Big Drop: Reef Point (England: Low Alcohol: 0.5% ABV)
Visual: Pale yellow to grain, small bubbled carbonation. Thin dash of a head that leaves quickly.
Nose: Cake sponge. Lime cordial. Some hop character and bitterness.
Body: Wet cardboard. Soft lime. Chalk. Mild gherkin touch. Clinging hop bitterness. Cake sponge.
Finish: Clinging hop bitterness. Popcorn. Chalk. Soft lime. Soft honey. Fatty butter.
Conclusion: So, Big Drop are pretty good generally, and they are experts in low abv beers, that is their entire thing, but until now lagers have been a chink in their armour, they seem to have great difficulties with the style. Is this going to be the beer that patches over that flaw?
Nope!
They still do not have it. Frankly by now I feel like Charlie Brown taking a run up to kick the football every time I try a Big Drop lager.
Again this feels chalky, an element that can be fine in a bigger beer, but always seems too rough and out of place in low alcohol beers, especially lagers. In fact, looking at my old notes this seems amazing similar to the notes I did on their standard lager. Same description of just about existing soft lime, some chalk, same curse of kind of cardboard like notes.
There does seem to be a more evident hop character which is a plus for me, and some just about noticeable honey notes as it warms which gives some backing.
Probably just about better than the standard lager then, but still bland, still a touch rough and generally not good.
Ah well, maybe next time the football won’t be pulled away at last minute. I live in hope.
Background: Big Drop, in general I am a big fan. They are one of the first real alcohol free pioneers I can remember, doing not just an alcohol free beer here or there, but doing just alcohol free beers. Not every beer was great, but they have attempted a great range and with some real bangers. Their lagers have not been their strong point though, but when I saw this in independent spirit I thought I’d give it a go and see if they have improved on that, it is always nice when you find a new alcohol free beer that rocks that you can slot into your non drinking days. Not much to add, was feeling nostalgic so put on Garbage’s first, self titled album as backing music.