As the most expensive spice in the world, it’s fair to suggest that anyone who dabbles with saffron has to be absolutely convinced by the various compelling health benefits of this mineral & vitamin rich ingredient.  The UK Low/no category is rude health as growing numbers of consumers seek to either curb or abstain from alcoholic consumption, either as part of either a healthier living, evolving lifestyle or saving money agenda.  The simple reality is that growing numbers of millennials no longer see alcohol to be a lynchpin of their health-conscious lifestyles, opting instead for regimes of light yet fulfilling functional foods, gyms and active outdoors existences.

Ticket pale ale is a young craft beer provider and low/no trail blazer whose unique pale ale with its distinct saffron twist was recently shortlisted to make the finals of this year’s free-from awards

Such is the proliferation of best-in-class, low/no beers and wines that it is becoming increasing tough to differentiate a beautifully balanced low/no craft beer from its everyday alcoholic peers.  According to co-founder Ali Porushani, ‘Ticket Pale Ale is based on a traditional non-alcoholic Persian pale ale that was once very popular in old-school Iran, a beer famed for its meticulous small batch production and the use of best-in-class, locally sourced Persian saffron. As with so many spheres of food and drink, an increasingly cluttered marketplace means it’ not easy to stand out, although latest telling trade feedback suggests that distinctive flavour profiles, exoticness & inbuilt functional benefits are key drivers when differentiating ‘category heroes’ from ‘support cast’ beverages.’

Ticket pale ale is all about effortlessly elegant saffron pairing effortlessly with floor-malted barley to produce something genuinely refreshing and distinct.  The increasingly well-appreciated functional benefits associated with saffron means that it provides a worthy substitute for alcohol in terms of positively affecting people’s moods and energy levels, combining a beneficial mood lift in tandem with a truly refreshing drinking experience

One of the leading lights of Alcohol Change certainly thought so with his recent upbeat review of Ticket’s first foray into UK craft beers.

‘After tasting (literally) hundreds of alcohol-free drinks for this website, we’ve come to one conclusion: if you’re going to make a beer with no alcohol, it needs something else to make it memorable. This Ticket pale ale certainly has that. Uniquely (we think) it’s made with saffron and lavender.

It comes in a great looking bottle: in purple and gold with a swirling pattern like electromagnetic waves. The saffron gives the beer a striking yellow hue like no other. There are plenty of citrusy hops and the lavender adds extra floral notes. It may be a bit too much if you’re looking for a straightforward light beer – it’s definitely one for those who appreciate a flavour-packed pale ale.’

There’s better news still; Summer 2023 will see Ticket launch their second low-no proposition, a lemongrass infused lager