Beer drinkers can enjoy a new alcohol-free, functional lager with the arrival of High & Dry.
Co-founded by Hawkstone senior brewer, Donncha Burke, and Clarkson’s Farm alumni, Louis Church, High & Dry offers drinkers a crisp alcohol-free, gluten-free lager with the added benefits of functional mushrooms.
A lager which combines British malted barley with Czech saaz hops and citrusy notes of lime, tangerine and lemongrass, High & Dry delivers that clean lager taste from first sip to last, at a minimal 0.4% Abv. But it’s not just a beer which isn’t bad for you. High & Dry has been brewed with bioactive extracts* from organic lion’s mane mushroom and cordyceps – supplied by Bristol Fungarium – which support both energy release and mental clarity**.
The launch comes as sales of no/low- alcohol beer in the UK rose 20% year-on-year in 2024, and are expected to continue growing annually by at least 7% until 2028, according to market research by ISWR.
However, despite this growth and the boom of options available to drinkers, High & Dry is the only lager currently available in the UK which offers consumers a great-tasting beer and the specific combination of lion’s mane and cordyceps, the two power powerhouses of functional mushrooms – both of which are sourced and grown organically here in the UK, unlike other adaptogens such as ashwagandha root and L-Theanine.
High & Dry is already available in select stockists including Diddly Squat Farm Shop, Perky Blenders, Chefs For Foodies, Snuffy Jacks Ale House and more.
Lou Church, Founder of High & Dry, said: “High & Dry, our debut functional lager, came from wanting a drink that reflects how people actually live now. We’re all trying to find a bit more balance without being overwhelmed by information, and to make better choices without losing the joy in things. For me, that meant brewing a proper lager that happens to be functional — not the other way around.
“We’re not trying to replace alcohol or mimic its buzz; we’ve simply created a beer that tastes good and leaves you refreshed, not ruined.”
Tom Baxter, Founder, Bristol Fungarium, added: “At Bristol Fungarium, we’re always exploring inventive ways for our mushrooms to reach people – so we were delighted when High & Dry got in touch.
“Their lager enters a new realm of mindful drinking; it’s not just another 0%. By combining our organic Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps, they’ve created a hangover-free beer that might even leave you feeling better than before you drank it. We’re proud to see our mushrooms playing a part in rethinking what modern drinking can look like.”