Adnams

The company started experimenting with lower-alcohol beers back in 2011, well ahead of the current wave of interest. Their flagship alcohol-free offering is Ghost Ship 0.5%, a pale ale version of their popular full-strength beer. It uses the same hop varieties as the original, delivering citrus and elderflower notes with a light bitterness. The beer is fully fermented before the alcohol gets gently removed, which helps it taste like actual beer rather than a thin approximation.

Beyond beer, Adnams has expanded their low-alcohol range to include wines, cider, and even a concentrated gin designed for making lighter cocktails. Wild Wave, their 0.5% cider, blends bittersweet and dessert apples for something genuinely refreshing. The alcohol-free wines won't fool anyone into thinking they're drinking the real thing, but they offer a decent alternative for those occasions when water feels too plain.

Adnams takes sustainability seriously, and has done for years. Their distribution centre, built in 2006, was the UK's first commercial building constructed from hemp-lime blocks. The place runs without refrigeration thanks to its clever design and location in a former gravel pit. A green roof hosts rescued bee colonies. The brewery switched to 100% renewable electricity back in 2017 and has nearly halved its carbon emissions since 2008.

You'll find Ghost Ship widely available. Most major supermarkets stock it, and it appears on tap in pubs that bother with a proper alcohol-free selection. Adnams also ships direct from their website and runs a network of shops and pubs across East Anglia. It's a solid, well-made AF pale ale from a brewery with real heritage behind it.