Author: Justin Lamb

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…

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,…

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 Justin takes you on a deep dive into the mental health benefits of cooking your food. We hear from Zen Chef Aaron Cozaad and Plant-based Nutritionist…

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…

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,…

Can we just talk about how great BrewDog is? They are only one of two places I know of that I can get NA on tap. I loved draft beer and I love to drink draft beer and that is a big loss as a non-drinker, but then BrewDog comes in and offers their NAs on tap at all of their locations and suddenly there is a reason to go to Columbus, Ohio other than Schmidt’s Sausage Haus in Germantown. This week we are drinking Hazy AF by BrewDog. As you may have guessed from the name, this is a…

We are joined again by the ever-impressive Untitled Art. All the way from Waunakee, Wisconsin, this brewery deals in high octane beers as well as non-alcoholic beers, and let me tell you, they have this down to a science. We have previously reviewed their Juicy IPA, Chocolate Milk Stout, and Italian Pilsner, to name a few, and they have yet to disappoint, always going hard with flavor and deliciousness. This week, we are drinking Lychee Sherbet from Untitled Art. This beer captures all of the flavors of the Lychee…fruit? Berry? What is lychee? We may never know, but we will…

We are joined again by a leader in the non-alcoholic beer industry, Athletic Brewing. Athletic is known for its wide variety, limited batches, and huge distribution. This week, though, we focus on a beer style that has been missing from many NA craft breweries, and one that has been around in the macro-brew world for ages: Light Beer. This week, we are drinking Athletic Lite from Athletic Brewing. This is one of the first light beers available from a craft brewery in the non-alcoholic space. Based on Athletic Brewing’s track record, I would anticipate that this would be on par…

BrewDog is a brewery that helps set the bar for NA beers produced by standard breweries. They have a sober bar in London with a wall of NA taps and they serve NA draft beer at all of their U.S. tap rooms, including their Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis, Indiana locations. They are widely distributed and ship to most states, except Michigan, Idaho, and some other states. We’ve reviewed a number of their beers before and they know how to brew beer, boy! This week we are drinking Ghost Walker from BrewDog. This beer is an IPA collaboration with the band,…

Two Roads is a brewery out of Connecticut that does high octane beer and recently added a non-alcoholic option to their repertoire. This is an ongoing trend for alcoholic breweries as they see a place in the market for an NA option. With the market growing 30% year over year, this shouldn’t be surprising anyone, except for maybe Stone Brewing who has no desire to branch into that area right now, but that’s not why we’re talking today. This week, we’re drinking a Juicy IPA from Two Roads. Without popping the can, I am already conflicted that the NA option…

I feel like it’s been a while since I gave you guys the goods from Athletic Brewing. Perhaps it’s because Michigan’s stupid distribution laws make me jump through prohibition hoops to get anything outside of their flagship beers, but maybe it’s because the inner punk rock kid in me looks at them as the biggest NA craft brewer and I want to highlight the little guys more. Either way, Athletic Brewing is only the biggest because their beers are phenomenal, and this week is no exception. This week, we are drinking Sunset Stoke from Athletic Brewing, a delightfully hoppy red…

Gruvi has not graced us with their brews in quite some time, and I think my last review for one of their NA beers was back in the fall, but nonetheless, I’ve got two new ones to try and it looks like there has been a bit of rebranding, too. Gruvi makes NA beers and wine and comes to us from the Rocky Mountain state, Colorado. They are pretty widely distributed, so grab a brew and play along. This week, we’re drinking Mocha Nitro Stout from Gruvi. I saw this and was immediately excited. For one, they had a re-branding,…

I’ve reviewed many brews by Bravus Brewing, and they should be a familiar name by now. This NA brewery from southern California is joining us again for what may be my favorite beer by them. Over the many beers from this bombastic brewery I’ve tried, my reviews have been mixed, and I often tend to favor their dark selections like peanut butter stouts and barrel-aged stouts. However, my heart was possibly won over by this IPA. This week, we are drinking Double Dry-Hopped IPA from Bravus Brewing. We have had their standard IPA before and their Blood Orange IPA and…