Setting Sail with Jackstaff IPA: Alcohol-Free, Full of Flavour

Manufacturer Description

“Our refreshing Jackstaff IPA shows you don’t need alcohol to create a hoppy flavour hit. A deft addition of North American hops, blended with Scottish oats and malt, creates a well-rounded IPA to challenge its full-strength rivals.” – JumpShip Beer

About the Brand

Jump Ship Brewing is an Edinburgh-based brewery specialising in alcohol-free beer, founded in 2019. Their first beer, Yardarm, is an alcohol-free lager that took roughly a year to perfect, and it paid off. Yardarm won Best Non-Alcoholic Lager in the World at the World Beer Awards 2021.

Since then, Jump Ship has expanded to four core beers available year-round, alongside seasonal specials. They brew using a method known as controlled fermentation (or arrested fermentation), which stops the yeast before much alcohol is produced. All their beers are made at Scotland’s first and only dedicated alcohol-free brewery.

The Review

I rated Jackstaff IPA based on three key factors: Aroma, Appearance, and Drinkability.

Tasting Notes

Aroma

Pleasant and hoppy with a subtle citrus note. 

Appearance

Pours nicely with a dark brown-red hue. It forms a small head, though this dissipates quickly, leaving the beer looking a bit flat. 

Taste

A satisfying hoppy start with a refreshing bitterness and citrusy undertone. While it’s easy to drink and has a nice “bite,” it does lack a bit of depth. There’s a slight bitter aftertaste, though nothing off-putting. 

Verdict

After dipping my toes into non-alcoholic lagers, I decided to branch out and try a mystery box from Dry Drinker to explore new beers and breweries.

Jackstaff IPA was the first one I pulled from the box and my first alcohol-free IPA. I’m happy to report it didn’t disappoint.

It’s an enjoyable beer with a great mouthfeel, a refreshing hoppy character, and a drinkability that rivals many alcoholic IPAs. While I would have liked a touch more depth to the flavour, possibly limited by the arrested fermentation method, it’s still a beer I’d happily drink again.

I’m especially looking forward to trying more from Jump Ship, especially their award-winning Yardarm lager.

Have you tried Jackstaff IPA?

Share your thoughts in the comments — and check out more alcohol-free beer reviews at ModestDrinker.com!