Author: Justin Lamb

If you’re not new here, you know we’re already big fans of St. Louis’ own WellBeing Brewing. They have a solid lineup of staples you’ve seen here, including my favorite, Intentional IPA. Still, they also come out with limited runs and collaborations like this week’s pick that always blow your mind and leave your taste buds wanting more. I keep coming back with them and finally got them to partner with me to bring you a better beer at lower prices. Hooray! This week we are drinking Match Day Light by WellBeing Brewing. This beer calls itself an English Premier…

You already know their name by now, so I won’t bore you with the details, but we’re joined by Athletic Brewing once again. Originating out of Connecticut, and now distributed nationwide and recently purchased by a huge beverage company, this may end up being the first MACRO brewery of NA beers. Impressive may be an understatement. This week we are drinking Trailblazer by Athletic Brewing. This brew is filed under the category Hoppy Helles on its label, so I expect a hop-forward German-style beer that’s otherwise well-balanced with a clean finish. This is one of Athletics’ many beers that came…

If you know me, you know that I have conspiracy theories about Waunakee, Wisconsin. These all start with the suspiciously delicious Untitled Art. This brewery makes great brews across the board, and when you think you’ve had them all, you find a new one. Where do they come from, and why are there so many other breweries in this small Wisconsin town? I am always happy to find a new piece of artwork on the can of these happy and often hoppy brews. Today is no exception to this delicious rule. This week, we are drinking a Hazy Double IPA…

There must be something in the water in Waunakee, Wisconsin. The home of many more breweries, this new one that joins us today is a standard brewery that’s jumping on the NA train and coming out with its option for those who like the hoppy flavors but dread the sloppy favors, i.e., sober folks. So let us welcome Southern Grist Brewing Company and see what they have to offer us in the way of flavor, fun, and freaky erotica…scratch that last part. This week we are drinking Beacon from Southern Grist Brewing. Beacon is a juicy IPA from the fun…

Joined again by one of the greats. Athletic Brewing, out of Connecticut, is by far the largest and most successful non-alcoholic brewery. They offer many varieties of great-tasting NA beers, and to make it even better, they are all delicious. Seriously. All of them. It’s nuts. What are they doing over there? What’s in the sauce? They are so inventive that they make unique brews for specific events and limited runs that almost immediately sell out or do so well that they make them year-round. One of those limited special event beers is what we’re drinking today! This week, we…

Is it even possible to find a new brewery? Let alone a new beer? Apparently, yes, it is. This is a new brewery; I am just as confused and excited as all of you. Fül, pronounced like ‘fuel,’ comes to us from Cincinnati and Detroit, which is likely less confusing than it sounds, but that’s what it says on the can. For those who aren’t local, I should explain that Michigan people typically have a feud with Ohio people, so for this beer to cross boundaries like that is especially weird. I suppose it’s true that you can find sobriety…

The variety continues as we try another one of Gruvi’s outstanding group of beverages. Gruvi comes to us from Colorado and incorporates all sorts of non-alcoholic beverages into its catalog, including wines and sparkling. Here, though, we focus on the side of Gruvi that I think is the best: their NA beer selection. Let’s crack a can and smack a man and get to drinking this stuff, huh? This week we are drinking Golden by Gruvi. With little to no descriptions on the can, outside of what you just read, the expectations are that I guess this is a golden…

Justin Lamb is a man of many talents: he’s a writer, musician, counselor, fine beverage connoisseur, and host of the “Friend Request” podcast. We talk about a wide variety of topics in this full-length, unedited episode, including: You can reach Justin on Instagram @friendrequestpod and find the “Friend Request” podcast on your favorite listening platform or linktr.ee/justinlambmusic. Connect with us on the IKAGB podcast via Instagram @ikissedalcoholgoodbye, email them at ikissedalcoholgoodbye@gmail.com, or visit www.ikissedalcoholgoodbye.com. Much love and peace, –Dana & Owl About the I Kissed Alcohol Goodbye Podcast As a former Army chaplain who developed a toxic relationship with alcohol…

Do you suppose that we all have Two Roots since we all have parents? Maybe that’s where they got the name from, or maybe I’m just a baffling person! Either way, we will get to the bottom of this, and by this, I mean this beer can. We’re joined again by Two Roots Brewing Co., originally from California but since settled in the marvelous Midwest. We’ve tried multiple varieties of Two Roots beers, and when you think we’ve tried them all, they will likely come out with a new limited edition one cause they’re just that good. This week we…

Whether you’re a logger or a flogger, you have likely seen Sober Carpenter in the wild. We’ve tried their Uber Hopped IPA, but we’re moving on to what’s next. Sober Carpenter comes from Canada to the U.S. by way of Vermont, to your local store by truck, and to your house via a 2007 Volkswagen Golf. Let’s open the fridge, grab a can and try it out, you hosers! This week we are drinking White by Sober Carpenter. Why white? Is it racist? No, it’s a white ale! First, as usual, we must address the awesomeness of a 16oz can…

