Lowtide

Running that shop changed their perspective. They tasted everything coming through the warehouse and kept finding gaps. Good AF beer existed, but truly craft AF beer? The kind with bold flavours and proper brewing credentials? That was harder to find. By January 2021, they had stopped just selling other people's beer and started making their own. Lowtide Brewing Co was born in Bath.

The name captures their approach without being obvious about it. Low tide, low alcohol. Clever enough without hitting you over the head. The can artwork follows the same philosophy: distinctive illustrated designs that stand out on any shelf and look nothing like the clinical branding that plagues much of the AF category.

Their range explores styles that other AF breweries often avoid. The NEIPA Cosmic Turtle brings hazy, tropical IPA character to the 0.5% space. Wild Juice Chase delivers a sessionable pale ale. Check This Stout layers honeycomb and chocolate. They brew lagers, sours, brown ales. Each release feels like genuine experimentation rather than playing it safe.

The brewery operates on a contract basis from their Bath headquarters, which keeps overheads manageable while maintaining quality control. Dave grew up in the US before moving to the UK, and that transatlantic perspective shows in beers that draw from both British and American craft traditions.

Lowtide has built a solid reputation in the AF community. Over six thousand people have logged their beers on Untappd, with the IPAs and pale ales earning the strongest reviews. You will find their beers at specialist AF retailers like Dry Drinker and Wise Bartender, plus an increasing number of independent bottle shops.

The brand recently rebranded to Below Brew Co, though the same team and brewing philosophy remain. Worth watching under either name.