Hawkstone senior brewer Donncha Burke and former Clarkson’s Farm producer Louis Church have developed a new functional alcohol-free lager.
A lager which combines British malted barley with Czech Saaz hops and citrusy notes of lime, tangerine and lemongrass, “High & Dry delivers that clean lager taste from first sip to last”, say the producers.
But other ingredients are bioactive extracts from organic lion’s mane mushroom and cordyceps — supplied by Bristol Fungarium — which support both energy release and mental clarity.
The launch comes as sales of no- and low-alcohol beer in the UK rose 20% year on year in 2024, and are expected to continue growing annually by at least 7% until 2028, according to market research by ISWR.
“High & Dry, our debut functional lager, came from wanting a drink that reflects how people actually live now,” said Lou.
“We’re all trying to find a bit more balance without being overwhelmed by information, and to make better choices without losing the joy in things. For me, that meant brewing a proper lager that happens to be functional — not the other way around.
“We’re not trying to replace alcohol or mimic its buzz; we’ve simply created a beer that tastes good and leaves you refreshed, not ruined.”
