Everyone in the Pool: Mash Gang Is Giving Away 30,000 Cans of N/A Beer

Mash Gang co-founder Jordan Childs just flew across the pond to plunge into a beer-filled pool — and to give away 30,000 cans of free non-alcoholic brew across the state this week. Despite this novel campaign, the UK-based brand isn’t new to local retailers. Mash Gang made its U.S. debut in the second half of last year, selecting Colorado as its first market in this country. They recently began distributing in Milwaukee.

“We went with Colorado because of the state's known love of beer and its discerning palate. We bet big that if Coloradans try it, they won’t go back, and they will lead the way for the rest of the country,” says Childs.

It’s no secret that non-alcoholic beer is having a moment. Shifts in social norms and health consciousness contributed to a 30 percent year-over-year increase in non-alcoholic U.S. beer sales in 2024, as reported by the Brewers Association.

Many beverage brands have tapped into the trend, and there are dozens of non-alcoholic beers currently available in Colorado. So what makes Mash Gang different? As Childs, the brand’s head brewer, explains, “Other N/A beer brands will brew their beer to full strength, then boil off the alcohol” — a process known as dealcoholization. Anheuser-Busch has used that method since the Prohibition era. In more recent years, other industry giants like Guinness and Heineken have adopted it, too, premiering 0.0 ABV versions of bestsellers.

Childs offers an analogy for this technique, saying it’s “like trying to make a vegan burger and starting with beef, then trying to remove the beef and still have a flavorful burger.” Rather than undoing and risking diminished qualities, Mash Gang takes a more intuitive approach, he says.

“We brew our beers to 0.5 percent ABV — a similar alcohol level to a loaf of banana bread," Childs explains. "We do this in a few ways. First, using arrested fermentation, which is key to maintaining low ABV without compromising flavor. We also often use non-traditional or ‘lazy’ yeasts to limit alcohol production, meaning our brews never reach beyond 0.5 percent ABV but still have all of the dimension, body, texture and flavor of regular beer.”

Since its launch in 2020, Mash Gang has produced more than 200 non-alcoholic beers, including exclusive taps and a core lineup of three approachable styles. These include its flagship beer, Chug, a tropical-forward hazy IPA; and Glug, its take on a Mexican lager with refreshing notes of white grape and gooseberry. There’s also Childs's personal favorite: Journey Juice, a fruited IPA with mango, chile and lime that was inspired by a Mexican mangonada.

If you haven’t yet tried Mash Gang, there’s no better time than this week. Starting today, June 9, Childs will be passing out free cans of the brand’s non-alcoholic beer at events and venues across metro Denver and Boulder; location announcements will be made on Instagram (@Mash__Gang) and TikTok (@MashGang). And Childs adds, “If anyone would like a drop-off of some Mash Gang beer to their office, gym or party, please DM us on social media.”

After all, he’s got a lot of cases to move before the campaign culminates with a summer beer pool party at Improper City, 3201 Walnut Street, at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 15. The event will feature a live DJ and a 2,500-gallon beer pool, with special prizes for those willing to get soaked in suds.

Expect high spirit — all without the booze.

Mash Gang is sold at dozens of metro area retailers. It's also available for online; use the code BEER20 for an exclusive 20 percent discount, plus free shipping.