Less observed than its January counterpart, Sober October is an initiative largely born out of, from what we can tell, our collective affinity for rhymes. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t without merit. In the UK, the scheme is supported by Macmillan Cancer Support, under the banner “Go Sober for October”. The altruistic glow you’ll attain by raising money for charity aside, ditching alcohol is touted to have manifold health benefits, even if only for short periods of time.

Less appealing, however, is the quality of the soft drinks to quench your inevitable thirst during your abstinence; a pint of lime and soda will never replicate the joy of a gin and tonic. And until recently, the assortment of non-alcoholic alternatives available in your local left a lot to be desired – you might have got hold of a pitiful bottle of Becks Blue, if you were lucky. Things are changing, however. Alongside hyped spirit- and liqueur-like substitutes such as Seedlip and Ceder’s on the back bar, you’ll spot a growing number of low and non-alcoholic beers that are not just adequate, but downright satisfying.

To cater to and corner an increasingly health-conscious (according to the latest data, Britons are drinking about 16 per cent less than we did in 2004 and 20 per cent of us are teetotal), the craft beer industry, already experiencing a well-deserved boom, has started to take non-alcoholic beer seriously. Here are five of the best bottles currently on the market.

If you want proof of low and non-alcohol breweries’ adventurous streak, look no further than Nirvana – a London-based outfit, which recently released a unique kombucha-spiked twist on a sour beer. You won’t go wrong with its well-rounded Organic or Hoppy Pale Ales either, but regular Guinness drinkers would be advised to give the Dark & Rich stout (formerly known as Kosmic) a whirl. At 0.0 per cent ABV, it’s par for the course that this isn’t quite a facsimile of the real thing, but it is a more-than-satisfying substitute with chocolatey and vanilla flavours singing through a malty base.

nirvanabrewery.com

It’s no great surprise that this previously limited-edition beer from Ipswich-based specialist Big Drop has been added to the brewer’s permanent line-up. Capitalising on the current vogue for bold citra hops – which were first cultivated in 1990 – this award-winning pale (but very interesting) ale smells enticingly of grapefruit and lime and tastes overwhelmingly crisp and subtly caramelly. A tad bitter, and all the better for it, this 0.5 per cent brew will convert even the most ardent detractor. There’s milk in the mix, so it’s not vegan, but followers of a gluten-free diet should rejoice.

bigdropbrew.com

Hailing from Wales, Drop Bear Beer is a unicorn in the male-dominated brewing industry: it was founded by two LGBTQ+ women, Ms Joelle Drummond and Ms Sarah McNena. It was general disappointment with the low quality and lack of passion in the non-alcoholic beer scene that prompted them to start making their own. That, and beating the boys at what is typically seen as their game. “Being the noisy, disruptive, and at times stubborn ladies that we are, we reckoned that our beer would certainly bring all the boys to the yard,” the duo tell us. Living up to its name and then some, the Tropical IPA is lip-smackingly fruity and is perfectly paired with spicy food.

dropbearbeers.com

Infinite Session, a non- and low-alcohol beer specialist based out of Battersea, London by brothers Messrs Tom and Chris Hannaway, gets a lot of attention for its American “Pale” Ale. The award-winning amber brew is well worth your time, but the duo also produce a very fine craft lager that’s recently been reformulated. Based on a classic Pilsner, it’s made with traditional German hops (Hallertau and Saaz to be specific) and has a crispness that echoes the real deal. Clocking in at just 39 calories per can (significantly less than its boozy counterparts), it’s also an excellent choice if your main goal of drying out is to shift a few pounds.

infinitesession.com

Big Easy is the low-alcoholic offering from Thornbridge, one of Britain’s pioneering craft breweries, and it’s been the product of a lot of trial and error on their part. “Every element of this beer had to be right before we released to the market,” the brand tells us. Because of the bad rap non-alcoholic beer gets and the fact that Big Easy is brewed at 0.5 per cent (rather than dealcoholised later), the team went through four batches – which equates to about 60,000 bottles – before settling on this lively concoction. A doddle to drink, especially if you chance upon some rare October sunshine, it’s packed with American hops – just like Thornbridge’s flagship boozy beer, Jaipur – and honey-ish crystal malts.

thornbridgebrewery.co.uk