The brewery, which was only founded in August 2016, said the demand for the beer during the summer months “defied convention”.
The 0.5% ABV Chocolate Milk Stout was launched in November 2016, and was followed by the released of the brewery’s Citrus Pale Ale in March of this year.
Thrilling response
Big Drop Brewing Co’s founder Rob Fink said: “We brought out Chocolate Milk Stout last winter as the first in our range of full-flavoured, 0.5% ABV beers and have been thrilled at the response it has received.
“Our projections estimated that sales would slow over the warmer months as darker beers such as stouts often tend to defer to lighter brews when the sun comes out and temperatures rise. However, sales of Big Drop stout appear to have defied convention and continued to rise alongside our Citrus Pale Ale, the second beer in our portfolio.”
“We’ve had to increase our production tenfold," continued Fink. “In scheduling additional brews on a more frequent basis, I’ve had to rewrite our projections and am moving our nomad operations, under the direction of brewer Johnny Clayton, to two breweries that can accommodate our requirements as we’ve outgrown our current facility at U-Brew.”
Good, if not better than full strength
Both of Big Drop Brewing Co’s beers are available through the specialist online retailer drydrinker.com, Draft House pubs and some independent, specialist craft beer bars, with discussions ongoing with other stockists.
At a recent MA500 event, beer writer and Morning Advertiser columnist Pete Brown praised Big Drop’s stout and said that craft beer would continue to drive interest in low ABV and alcohol–free beers.
"It's recognisable as a stout and tastes like one. Just as good, if not better than some full-strength stouts," he said.