non-alcoholic cocktails in classic flavours like Pornstar Martini, Mojito, and Strawberry Daiquiri - marking a bold play for the premium AF space. Read more here.

The British Beer and Pub Association is urging the UK government to raise the alcohol-free threshold from 0.05% to 0.5% ABV, aligning with Europe and the US, and giving British brewers a fairer shot. Read more here.

Athletic Brewing was crowned Large Brewery of the Year at the 2025 Best of Craft Beer Awards, with four medal wins that underscore just how far alcohol-free beer has come in the U.S. craft scene. Read more here.

As drinking declines and health warnings ramp up, investors are questioning whether alcohol is entering its own "tobacco moment" - with moderation, Gen Z habits, and weight-loss drugs all reshaping the industry’s future. Read more here.

Before you go… We’d love your feedback

That’s a wrap for this one.

✅ Lineup locked
✅ Culture shifting
✅ AF movement is very much on tap.

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