Tom Holland’s Beer Model Simply Dropped a New IPA—Right here’s the Story Behind the Taste

In 2018, onerous seltzer was in every single place. White Claw took over coolers, bar menus, and celebration tables, and beer all of a sudden had actual competitors. So when Grant Wooden—a brewmaster with many years of expertise—floated the concept of nonalcoholic beer to main gamers like MillerCoors, it didn’t precisely land. Everybody was nonetheless using the fizzy wave.

NA beer? That felt like a distinct segment at greatest.

However flash ahead to right this moment and the numbers—and fridges—inform a unique story. Between THC seltzers, adaptogen blends, and nonalcoholic wine and beer, the low-ABV and booze-free classes are booming. And the standard? It is now not simply “good for a nonalcoholic choice”—it is good, interval.

One model making waves is BERO, the premium NA beer firm co-founded by the extremely likable actor Tom Holland. It launched final fall with three types: a crisp Pilsner, a juicy Hazy IPA, and a refreshing Wheat beer. Now, they’ve simply dropped their first new launch since launch: Double Tasty, a daring, West Coast-style IPA brewed with premium Colorado malt and a trio of hops that carry critical citrus and pine character with none of the booze.

To mark the launch, I caught up with the person behind the beer: Grant Wooden, BERO’s brewmaster and worker #2, who got here out of retirement to assist rethink what nonalcoholic beer may truly style like.
Within the fall, BERO entered the scene with three core beers—and I’ll admit, I used to be skeptical. I’ve by no means been a giant NA beer drinker. If I’m having a beer, I need the true stuff. And if I’m not ingesting, I’ll often attain for one thing gentle and non-beer-y.

However BERO shocked me. It is citrusy and crisp, with an precise beer end. It’s not overly candy or watery. And that’s not by chance.

The man behind that taste is Grant Wooden, who’s labored within the brewing trade for 40 years. He labored at a number of main names, launched Revolver Brewing in Texas (which was later acquired by MillerCoors), and was fortunately retired—nicely, largely. He was consulting right here and there, however admittedly a bit bored till the BERO alternative got here alongside.

“There simply wasn’t any curiosity again in 2018 a minimum of at that bigger brewery scale,” Wooden instructed me.
However he noticed one thing others didn’t. Similar to he did with craft beer earlier than it took off in Texas. And as soon as once more, he was early.

Now, nonalcoholic beer is among the fastest-growing beverage classes. Wooden determined to go all in. “We’ve to have the ability to make beer that individuals need to drink,” he stated.

What’s the Double Tasty IPA?

After we spoke, Wooden cracked open a can of BERO’s newest launch—Double Tasty—proper on the prime of the decision. It’s a becoming intro for somebody whose job is (fairly actually) making beer for a brand new period of drinkers.

The brand new IPA is a West Coast model, identified for its brilliant bitterness and clear end. And whereas it’s distinctly American, the model notes its lineage traces again to Britain—“the place pale ales and IPAs first laid the groundwork for hop-centric brewing.”

This isn’t only a hazy development piece both. Double Tasty leans onerous into craft taste, with a hop profile that really pops. “These hop flavors actually carry the flavour,” he defined. “You’re getting a full beer taste, notably from the hops.”

They use a customized brewing methodology, a maltose-negative yeast, and simply sufficient fermentation to provide what Grant calls “beer-ness”—with out letting the alcohol go above 0.5%. There’s a slight bitterness and a clear chunk, similar to the IPAs you’d drink on a heat afternoon—minus the nap that often follows.

So why now? Why is NA beer having this second?

Grant credit a couple of components: higher choices in the marketplace, a cultural shift in how we drink, and extra individuals—like Tom Holland—reaching for booze-free options past simply Dry January.

“Individuals need the flavour of a beer, the physique of a beer, the expertise of holding this beer that appears like a beer, has a head of froth on prime, having fun with it with buddies,” he stated.

He additionally will get it on a private degree: “I’m attending to a spot that a few beers makes me very sleepy,” he laughed. As of late, he alternates between alcoholic and nonalcoholic beers relying on the vibe.
I requested him what units BERO other than the rising variety of rivals and his reply is telling. In contrast to conventional breweries that begin with an alcoholic beer and attempt to take away the alcohol after the very fact, BERO was designed to be nonalcoholic from the beginning.

“We’re creating these types based mostly on world-known types, however bringing them into the less-than-0.5 alcohol area, and formulating it from that perspective,” he stated.

It’s a element that issues. You possibly can style it.

Whereas the brewing course of is shorter and makes use of much less sugar, it’s nonetheless a technical feat. “Should you’re making common beer, you are utilizing possibly 12 to twenty% of a sugar resolution,” he defined. “Within the case of our beer, we’re utilizing means much less. We’re solely making about 6% sugar.”

That tweak means the yeast can’t make a lot alcohol however it will probably nonetheless create the aromas and flavors we count on from actual beer.

With Double Tasty now out on the planet, I needed to ask: What’s subsequent? Will we be getting new drops each season?
Don’t rely on it.

“At BERO, they’re all the time innovating,” Wooden instructed me, “however we’re additionally avoiding doing an excessive amount of.”

As a substitute of speeding to launch new types each month, the model is targeted on doing a couple of issues actually, rather well.

“I all the time say three taste profiles,” he stated when speaking about conserving issues easy. “Give all of them a chance to carry one thing to the flavour profile. So you may go, you already know—it brings these three issues. On this case, it’s citrus, it’s piney, it’s ardour fruit.”

The place can I discover BERO?

For now, BERO’s fourth brew is right here—and it’s proof that NA beer doesn’t must really feel like a compromise. Whether or not you’re sober-curious, skipping booze for the night time, or simply on the lookout for one thing crisp with precise taste, Double Tasty lives as much as its identify. Yow will discover it at Goal nationwide, order straight on BERObrewing.com, or discover it in choose shops utilizing their locator.