Brooklyn

Hindy picked up homebrewing while stationed in the Middle East, where American diplomats made their own beer to cope with local alcohol restrictions. Back in Brooklyn, he and Potter hired Milton Glaser, the designer behind the famous I Love New York logo, to create their branding. That distinctive B still marks every bottle.

The brewery built its reputation on Brooklyn Lager, a pre-Prohibition style amber lager that became a New York icon. In 1994, Garrett Oliver joined as brewmaster and went on to become one of the most respected figures in American brewing, winning the James Beard Award in 2014. The Williamsburg taproom, opened in a converted matzo factory in 1996, became a destination for beer lovers worldwide.

Brooklyn entered the alcohol-free space in 2019 with Special Effects. Rather than simply removing alcohol from existing recipes, the range was developed specifically for low-ABV brewing. The lineup now includes a Hoppy Amber with toasted malt character, an IPA with citrus hop notes, a zesty Grapefruit IPA, and a crisp Golden Ale. All clock in under 0.5% ABV.

The Special Effects range was put together by a brewing team with serious pedigree, and it shows. The Hoppy Amber has a satisfying bitterness that many AF lagers lack. These are not afterthoughts bolted onto a mainstream portfolio.

In the UK, Brooklyn beers are brewed under licence and distributed by Carlsberg Marston's. You'll find Special Effects in Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose, and Ocado, as well as pubs and bars that stock a decent alcohol-free selection. The original US versions remain available through specialist importers for those who want to compare.