Big Drop Brewing is no stranger to the Sober Curator. They hail from across the pond but are distributed locally in the states. We’ve tried many of their unique takes on classic brews, but as the weather gets a little cooler, we lean into their back deck or their black deck. Let’s skip the growing pains and get right into it. This week, we are drinking Galactic Extra Dark by Big Drop Brewing. Remember that the naming convention comes from the stupid legislature that tells these breweries that they can’t call this beer a stout, so when you see ‘dark,’…

We are joined once more by our friends in Colorado, Gruvi! You may remember some of the many beers of theirs we’ve reviewed, or maybe you know them from their non-alcoholic wine selection. Either way, you likely know Gruvi continues to be known for pumping out large quantities and mass distributing high-quality and great-tasting goodies for your mouth and mind to gobble up. So, come along and find out if this week’s choice will be another winner…or the dog’s dinner. This week, we are drinking a Juicy IPA from Gruvi. We’ve had lots of juicy IPAs on here, and I…

Ceria joins us for their sophomore interview. Ceria Brewing Company is out of Colorado and only offers two non-alcoholic beers in its store. With this in mind, my expectation is that they are both awesome…or they are both horrible and just killing their inventory. Still, considering they have changed their can designs since our last review (see Indiewave IPA), it seems they are here to stay, so let’s see what their second beer is. This week we are drinking Grainwave from Ceria Brewing Company. I thought it was pronounced SEE-REE-UH, but apparently, it rhymes with the word ‘area.’ I’m dumb,…

Two Roots Brewing is a delicious brewery that left the west coast to relocate to Michigan, in my backyard! We’ve tried many of their delicious non-alcoholic brews, and they even made my favorite beer: Resin Riot, a double IPA. Now, we’ll dive into another one of their limited releases and bring something unique to our mouths. Yes. Our mouths. This week we are drinking Passion Fruit Pucker by Two Roots Brewing. A deliciously sour beer that promises floral notes and a fruity, sour finish. Upon the first crack of the can, you can get those delicious floral notes that only…

We are meeting someone new today; a visitor, if you will. Visitor is from Potosi, Wisconsin, and brings with it high expectations, as we have been blown away a lot in the past by NA brews out of Wisconsin. We enter into this week with high hopes and a bit of confusion. This week we are drinking Visitor beer. Is it a lager? Is it an IPA? Nobody knows. This nondescript can is plain old aluminum with a couple of stickers. There is no description except for the words “crisp and clean.” The puke green sticker on the front is…

Back in my day, I drank a lot. I was very keen on high-octane, high-alcohol beers. I miss it sometimes because we would use the beers as accents to thematic evenings. One of those regular occurrences, for 7-10 weeks at a time, depending on the season, was Game of Thrones nights. My wife, my roommate, and I would make Game of Thrones food and drink our Game of Thrones beer (by Ommegang Brewery) out of Game of Thrones glasses and goblets. It was a fun little accent to a great show. Unfortunately, I would usually drink ALL the beer and…

In this 11-episode series, Justin Lamb, host of the Friend Request podcast, talked to former guests and experts in their field to review the tangible results and effects of REAL Self Care. He also sprinkled in some special episodes, so get ready to have a damn good time!! For now, though…drink more water. (and if you just read this and thought, “Wow, I need to drink more water.” – You’re welcome!) Self-Care Series Topics IntroductionCookingExerciseAlcohol MeditationWritingHuman ContactSelf-PleasurePersonal FinanceDigital DetoxingSelf-Care Summary Justin takes you on a deep dive into the mental health benefits of cooking your food. We hear from Zen…

We are joined again by one of the leading alcoholic breweries in non-alcoholic selections. BrewDog comes to us by way of Ohio by way of the U.K. We’ve had many of their NA brews, or AF brews as they call them (AF = alcohol-free), and this one is one of their staples in their high-octane alcoholic beers, but they made a toned-down NA version for all of us awesome people. Are you ready to get funky? This week we are drinking Elvis AF by BrewDog. Elvis AF is the non-alcoholic version of their signature beer: Elvis Juice. I know many…

What a lucky bunch of morons we are to be joined by one of the best NA breweries one more time! WellBeing, brewing is the bee’s knees, and everything they make is phenomenal! Do I want more sweet stouts from them? Yes, but I am happy with all that is available, and my IPA favorites are often found with the WellBeing Brewing label. This week is another standard brew for everyone to enjoy, and I think you will have classy beer boners as you drink it up. This week we are drinking Heavenly Body by WellBeing Brewing, a golden wheat…

We’ve been visited by Big Drop Brewing a few times before, and we’ve typically been delighted. Big Drop Brewing comes to us from across the pond in London but is brewed locally in Chicago. Today’s beer is a winner of Best Style from the World Beer Awards and will surely surprise us with a hidden flavor. This week we are drinking Pine Trail Pale from Big Drop Brewing. This non-alcoholic beer is labeled as a pale ale, but inside, it has a deep, dark secret. Something unique is bubbling below the surface, and when it comes out, you’re going to…

