Post by dutchgirl678 on Apr 19, 2024 12:15:51 GMT -5
I like the Athletic NA beer. The golden is my favorite but DH likes the IPA and we both like the stout in the winter. There are also local (OR) NA beers from Crux and Deschutes that are good. Another OR brewery called Pelican Brewery has released a NA drink called Sparklehops and I really like the Acai version. I've had the NA Guinness which I liked as well. I sometimes buy the NA sparkling rosé from Surely on Thrive, but only occasionally because of the price (>$20).
I really like the Poppi sodas - the Raspberry Rose is my favorite and what I've been taking when I want something fun to drink without drinking.
Fever Tree makes really good tonic flavors.
I love the raspberry rose flavor too. Also like the Good Twin NA sparkling wine, athletic brewing company NA IPA, fever tree tonic and I drink coconut water too in a margarita glass. The trick for me is getting the good glasses out so it feels like a ritual.
I kept my dry January going and don't plan to drink at all this year
I really like the Poppi sodas - the Raspberry Rose is my favorite and what I've been taking when I want something fun to drink without drinking.
Fever Tree makes really good tonic flavors.
I love the raspberry rose flavor too. Also like the Good Twin NA sparkling wine, athletic brewing company NA IPA, fever tree tonic and I drink coconut water too in a margarita glass. The trick for me is getting the good glasses out so it feels like a ritual.
I kept my dry January going and don't plan to drink at all this year
Same! The experience of drinking out of a wine glass - even just plain ol' sparkling water - is really effective for me.
I love the raspberry rose flavor too. Also like the Good Twin NA sparkling wine, athletic brewing company NA IPA, fever tree tonic and I drink coconut water too in a margarita glass. The trick for me is getting the good glasses out so it feels like a ritual.
I kept my dry January going and don't plan to drink at all this year
Same! The experience of drinking out of a wine glass - even just plain ol' sparkling water - is really effective for me.
Yes I'm drinking my water and lemon right now in a huge wine glass
If you're missing that "bite" in your mocktails, try tonic water instead of seltzer or club soda. The quinine in tonic water adds that bitterness most alcoholic drinks have.
Post by litebright on Apr 19, 2024 16:34:01 GMT -5
I go through phases of mixing NA drinks, so I've tried a number of things.
Curious Elixirs were hit or miss for me. I liked the negroni-style one, but the cherry one tasted like really awful cough syrup--like so bad I took a few sips and never drank it again, even though it was expensive.
I think Monday NA gin is a very good substitute with a good gin flavor.
I have enjoyed everything I've tried from Lyre's, they are my favorite NA brand. Their Italian spritz/NA Campari has a very good bitterness/herbaceousness to it. Their canned mocktails are tasty, I really like their G&T and Classico.
I have mixed feelings about Seedlip. IMO it's not a substitute-Seedlip-for-X-alcohol kind of NA drink -- they have distinctive flavor profiles and if you just want something NA to mix into your favorite cocktail, Seedlip is going to make it weird IME. It has to be mixed as if it is it's own thing, if that makes sense. I've had good Seedlip mocktails at bars where somebody else has put the thought into that, but when I'm home I prefer to mix something that tastes like my usual drinks but is NA, so I like the stuff that you can just swap.
I have definitely gotten on the kombucha train, and this week I've also been trying Hiyo, which I found at a local wine shop and supposedly has adaptogen/nootropic stuff going on. Which seems pretty woo to me and I'm trying to figure out if I actually feel more relaxed or not, but it's a lot like kombucha in taste.
I had a mocktail in a restaurant made with the Seedlip “gin” & I enjoyed it. But it was more herbaly than gin-y from what I recall?
Anywho, I mostly lean into fun bitters, which can contain alcohol but you’re just using drops of it. Like, Bittman’s Hellfire in grapefruit seltzer with lime (or Fever Tree Sparkling grapefruit which seems to have a little grapefruit juice in it?) for a “Paloma”. I also like Bitterman’s Burlesque & 1821 Bitters’ Earl Grey. Either with plain or flavored seltzer or thatwith pineapple juice or lemonade, respectively. If you want more of a bite back, look into shrubs (basically fruit & vinegar). With strawberries in season near me, I’m going to do a strawberry one this weekend.
ETA: re non alcoholic wine, I think I read somewhere that they lean into cherry juice (at least the reds) so that’s another thought to try just generally
I hadn't thought about it, but bitters are a great idea for mocktails at home (assuming very small amounts of alcohol are ok for you). I bet they provide a little bit of that bite that is missing without the liquor.