BD: Introduce us to Big Drop!
Rob (co-founder) and I started Big Drop in 2016. We both had young families, Rob stopped drinking when his first son was born, but Rob – who worked as a lawyer – was bored of taking clients to the pub and being stuck with boring AF beers without taste. He asked, “Why can’t anyone make great AF craft beer?” …and we left with the masterful skills of our head brewer Johnny.
What sets your brand apart from others?
Other than being the first, we didn’t set out to make great AF craft beer. We set out to make a great craft beer that happened to be alcohol free. This upside-down thinking has been the driving force behind everything we’ve done to date, leading us to launch Reef Point’s fantastic new 0.5% ABV craft lager, which is both gluten-free and vegan!
In which markets are you available?
Big Drop is available in the UK, Australia and the US, as well as parts of Europe and Asia. The UK will always be our home and focus, but it’s exciting to see the opportunities emerging in the US (we’re launching new states every month at the moment) and Australia, which is probably the fastest growing market.
What does your job entail?
With ten years leading design and development agencies and over 20 years as a graphic designer, most of my time at Big Drop is spent making sure our messaging, packaging and tools are the best quality – and communicating our brand message – as possible .
How do you see the low/no market change since the Big Drop was founded in 2016?
Well, people don’t think we’re crazy anymore! When we started in 2016, a lot of people thought we were crazy to be making AF beer. Since then, hundreds of companies have joined the global AF revolution. It’s great to see and be a part of.
What does Drynuary look like for you?
January used to be a massive jump for us. But consumer understanding of the AF space and vast improvements in quality and range have led to people looking for AF options to fit into their 24/7/365 lifestyle. It’s fantastic to see the consumer move from seeing AF as a ‘seasonal campaign’ to a year-round demand for quality and choice to fit into their busy lifestyles.
And what should we look out for from your company in the rest of 2023?
More and bigger. The appetite for quality, craft AF beer shows no signs of slowing down – you’ll see the Big Drop on tap across pub groups, in your favorite restaurants and even in WH Smith as you wait for your train.
What inspires you on your alcohol-free journey?
AF is no longer a ‘weaker’ option and I’m proud that we’ve made this change in consumer perception, but there’s a lot more to do. Have Laura, Jussi and the team at Club Sodait’s amazing on that road. As Low2No Showwhich gets bigger and better every year and has led directly to some exciting listings (race tracks as well as football and rugby pitches).
What is your favorite Big Drop beer?
It would have to be our Paradiso Citra IPA – It’s an excellent beer, AF or otherwise. Even better is when I can walk into a pub and have a pint on tap – something I couldn’t do in 2016 that’s for sure. We have some exciting plans for this year’s Paradiso.