After a year-long onslaught on our livers, many Ontarians still living in lockdown are choosing to take the edge off by lowering alcohol intake or going completely dry. If you fall into one of those categories, there are lots of great non-alcoholic drinks on the market that can replace your evening beer or cocktail. With a “one-dose summer” full of outdoor gatherings coming up, it’s also good to consider giving friends and family practising continued sobriety options that are a bit more interesting than pop. Here are three solid options.
Wellington Brewery Chinook Hop Water
This new product from an Ontario brewery is a fun twist. Rather than putting out a non-alcoholic beer, this is hop water made with chinook hops, brewer’s yeast and citric acid. Surprisingly, the piney-ness of the chinook hops does not come through, so the drink has more of a grapefruit, mango and guava aftertaste. It’s very tropical and light, with just enough hops to make it a different experience from drinking sparkling water.
$1.95 per can. 355 ml. Get it online at Wellington Brewery (store.wellingtonbrewery.ca)
Seedlip Grove 42
For summery mocktails with the characteristics of the real thing, Seedlip makes alternative non-alcoholic spirits that use botanicals to get that depth of flavour. The Grove 42 is citrus- forward with mandarin, bitter orange, blood orange and lemon peel, but it’s the heat from ginger and tang of lemongrass that make it really interesting. Serve it with tonic or soda or have a bit more fun and mix it with fresh fruit juice and simple syrup to play up the botanicals.
$45. 700 ml. Get it online at Seedlip (seedlipdrinks.com) or at Eataly on Bloor and the Mercantile on Roncesvalles
Sapsucker, The Grapefruit One
Sapsucker may have recently launched their first alcoholic seltzer, but their OG tree water beverages are still a great go-to to crack open and decompress. To replicate an after-work cocktail go for The Grapefruit One. Crisp and citrusy, with the perfect balance of sweet and tart that only grapefruits possess, it’s a fizzy feast for the taste buds. Pour it into coupe or champagne glasses for an added level of sophistication.
$30 for a 12-pack. 355 ml. Get it online at Sapsucker (shop.sipsapsucker.com) or at most grocery stores.
