BrewDog

The brand's first move into alcohol-free territory came in 2009, when an AF beer was launched in direct response to media controversy surrounding the high strength of its Tokyo* imperial stout. That origin set a pattern: BrewDog's AF output has consistently been tied to broader brand moments rather than treated as a quiet side project. The AF beer range uses arrested fermentation, a process in which a specially selected yeast strain ferments only the simpler sugars, leaving residual body and flavour intact while keeping alcohol below threshold. Arresting fermentation early retains the character of the base beer rather than producing a stripped-back imitation.

In 2020, a collaboration with American heavy metal band Lamb of God produced an AF IPA. The same year, BrewDog opened what was reported as the world's first dedicated alcohol-free beer bar at Old Street in London. The Mello functional range followed, adding adaptogens and vitamins to a line of alcohol-free drinks positioned for fitness-focused drinkers.

On ownership: TSG Consumer Partners acquired a 22% stake in 2017 for £213 million. The brand also operates an Equity for Punks crowdfunding model through which more than 200,000 individual shareholders have invested, raising over £80 million. Breweries operate in Ellon (Scotland), Columbus (USA), Berlin (Germany), and Brisbane (Australia), giving the AF range genuine multinational production reach.

The overall AF portfolio covers beers across multiple styles alongside functional drink formats, with distribution spanning mainstream supermarkets, specialist alcohol-free retail, and direct-to-consumer channels.