STATE OF PLAY: FUELLING THE BREWING REBELLION – ONE ZERO-ALCOHOL BEER AT A TIME
New Zealand is a country of beer drinkers. We love a brew, and we have plenty of options from the big players to a plethora of craft breweries. If you like beer, you don’t have to go far to find one to your taste. But what if you love beer, but don’t want the alcohol?
We have seen a rise in the zero-alcohol category in recent years, but what about options outside of mainstream lagers with the alcohol removed, and most importantly, what about taste? This is where kiwi, Grant Caunter saw an opportunity, and State of Play, New Zealand’s first and only zero-alcohol brewery was born.
Grant has over 25 years in the brewing industry, here in NZ and abroad, most recently as Global Director of Craft Beer at Heineken, based in Amsterdam. In his time, he has enjoyed a lot of beer.
March 16, 2020, the pandemic hit and the world was in lockdown and his life became zoom call after zoom call, with no bars open, no one to talk to. The only steps he was clocking up were attributed to trips to the fridge for a beer. Everything Grant loved about craft beer – the people, the stories, the positive vibe, and great-tasting beer had stopped overnight and didn’t change for the next 18 months.
Motivation comes from progress, and things were going backward, and he realised the only thing he could change was himself. So, he did. After 25 years in the belly of the beast, Grant stopped drinking alcohol and things started changing.
He still loves beer; not the alcohol.
Our aim was to create a zero percent beer that tastes the way beer should, brewed the natural way with the best New Zealand ingredients.
Grant Caunter
State of Play is brewed naturally using the latest advancements in zero beer technology, which enables the beer to be brewed by a special yeast that produces a very small amount of alcohol (less than 0.5%). This method requires a hands-on craft to get a well-balanced beer flavour – hoppy bitterness and malty backbone.
The first beer off the canning line is the fastidiously crafted, New Zealand-made, State of Play IPA. A cracking brew made with a blend of NZ Hops and Canterbury malt.
State of Play IPA is available now at stateofplaybeer.com, retailers and select bars.
4 Comments
Hey Grant,
Josh here, I am currently working at a winery in Hawke’s Bay. I have a background as a chef and used to be a keen home brewer and have worked in a commercial brewery in England for six months. Last year I ended up having a year off drinking and loved it, but still like drinking and making beer, just not drinking and hangovers. It is awesome what you have done, NZ really needs more and better zero alcohol craft beers that actually taste good. I was wondering if by chance you have any brewery jobs going at this time? Appreciate your time.
Cheers,
Josh
Really enjoyed your beer.
I am a fan of Hoppy and tasty beers, IPA, Stouts, Hazies.
I did Dry July this year to support a load of friends dealing with cancer, but I also needed to calm the drinking a little. I don’t actually drink That much when I do drink, But, I do always choose Higher alcohol options.
I wonder if there are any thoughts of a 0% dark beer in your furture plans?
Cheers for the excellent ale.
Hi and thanks for the feedback. Im working on a bit of a hop bomb at the minute. Still in trial phase. For a good stout there is a brewery called big drop that does an awesome 0% stout. Can order from Freasy.com
Cheers Grant
Thanks Grant. I did actuallu order some of their beers esp for Dry July. And the 0% Guinness (which was sold out at the time) Thanks very much for the reply. Cheers.