Join me on this trip down memory lane with Carl Anthony Brown, co-founder of Crossip Alcohol-Free Spirits.

Carl comes at the low/no market from a different perspective, as in his inimitable “unapologetically Bold’ way he makes it clear that his drinks were never made to replicate alcohol and nor were they made for sober drinkers!

Instead, Carl and the Crossip team are making flavour-first drinks for those times when full-strength imbibers are choosing to drink less.

Carl takes me through the creation process of inventing Crossip, which involved a lot of time spent in dark rooms with a lot of booze as he taste-tested his way to just the right formulas for the “currently” three-strong range.

We touch on Carl’s impassioned opinions about the word ‘Mocktail’, and I probe the nation’s favourite television drinks expert for some of his best tips for making low/no cocktails at home.

This episode is full of open chat, honest opinions and lots of laughs. Get your glasses topped up, and come join us!

Low No Drinker Magazine: for the mindful & sober curious drinker

Discover the effervescent world of sparkling pét-nat tea fermentation with Aaron McAllister and Daniel Lasa of Amma Brewery, who join me to share their passion for creating low-alcohol, artisanal beverages that go beyond the everyday.

These brewmasters take us behind the scenes of their six-month ageing process, revealing how their culinary and fermentation expertise culminates in a drink that's as complex as it is refreshing. From the serendipitous discoveries that shaped their methods to the unfiltered essence that defines their brand, we sip through the artistry that sets Ama's offerings apart from conventional spirits.

Aaron and Danny pour out the challenges and philosophies of crafting these premium drinks, emphasizing their dedication to minimal intervention and sustainable practices incorporating natural ingredients from specialist growers around the globe.

We also explore the vital role of the Makers Alliance in cultivating a community for small-scale producers and how they strive to preserve their integrity against the backdrop of a market often controlled by the heavy pour of larger corporations.

Raise your glasses to collaboration and evolution within the craft drink industry, as we celebrate Ama Brewery's journey into the spotlight in fine dining. Aaron and Danny reflect on the importance of language and education in introducing new categories of premium beverages to the discerning palates of consumers and sommeliers alike.

Join us for an episode that's bursting with the complexity, nuance, and the very essence of what makes a drink not just good, but remarkable.

Low No Drinker Magazine: for the mindful & sober curious drinker

And now for something a little different…

This week things take a more scientific turn as I speak to Food & Beverage Consultant Hamish Renton.

Hamish is the MD of HRA-Global and, with 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, is in a unique position to shed some light on the newest but little-known fad to be impacting the low-and-no industry.

The ‘fat-jab’ is gaining increased notoriety among celebrities, social media and tabloids as everyone from the ex-Prime Minister to your Gran turns to them to help manage their weight loss.

But what is the unrealised knock-on effect on the low-and-no-alcohol beverage industry?

These medications, which are already being used for their side effects and not what they were initially designed for, are affecting how swathes of Americans (and now Brits) are approaching consumption of everything from food to alcohol and the relationships we have with others along the way.

How will the low/no beverage industry respond? Will this mark the launch of yet another new category? Are the short-term effects going to have long-term impacts on independent producers who already face mounting struggles just to keep up with the big-alcohol Joneses?

This is a truly fascinating subject, dive in with me now…

Low No Drinker Magazine: for the mindful & sober curious drinker