Stockport Founder Builds Guide to More Than 210 Alcohol-Free Beers

A Stockport founder has created a digital guide to help people navigate the growing range of alcohol-free beers available across the UK.

Rick established Unhopped after giving up alcohol in January 2022 and finding that the quality of low and no-alcohol beer had improved, but reliable information about different products remained difficult to find.

The project has since developed into a database of more than 210 beers, allowing users to compare different styles, alcohol content, calorie information, tasting notes and ratings.

Rick said: “When I stopped drinking, I quickly realised that alcohol-free beer had come a long way. But discovering the good stuff was still surprisingly difficult.

“You often see the same few big brands on supermarket shelves, while some of the most interesting beers are harder to find. I wanted to make that discovery process easier.”

The Stockport-built platform covers lagers, pale ales, IPAs, wheat beers and stouts produced by breweries in the UK and overseas.

It is intended for people who have stopped drinking alcohol as well as those cutting back, driving, training or choosing not to drink on a particular occasion.

Rick said the project was designed to provide practical information without telling people how they should approach alcohol.

He said: “It is not about telling people what to drink or not drink. It is about giving people better options.

“Whether somebody is alcohol-free, cutting back or just does not fancy drinking on a particular night, they should still be able to find something enjoyable.”

An iPhone version is also being tested, with early features allowing users to rate beers, record tasting notes and identify styles that match their preferences.

Rick hopes recommendations from users will eventually help people discover products beyond the limited selections commonly available in supermarkets and hospitality venues.

He said Greater Manchester’s established brewing and hospitality culture had helped shape the idea.

“Alcohol-free options should be part of that culture,” he said. “A good alcohol-free beer can still be social, interesting and enjoyable. It should not feel like a compromise.”

Rick is continuing to add beers and brewery information to the platform while gathering feedback from early app users.