We’ve had this guest over for dinner many times and are again calling in some sexy favors and trying out another beer from Two Roots Brewing. Originally from California and hailing from my home state of Michigan, Two Roots is the bee’s knees filled with good ideas, good brews, and a big ass machine that removes the alcohol from their beer. It makes me want to buy one and dump whatever beer I want in there. Es. Then I will be the NA beer god! I digress. This week we are drinking Flying Bear Dance by Two Roots Brewing. This…

Surreal Brewing, out of California, is no stranger to The Sober Curator. We’ve reviewed a number of their IPAs and even a Kolsch! (Click here for the complete list) I firmly believe that these are some of the most underrated brews in the the non-alcoholic world, and it bears repeating that you should not sleep on them. Their IPA selection is stellar, but we’re venturing into another arena with Surreal Brewing this week. A darker arena. A cakier arena. This week we are drinking Pastry Porter from Surreal Brewing. A step away from their typical lineup, this unique brew plays…

We are joined once again by this yacht club looking can and this brewery called Rescue Club. If you recall from previous reviews (you guys read them all, right? RIGHT?!?), I had mixed feelings about their IPA, and by mixed feelings, I mean I simply didn’t like it. This week, however, they are making a comeback with a classic style that is sure to tingle your testes and ogle your ovaries. This week, we are drinking Pils by Rescue Club. You likely guessed that Pils is short for pilsner, a classic beer style that very few non-alcoholic breweries have as…

We are being joined once again by our neighbors to the north, Canada. Partake, one of the first NA breweries on the scene, offers staples and low-calorie options. We’ve previously tried their IPA, a delicious caramelly color and only 10 calories, and while they offer many more brews, including Stout, Red, and a variety of sours, we’re sticking with something a little lighter today. This week, we are drinking Blonde by Partake. A little light on the naming conventions, but at least you know what you’re getting. A blonde in any brewery typically seems to be their answer to a…

We have a new brewery joining us! Another gem out of Waunakee, Wisconsin, Omission Brewing, joins us with one of their two non-alcoholic offerings. They are a standard high-octane brewery, but they have two different NA options for those people cooler than normal, like yours truly, and maybe even you, the reader! That’s exciting! This week we are drinking Bright Eyed IPA from Omission Brewing. The brewery doesn’t offer much info as far as specifics, but given the name, I expect a session style IPA; something light, but still having a heavy hop presence. The bright green can tells me…

We are joined again by the largest, and possibly most popular, non-alcoholic brewery in the country: Athletic Brewing. They have given us my favorite IPA, an over-excited Lite beer, and so many more gems along the way in the form of small batch and limited release beers. This week is a staple of theirs and if you like ‘em light and sour, you may be excited! This week we are drinking Downwinder Gose by Athletic Brewing. Gose, by trade is usually a sour beer, heavy on malted wheat and ripe with herbs or fruit, and a good amount of salt.…

Hoping for a better showing, we are joined again by our piney friends from the northeast, Woodland Farms. Last time they brought me an IPA that tasted like pine needles and Necco wafers, so expectations are low. As a reminder, Woodland Farms is out of Maine and the main problem with their first beer is I didn’t like it. Can we change course and still stay in the realm of IPA? We shall see! This week, we are drinking West IPA from Woodland Farms Brewery. The expectation is set with a west coast IPA to be lightly hoppy with flavor…

Good morrow and fair morn to you. We are being joined once again by Atmos Brewing, from the great state of Idaho. We’ve previously discussed their Golden Ale and Double IPA, but this week is a special treat and may even beg the question: is Atmos Brewing a ringer? A sleeper? Are they hording their brews in sacks of potatoes releasing them only for those in the know?!? Or, maybe they just have a distribution channel that doesn’t bring them around me very much. I mean that seems more likely. We are drinking Cosmos NA Peanut Butter Milk Dark this…

Ok, to understand this week’s beer, I suppose you should know who The Naked Collective is. This is a company founded in Ireland, but brewed in the U.S. Confused, yet? Don’t be. I recently learned that Ireland is a tax haven for some major companies. Isn’t that weird? The Naked Collective wants to make health-conscience beverages for you and me and everyone we know. They have mood drinks that they call “Mude” drinks, which look like Kin Euphorics, maybe, but then they also have this beer, or should I say “beer”. This week we are drinking So-Beer by The Naked…

Bravus Brewing is no stranger to The Sober Curator or my fridge. They are best known for their stouts, but their wide selection has graced these pages and many of their beers have a specific taste that I am not always a fan of. We’ve had Bravus Blonde, Orange Cream, and every Stout available, and now a special edition comes our way to treat our taste buds to tantalizing tantric sex. Sorry, I got carried away with my alliteration. How Does It Pour? This week we are drinking Blood Orange IPA from Bravus Brewing. From the name and the brand,…