Woodforde’s launches its first low-alcohol beer

Woodforde’s Brewery in Norfolk has entered the low-alcohol beer market with the release of a 0.5% ABV version of its Volt American IPA.

Aaron Taubman, who joined Woodforde’s after a 10 year stint at Purity, did not mention the possibility of a low-alcohol beer when the drinks business spoke with him at the beginning of this year. However, ahead of Dry January, the brewery has made its first foray into the low-alcohol sector.

In a press release, Taubman was quoted as saying : “There’s been a real buzz in the team experimenting with what our first entry into the [low-alcohol] market might look like – but it was important for us to retain the great taste our customers know and love.”

Called Volt 0.5, the American IPA is also vegan and gluten free, a decision which Taubamn said was in order to make it “accessible to as many people as we can”.

The low alcohol level has been achieved using an achieved fermentation.

“Volt has continually been one of our most popular beers, so we’re pleased to have packed a real flavour punch into Volt 0.5 while keeping it light,” he continued.

The regular version of Volt has an ABV of 4.5%. Though first brewed as a one-off in the summer of 2018, it eventually became a permanent fixture of the Woodforde’s lineup, which also includes the brewery’s famous Wherry amber ale.

The hops used in Volt 0.5, which give it its aromas of pine and citrus, are the American varieties Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic – a slightly smaller range than are used in the regular version, which is brewed with Citra, Cascade, Admiral, Amarillo, Simcoe, Bravo and Centennial.

Volt 0.5 is available to buy online, and also at pubs in East Anglia.