Big Drop expands keg beer range

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Unrestricted choice: Big Drop expands keg beer range

Alcohol-free craft brewer Big Drop has expanded its range of beers available to the on-trade in keg format.

The Suffolk-based firm said the decision was made after a trial run of the initiative in January contributed to a record sales month.

Available direct from Big Drop, Reef Point Craft Lager and Pine Trail Pale Ale will join Paradiso Citra IPA in its year-round offering of 30l key kegs, all brewed under licence at Fourpure in Bermondsey with its parent company - In Good Company.

Unrestricted choice

The award-winning brewer entered into a license agreement with In Good Company in May last year with a view to “rapidly scale” the business.

Established in 2016, Big Drop uses a Reduced Amylase Brewing process, which allows for a fully fermented brewing cycle without rising above 0.5% ABV so nothing is extracted from the beer to retain the flavour and characteristics of full-strength equivalents. 

Big Drop’s founder Rob Fink said: “Why restrict choice just because, for whatever reason, someone’s not drinking?

“Any decent-sized venue these days can allocate a line to alcohol-free and rotate it year-round so it’s not always all about the lager.

Partnership 

“Through our partnership with In Good Company Brewing we can now provide not only our IPA on draught, but also our pale ale and lager.”

This comes as recent data from the Portman Group’s sixth annual survey in partnership with YouGov showed young people were the biggest consumers of low and no alcohol alternatives.

Nearly half (44%) of the 2,197 participants considered themselves either an occasional or regular drinker of alcohol alternatives, compared to 31% in 2022.

In addition, figures from Fentiman’s latest Market Report in partnership with CGA by NIQ last month revealed consumers were opting for a “flexi-sober” lifestyle in 2024, consumption of no and low drinks cited as a “key trend”.  

Big Drop is currently stocked at Mitchells & Butlers, Fullers, Greene King, Oakman Inns, The Chestnut Group, Livelyhood Group and Elite Pubs among others.