No matter the season, a refreshing beverage can lift our spirits with colourful flavours and aromas that awaken the senses. Whether it’s a family gathering, a celebratory event, an intimate dinner, or a normal day after work, a nice drink is often a staple that ties our precious memories together. It’s that nice glass of red wine or the delicious craft beer that can take a meal to the next level. For those that aren’t too keen on the alcoholic variety or just looking to try something unique, we have a satisfying selection of beverages that you will surely enjoy. Below is a guide of non-alcoholic beers at our stores along with some tasty pairing suggestions for you to try. So, grab an ice-cold glass (or can) and a satisfying snack or two!
Beer Basics
The taste of beer can essentially be broken down into four key components: sweetness, bitterness, mouthfeel, and aromatics. All of these come from a combination of ingredients, the fermentation process, filtration, and maturation that forms the overall profile of a good brew.
Essential Flavour Components
Hops: Derived from the flowers of the hop plant, this is what gives beer the bitterness, aromas, and distinctive flavours we enjoy. It serves as a contrast to balance the richness and sweetness provided by a beer’s malts.
Malts: These germinated grain seeds give your beer its signature mouthfeel, colour, and sweetness. Wheat, oat, barley, rye, and other cereals are common malts that aid in the fermention process by releasing starches and sugars for yeast to produce alcohol. The malts are also what gives these brews their rich profile and a bready quality.
The IBU Scale
Standing for International Bitterness Units scale, this is a numerical range that measures a beers bitterness. This range of bitterness is measured from 0 to 120. It is important to point out, though a beer may have a high IBU, that does not necessarily mean it is more bitter. This is because brewers can balance the taste with malts and aromatics to add depth, flavour, and sweetness.
Example of IBU measurements in different beer types
Lager: 5–15 IBU
Pilsner: 20–40 IBU
Pale Ale: 30–50 IBU
Stout: 25–40 IBU
Imperial Stout: 50–80 IBU
IPA: 50–70 IBU
Farm Boy Non-Alcoholic Beers
Flavour: Crisp, balanced-bitterness with notes of citrus and pine.
Pair with: Farm Boy™ Fennel Taralli Breadsticks
Farm Boy™ IPA
Flavour: Smooth taste with fruity, tropical notes.
Pair with: Farm Boy™ Sugar Cinnamon Crisps
The story of this Ontario-brewed beverage begins with two brothers who have a strong passion for delicious craft beer. It’s a journey that started with home-brewing (in their parent’s basement), experimentation, and lots of tasting! As they started their own families, they wanted a way to continue to enjoy crisp and flavourful brews without all the alcohol. They discovered that there weren’t many non-alcoholic options that delivered the same quality, taste, and mouthfeel of a great beer. So, they took matters into their own hands by using their skills and knowledge to create Sober Carpenter. A Montreal-based company that prides itself on brewing some of the best craft-style, non-alcoholic beers on the market.
These non-alcoholic bev’s are made with aromatic hops and malts that provide an uncompromising taste and finish. Using the stop fermentation method, they can shorten and halt the natural fermentation process during brewing. This limits the amount of alcohol produced while still delivering that familiar mouthfeel and bitterness you enjoy. Paired with special filtration techniques, they craft non-alcoholic beers that have rich flavour profiles and depth. Even better, their beverages contain almost half the calories of most alcoholic beers! Below are highlights of the Sober Carpenter products that we carry in our stores, along with some ways that you can enjoy this versatile drink.
Sober Carpenter Blonde Ale
Flavour: Light touches of malt flavour with a crisp hoppy finish.
Pair with: Farm Boy™ Mini Twists Pretzels
Sober Carpenter Irish Red Ale
Flavour: Malt profile with hints of roasted barley, coffee, and caramel.
Pair with: Farm Boy™ Gianduja Covered Coffee Flavoured Hazelnuts
Sober Carpenter Organic Session IPA
Flavour: Bright and tropical with a slightly bitter finish.
Pair with: Farm Boy™ Sriracha Honey Roasted Peanuts
Sober Carpenter West Coast IPA
Flavour: Floral notes with a touch of citrus and tropical fruits. It has a balanced bitterness with a refreshing finish.
Pair with: Farm Boy™ Prosciutto & Pear Stone-Baked Flatbread
Sober Carpenter White Wheat Beer
Flavour: Rich Belgian-style beer with aromas of orange and coriander.
Pair with: Farm Boy™ All Dressed Nut Crisps
Link: White Wheat Beer
Try this!
Sober Carpenter Craft Cider
Recipe link: Virgin Apple Raspberry Mimosa
Link: Craft Cider
