Small Beer Pale Ale
DRINK SUMMARY
Name – Pale Ale
Producer – Small Beer
Type – non-alcoholic ale
Alcohol content – 2.5%
MyDryBar Rating – 65/100
Drink review – This low-alcohol pale ale by Small Beer Brew Co is a refreshing addition to the My Dry Bar shelf. It was a bit light in body but overall would make a good choice if you’re into trying new beers from smaller craft brewers. Certainly a recommended pale ale for those who are able to drink small amounts of alcohol.
I haven’t reviewed many low alcohol beers (the majority being from 0 – 0.5%) so I was intrigued by how this low alcohol pale ale by the Small Beer Brew Co would taste.
If you’ve not yet come across Small Beer Brew Co. they are a London brewery that decided to bring back the art of low alcohol brewing which gradually died off in the 19th century as drinking water became less lethal!
There are currently five beers on offer including a lager and an IPA and this time around I tried their ale which was 2.5% ABV.
Like many other breweries, Small Beer uses top-quality ingredients (malted barley, oats, rye, wheat, hops & yeast) and natural carbonation to make their beers. They also make sure their beer spends a minimum of one and a half months in special made vats and instead of removing alcohol at a later stage, they make their beers to a certain strength, focusing on the flavour.
So did Small Beer’s ale make a BIG impact? Well, you’ll just need to read my review below.
Is Small Beer Pale ale any good?
Taste
Firstly let me just say that this low alcohol pale ale was very refreshing and easy to drink. As expected when it comes to pale ales there was a flavoursome combo of bitter hops mixed, sweet malts and the tang of various citrus fruits. The carbonation was tight but I found it lacked a bit of body and was a little ‘watery’ for my liking. I really couldn’t taste the small addition of alcohol but overall it was a very enjoyable drink … and easily got through two bottles.
Aroma & Appearance
Not as punchy as its flavour but there were still similar aromas including bitter hops and various fruits (especially picked out lemons). When poured into the glass the beer had a dark amber look with a decent frothy head.
Bonus points
The Small Beer Brew gets bonus points for 1) having cool Monty Python-esque style packaging which looks great and 2) being London’s first B Corp Certified brewery (meaning it has been recognised for social and environmental responsibility in business). As mentioned the beer does have a small amount of alcohol so may not be suitable for everyone but it is suitable for vegans.
Buy Small Beer
At the time of writing, you can find this on a few supermarket shelves including Waitrose, as well as on Small Beer’s site and the online retailer below.
The Dry Drinker is a great allrounder when it comes to alcohol-free drinks with a great range of wines, beers and spirits.
COST (at time of publication) – £26 x 8
Key information
– per 330ml
Type – Pale ale
Brewery – Small Beer Brew Co
Country – UK
Alcohol content – 2.5%
Ingredients – Water, malted barley, wheat, oats, hops and yeast
Calories – 101
Vegan friendly? – yes
Gluten-free? – no
Availability UK / EU – medium
Availability US / CAN – hard
“Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness.”
-Seneca, AD 50 BC
