Big Drop Brewing Co has expanded its brewing capacity as sales of its 0.5% ABV Chocolate Milk Stout defy convention.
The company, which was the UK’s first exclusively dedicated to brewing only the finest sub-0.5% ABV beer, launched the Chocolate Milk Stout in November 2016 as a style particularly suited to the winter months, but demand has been exceeding expectations throughout the summer.
Brewery founder, Rob Fink, said: “We brought out Chocolate Milk Stout last winter as the first in our range of full-flavoured, 0.5% ABV beers, and have been thrilled at the response it has received.
“Our projections estimated that sales would slow over the warmer months as darker beers such as stouts often tend to defer to lighter brews when the sun comes out and temperatures rise.
“However, sales of Big Drop stout appear to have defied convention and continued to rise alongside our Citrus Pale Ale, the second beer in our portfolio.”
He added: “We’ve had to increase our production tenfold. In scheduling additional brews on a more frequent basis, I’ve had to rewrite our projections and am moving our nomad operations, under the direction of brewer Johnny Clayton, to two breweries that can accommodate our requirements, as we’ve outgrown our current facility at UBREW.”
Both beers are available through the specialist online retailer drydrinker.com, Draft House pubs and some independent, specialist craft beer bars, with discussions ongoing with other stockists.
Big Drop beers have been lauded by industry commentators as some of the best low-alcohol beers on the market, gaining recognition for the depth of flavours normally associated with higher strength ales.
Beer writer Pete Brown recently said of Chocolate Milk Stout: “It’s recognisable as a stout and tastes like one. Just as good, if not better than some full-strength stouts.”
Rob said: “We have acted quickly to make sure we meet demand and put measures in place to ensure supply of Chocolate Milk Stout, and our other beers, continues uninterrupted, as the brands grow at such an extraordinary rate.
“Big Drop is now entering another phase of its development, with excitement building as we prepare to roll out the next stage of our plans.”
