High & Dry brings functional lager to UK
The UK’s no- and low-alcohol beer category has welcomed a new entrant with the launch of High & Dry, a functional lager brewed with organic mushroom extracts.
Co-founded by Hawkstone senior brewer Donncha Burke and Clarkson’s Farm alumnus Louis Church, High & Dry is positioned as a crisp, gluten-free lager that combines traditional brewing credentials with the benefits of functional ingredients. At just 0.4% ABV, the beer blends British malted barley and Czech saaz hops with citrus notes of lime, tangerine and lemongrass, delivering a clean lager profile while introducing bioactive extracts from lion’s mane and cordyceps mushrooms.
Supplied by Bristol Fungarium, these organic mushroom extracts are designed to support energy release, focus and mental clarity. Lion’s mane is associated with neural health and digestion, while cordyceps is linked to vitality, immune support and restorative benefits. Both are grown and processed in Somerset using a transparent, sustainable approach.
The launch comes at a time of strong growth in the UK’s mindful drinking segment. According to ISWR data, sales of no/low-alcohol beer rose 20% year-on-year in 2024 and are forecast to grow by at least 7% annually until 2028. Despite the proliferation of alcohol-free options, High & Dry is currently the only lager in the UK to combine lion’s mane and cordyceps in a single brew.
Founder Louis Church commented:
“High & Dry reflects how people live now—seeking balance and better choices without losing the joy of a proper lager. We’re not trying to mimic alcohol’s buzz; we’ve created a beer that tastes good and leaves you refreshed, not ruined.”
Tom Baxter, founder of Bristol Fungarium, added: “By combining our organic lion’s mane and cordyceps, High & Dry has created a hangover-free beer that enters a new realm of mindful drinking. It’s not just another 0% option — it’s a rethinking of what modern drinking can look like.”
High & Dry is already available through select stockists including Diddly Squat Farm Shop, Perky Blenders, Chefs For Foodies and Snuffy Jacks Ale House. To mark its debut, the brand hosted a launch event at The Farmer’s Mistress in Battersea, featuring food pairings from Temps’ seasonings.
With its blend of brewing tradition and functional innovation, High & Dry aims to carve out a distinctive position in the UK’s fast-growing low- and no-alcohol market.
