The non-alcoholic drinks market has exploded lately. More people want drinks that taste good but leave out the booze.
This shift has opened the door for brands that focus only on alcohol-free options.
Smashed Drynks stands out because it uses the UK’s first purpose-built cool vacuum distillation plant to remove alcohol whilst preserving flavour.
The process starts with fully alcoholic beers and ciders at around 5% ABV. Then, the alcohol is gently removed at low temperatures, keeping the taste you’d expect from a regular drink.
Unlike brands that split their focus, Smashed Drynks dedicates all its time to alcohol-free drinks.
The company produces beers, lagers, and ciders that are truly 0% ABV, not just low alcohol. Each drink has less than 100 calories per 330ml and meets vegan and halal standards.
Key Takeaways
- Smashed Drynks uses a unique vacuum distillation process that removes alcohol at low temperatures to preserve the original taste
- The company focuses exclusively on creating alcohol-free drinks rather than dividing attention between alcoholic and non-alcoholic products
- All Smashed products are truly 0% ABV with less than 100 calories per serving and meet vegan and halal requirements
What Sets Smashed Drynks Apart from Other Non-Alcoholic Brands
Smashed Drynks cuts through the crowded non-alcoholic drinks market thanks to its unique production method and total removal of alcohol.
They’re big on British-sourced ingredients and pride themselves on delivering an authentic taste that mirrors traditional alcoholic drinks.
Commitment to Authentic Flavour Profiles
Smashed Drynks uses a specialised approach to keep the real taste of beer and cider intact.
They start by brewing fully alcoholic drinks at about 5% ABV before removing the alcohol. This is pretty different from competitors who just brew weak beer from the get-go.
The company invested in a state-of-the-art cool vacuum distillation plant.
The distillation method gently removes alcohol while keeping the personality and character of the original drink.
You get the same depth of flavour you’d expect from traditional craft beverages. The steam distillation process works quickly and captures those bright flavours without dulling the taste.
0% Alcohol Without Compromise
Smashed Drynks hits a true 0.0% alcohol content in its products. Many non-alcoholic drinks out there still have up to 0.5% ABV, which isn’t technically alcohol-free.
Your choice of Smashed means picking drinks with absolutely no alcohol. That’s a big deal if you’re avoiding alcohol for health, religious, or personal reasons.
This alcohol-free guarantee covers their full range of beers, lagers, and ciders. No need to squint at labels or second-guess the ABV—what you see is what you get.
Dedication to Quality Ingredients
Smashed Drynks manufactures its products in the UK using locally sourced ingredients.
This supports local suppliers and keeps quality control tight. The Manchester-based company Drynks Unlimited produces the Smashed range with a focus on natural taste.
Their mission is all about offering authentic flavours that actually make you forget you’re drinking something alcohol-free. They work with British craft brewers to create the base drinks before removing the alcohol.
This partnership approach means you’re getting beverages made with the same care as premium craft drinks. That’s a detail that matters to some folks.
Innovative Brewing and Dealcoholisation Processes
Smashed Drynks uses a specialised cool vacuum distillation process to remove alcohol from fully alcoholic craft beverages while keeping their original flavour profiles.
The company invested in state-of-the-art CVD equipment that runs at lower temperatures than traditional methods.
Proprietary Brewing Techniques
The cool vacuum distillation (CVD) process works by reducing pressure, which lowers the boiling point of alcohol.
This means the alcohol evaporates at much cooler temperatures than you’d get with regular distillation. Traditional dealcoholisation happens at high temperatures under normal pressure, which can wreck delicate flavours and aromas.
Smashed’s CVD equipment operates under vacuum, so alcohol is removed gently without heat damage. The process takes up to 10 days to produce each bottle.
Sure, that’s longer than standard production, but it’s worth it for the quality. At least, that’s their philosophy.
Preserving Classic Beer and Cider Characteristics
Your Smashed drink starts as a fully alcoholic craft beverage at about 5% ABV.
The CVD process removes the alcohol while protecting the drink’s core qualities. Low-temperature distillation keeps the taste, aroma, and mouthfeel you expect from a real drink.
All products finish with less than 0.05% ABV. That’s truly alcohol-free—none of this “low-alcohol” fudge room.
The final result? A craft beer, lager, or cider that tastes like the real thing, minus the alcohol. Not bad, right?
Product Range and Flavour Selection
Smashed Drynks offers a bunch of alcohol-free choices across both beer and cider, plus some special releases now and then for a bit of variety.
Extensive Variety of Beers and Ciders
The Smashed Drynks range includes non-alcoholic beers and ciders for all sorts of taste preferences.
You can find their lager and pale ale in select Sainsbury’s stores. Booth’s supermarket stocks the full range if you’re lucky enough to live nearby.
The beer-based drinks use malted barley and wheat, so they’re vegan-friendly but not gluten-free. Need gluten-free? All cider-based drinks are both vegan and gluten-free.
One highlight is their award-winning craft berry cider, which has picked up a few prizes. Their lager starts at the Robinsons brewery in Stockport before going through the vacuum distillation process.
All products are truly 0% ABV (less than 0.05%) and Halal-certified. That’s a nice touch for inclusivity.
Seasonal and Limited Edition Offerings
Details are a bit thin on seasonal releases, but Smashed Drynks is all about developing their alcohol-free line-up.
You can buy their products through their site, Zeroholic, Drydrinker, and Amazon. For retail, you’ll need to order a pallet if you’re buying direct—so maybe stick to the online shops unless you’re stocking a bar.
