Lucky Saint Beer Review: Changing The Alcohol-Free Beer Game One Pint At A Time
This non-alcoholic beer was a revelation
Drink To That is all about celebrating drink brands and stories across multiple cultures and backgrounds. And it’s not all about alcohol. The low and no category is a space for epic creativity, with many brands looking to provide tasty drinks that have all the complexities of craft booze without any of the hangovers.
A brand that’s leading the charge in this area is Lucky Saint. A non-alcoholic beer with a worthy mission and holy calling, here are my thoughts on the story and the drinks.
The story
Lucky Saint was founded by Luke Boase in 2016, who took it upon himself to craft an alcohol-free beer that could change the perception of the category and deliver on a great tasting experience. He spent two years working with six different brewers in three countries, eventually settling on a pilsner-style lager inspired by the traditions of Germany.
Using a 400-year old Bavarian brewing recipe, Lucky Saint is made from pilsner malt, Hallertau hops, Bavarian spring water and German lager yeast. The spring water and malt come first and the grain’s starches are converted into sugars using a step mash process.
During the boil, Hallertau hops are added and the wort is then fermented for two weeks with the yeast. After fermentation, the beer is cold-stored for four weeks. A longer maturation period was chosen so the beer would be unfiltered and retain flavour.
The alcohol content is then reduced to 0.5% ABV via vacuum distillation and the character is retained.
The booze
I’m not an alcohol-free beer drinker by nature. I enjoy having a good tipple that’s brimming with complexity. I also like to explore new categories and find alternatives in my pursuit to share the stories of drink brands who’re different.
Discovering Lucky Saint was a revelation. Drank cold, it has the best qualities of a German pilsner. Crisp, dry and soft, the beer has notes of biscuit, bread, citrus and oranges. All these flavours aren’t harsh on the palate and make for an easy drinking experience.
After finishing my bottle, I was drawn to the promise that Lucky Saint makes on their label:
“Moderation isn’t the dirty word it once was. We’ve woken up from the hangover with a clear head and big ambitions. To specialise where others don’t, to innovate where others aren’t. To finally reward those who aren’t drinking with the beer they deserve.”
A bold claim that I believe Lucky Saint delivers on.
You can find out more at luckysaint.co
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