Low alcohol brewery Big Drop secures first national pub listings in Castle Inns and All Bar One

Low alcohol beer specialist Big Drop Brewing Co. has secured its first nationwide listing in the on-trade after landing a deal with pub group Mitchells & Butlers.

The pub group — which owns chains like Toby Carvery and Vintage Inns, will sell Big Drop’s stout and pale ales through its city centre-focused brand All Bar One, and will also be launched through its 100-strong chain Castle Inns.

Big Drop secured high-end listings in London pub group Barworks and Michelin-awarded restaurant firm Hakkasan back in February, however, the new deal marks the first time a brewery specialising in beers with an ABV of 0.5% and lower will have access to pub-going consumers on a national scale.

“This is a big step forward for Big Drop and the whole category,” said Big Drop Founder Rob Fink.

“As Mitchells & Butlers continues to recognise the growing importance of providing a credible range of options for non-drinkers. For too long, retailers were only prepared to stock one or two standard low or no alcohol beers, but M&B is leading the way by introducing drinks that are more in tune with their reputation for presenting an incredible craft offering.”

An number of recent studies have found that consumers, in particular millennials, are turning away from alcohol. Beer consumption is expected to gradually globally over the next five years, according to figures released by the IWSR last month.

Fink believes that, with the rise in healthification across both the food and drink industries, now is the time for low-and-no alcohol beers to make an impact in the on-trade.

“Operators have to rethink their attitude towards their drinks range and provide a diverse selection that’s representative of their customer base,” he said. “We’re looking forward to working with M&B as they do exactly that.”

M&B’s procurement manager Ben Lockwood added: “We know that some of our guests are looking to moderate their alcohol intake without sacrificing the social occasion our pubs and restaurants provide, and the addition of Big Drop Stout and Pale Ale clearly gives them positive products to enjoy.”

Mitchell & Butlers recently sold one of its sites to Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels director Guy Ritchie for an undisclosed sum.