The Smashed Drynks Experience
Smashed Drynks delivers a genuine beer and cider taste, setting it apart from the usual alcohol-free options. The brand’s drinks get good feedback for their real flavour and work well in all sorts of social settings—whether you’re out with friends or just want something tasty at home.
Taste Reviews and First Impressions
When you first crack open a Smashed product, it’s clear they’re aiming for that classic beer or cider vibe. The Smashed Lager receives positive reviews for its genuine taste, which is honestly a pleasant surprise.
This authenticity comes from their unusual method: they start with real beer or cider, then remove the alcohol. It’s not just a chemistry experiment—it feels like they care about the end result.
The line-up includes five choices: Lager, Apple Cider, Citrus Lager, Berry Cider, and Pale Ale. Each one actually keeps the main traits of its boozy inspiration, which isn’t always the case with alcohol-free drinks.
People often say these drinks feel full-bodied, even though they’re 0.0%. The vacuum stripping method seems to help keep the original flavors locked in, unlike some other removal techniques.
You don’t get that thin, watered-down thing that happens with some other alcohol-free options. There’s a bit more substance here, and it shows.
The Smashed Berry Cider captures the essence of British orchards and still manages to stay refreshing. Their focus on local, handcrafted ingredients adds a little something extra to the overall taste.
Serving and Pairing Suggestions
You can serve Smashed drinks just like you would any regular beer or cider. Best bet: pour them into proper glassware and keep them chilled.
The lagers are a solid match for burgers, pizza, or anything grilled. Their crispness cuts through richer foods really well.
Ciders go nicely with lighter plates—think salads, seafood, cheese boards. The Berry Cider is especially good with desserts or at an afternoon hangout.
Pale Ale is a good pick for heartier meals or when you want something to sip on for a while. These drinks fit in just about anywhere, whether you’re at home or with friends and want a proper drink, minus the alcohol.
Recognition and Growing Popularity
Smashed Drynks has picked up quite a few awards and built a loyal following. Their focus on real quality and flavor has made them a standout in the non-alcoholic drinks scene.
Media Coverage and Industry Awards
Smashed Drynks has gotten some serious nods from industry insiders. They bagged the Product of the Year award and have been recognized by the Great Taste and World Beer Awards.
These aren’t just participation trophies—they actually mean something in the drinks world. The multi-award-winning company is the only one in the UK with a full range of non-alcoholic beers, lagers, and ciders.
Trade magazines and online platforms have called Smashed Drynks a booming name in alcohol-free beer and cider. That kind of media buzz definitely helps people find out about them.
Consumer Feedback and Community Engagement
People seem to genuinely like Smashed Drynks, making it a trusted option for non-alcoholic alternatives. The brand’s focus on taste and quality has really clicked with the growing community of non-alcoholic drink fans.
You’ll find Smashed products online or at various retailers. Their popularity is on the rise, and more folks are discovering these vacuum-distilled drinks.
The company stays in touch with its customers and keeps working on new products and quality improvements. It feels like they’re actually listening, which is nice.
Frequently Asked Questions
People have plenty of questions about Smashed Drynks—where to find them, who’s behind the brand, and how they stack up against other alcohol-free options. They use some pretty specific brewing techniques and ingredients that set them apart.
Is the brand featured on Dragons’ Den, and what was the outcome?
Far as I can tell, Smashed Drynks hasn’t been on Dragons’ Den. Instead, they’ve grown through other channels and picked up awards like Product of the Year 2022.
Drynks Unlimited is the British company behind Smashed. Their reputation comes from making solid products, not TV fame.
Where can you buy the lager in the UK, both online and in shops?
You can get Smashed drinks at lots of UK retailers. Costco UK has variety packs with 12 bottles in five flavors.
Online, check out the Alcohol Free Drinks Company and Amazon UK. Or just go straight to the Smashed Drynks website.
What company is behind the brand, and what can you find on Companies House?
Drynks Unlimited makes Smashed. They’re a British company that’s all about 0% alcohol drinks.
They run the UK’s first purpose-built cool vacuum distillation plant. This setup lets them remove alcohol but keep the original flavor and character of each drink.
What alcohol-free options are available, such as 0% cider or a non-alcoholic IPA?
Smashed has a good range of alcohol-free beers, lagers, and ciders. Their Berry Cider is made in the UK using locally sourced fruit from British orchards.
They offer craft beer and lager at 0% alcohol. Everything goes through steam distillation to carefully remove alcohol but keep the body and taste.
How does it compare with other alcohol-free beers and ciders in taste and ingredients?
Smashed does things differently—they brew full-strength drinks first, then take out the alcohol. This helps keep the flavor and character closer to the real thing.
They skip artificial colorings, sweeteners, and preservatives. Ingredients are sourced locally, which supports UK suppliers and helps with quality.
Their lager is clean, with barley malt, floral notes, and a mild hoppy bitterness. The cool vacuum distillation preserves these flavors, and honestly, it shows in the final sip.
What do the “3 C’s” of beer mean, and how do they apply to brewing and flavour?
The 3 C’s of beer? That stands for colour, clarity, and carbonation. They’re a quick way to size up a beer’s look and feel even before you take a sip.
Colour comes down to the malt. Use pale malts, and you’ll get a golden lager; go with something roasted and suddenly you’re looking at amber or even brown tones.
Clarity—well, that’s about how see-through your beer is. Some styles are supposed to be all hazy and mysterious, while others aim for that sharp, crystal look.
And then there’s carbonation. That’s the fizz, the bubbles, the tingle on your tongue. It can totally change how the flavours come across and shape the whole drinking vibe.
