Bellwoods

Bellwoods Brewery opened in 2012 on Ossington Avenue in Toronto's west end, when the city's craft beer scene was still finding its feet. Co-founders Mike Clark and Luke Pestl, who had learned their trade at Amsterdam Brewery, took over a former auto shop and started brewing distinctive ales that quickly built a loyal following. The gamble paid off. What started as a small brewpub has grown into one of Canada's most respected craft breweries, with two retail shops and a production facility in North York.

The brewery's range spans hoppy pale ales, crisp lagers, and barrel-aged wild blends. Their Jelly King, a dry-hopped sour ale, became something of a phenomenon, accounting for nearly a third of total production. When they turned their attention to alcohol-free brewing, Jelly King was the obvious starting point.

NA Jelly King works because the original beer's character comes largely from the yeast and bacteria used in fermentation rather than the alcohol itself. Bellwoods sour the base for both versions the same way, producing those distinctive peachy notes from mixed fermentation. The result is a non-alcoholic sour that actually tastes like it belongs in the same family as its full-strength sibling. Fruit variants with raspberry and blackberry or tropical combinations add variety to the range.

For Canadian drinkers, Bellwoods ships their NA beers directly across Ontario. International availability is more limited, though they do work with European distributors. The brewery has shown that craft credentials translate well to the alcohol-free space when the approach is thoughtful rather than an afterthought.

The Collection

Non-Alcoholic Jelly King Dry Hopped Sour