Crafty Devil Launch Their First Alcohol Free Beer, Born Free 0.5% Pale Ale
- The Hopper
- 47 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Cardiff brewery Crafty Devil Brewing Co. have officially stepped into the Alcohol Free world with the launch of Born Free, a 0.5% pale ale that stays true to their core philosophy. Flavour first, balance always, and beer that’s genuinely enjoyable to drink.
Rather than rushing out a token low-alcohol release, Crafty Devil waited until they felt they could do the category properly. Born Free is designed to feel like a real Crafty Devil beer that just happens to be Alcohol Free.
Why now?
According to the brewery, the decision came after watching the Alcohol Free space grow steadily and mature.
Rather than chasing trends, the brewery wanted to apply what they’ve learned about hops, balance and drinkability to a 0.5% beer that still feels complete. The goal was never to create a compromise. It was to make something people would actually choose to drink.
The goal from day one
From the outset, the brief was simple. A hoppy Alcohol Free beer that tastes like beer, is easy to drink, and doesn’t feel like it’s missing anything. Flavour and drinkability came first, with no interest in producing something thin, bland, or purely functional.
That approach shaped every decision that followed.
Brewing Alcohol Free, properly
Born Free was first brewed in November 2025, but Crafty Devil deliberately held off releasing it until they were confident it would hold up in the real world.
Brewing at 0.5% brings very different challenges compared to standard strength beers. With such a low alcohol content, body, sweetness and hop balance are far more exposed. Every ingredient choice has a bigger impact, and there’s less room to hide flaws.
The biggest challenge came after fermentation. Pasteurisation proved to be the most critical step. While the beer tasted great straight out of the tank, ensuring it retained hop character and balance after pasteurisation was essential. Crafty Devil waited until they were confident the process was doing the beer justice before committing it to cans.
Notably, Born Free Pale Ale was Crafty Devil's first full attempt at an Alcohol Free beer.
There were no abandoned recipes or failed versions, just patience and refinement before release.
What does Born Free taste like?
Born Free is described as a bright, hoppy, easy-drinking pale ale at 0.5% ABV.
Refreshing, flavourful, and designed so drinkers don’t feel like they’re missing out just because it’s Alcohol Free.
Hop choice plays a huge role. Crafty Devil selected hops that deliver bold aroma and flavour, with citrus, tropical and stone fruit notes doing the heavy lifting.
In an Alcohol Free beer, hops need to carry the experience, and Born Free leans fully into that.
From the start, the aim was always a proper pale ale. Not a substitute. Not an imitation. Just a balanced, fresh, drinkable beer.
Why Alcohol Free matters
Crafty Devil have seen a clear shift in drinking habits. Customers, pubs and taproom visitors are increasingly asking for better Alcohol Free options that aren’t bland or treated as an afterthought.
Born Free is their answer to that demand. It offers more choice without forcing anyone to compromise on flavour, and it fits naturally alongside the rest of the brewery’s range.
Alcohol Free beers may well become a permanent part of Crafty Devil’s future, but the approach is measured. For now, the focus is firmly on Born Free, listening to feedback, and seeing how drinkers respond before expanding further.
Availability
Born Free is currently available:
Via the Crafty Devil webshop
In their Cardiff and Penarth Cellars
Through selected trade customers
This release is cans only. Keg pours may be explored in the future, but only if demand justifies it outside of seasonal trends like Dry January.
Any availability updates or offers will always be shared first through Crafty Devil’s webshop and social channels.
Who are Crafty Devil?
For those new to the brewery, Crafty Devil are all about local, fresh beer made to be enjoyed. Whether that’s in the pub, at home, or straight from the cellar, freshness, flavour and drinkability sit at the heart of everything they do.
What sets them apart is just how fresh their beer can be. In some cases, cans or kegs are packaged in the morning and pouring in Cardiff bars the very same evening. Add to that a fiercely independent mindset, a strong community focus, and a love of beers with character, and you get a brewery that knows exactly who it is.
The takeaway
Crafty Devil Born Free Alcohol Free Pale Ale is proof that Alcohol Free doesn’t have to mean flavour free.
It’s about choice, balance and enjoyment. A beer you’d happily pick up because it tastes great, not just because it’s 0.5%.
Keep checking back to this post, or subscribe to my YouTube channel @thehopperreviews for the forthcoming review of Born Free!
Hopper out!
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