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You are here: Home / All reviews / Lagers / Jump Ship Brewing “Yardarm” review – low-alcohol (0.5%) lager†

Jump Ship Brewing “Yardarm” review – low-alcohol (0.5%) lager†

By Tom Hallett on January 21, 2020

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“Yardarm” is a low alcohol, gluten-free lager from Scottish brewery Jump Ship. Get tasting notes and info on stockists, calories, carbs and sugar, in this review.

Despite a fall in alcohol sales following the introduction of a minimum price per unit of alcohol, the average person in Scotland still drinks 9% more alcohol than those in England and Wales.

Perhaps this why so many Scottish breweries are producing non-alcoholic beer.

This doesn’t just include the multinational breweries like Brewdog and Innis and Gunn. Recently, smaller producers including Harviestoun and Tempest have added NA beer to their ranges.

Jump Ship Brewing claim to be Scotland’s first specialist low/no brewery – a claim that’s probably justified seeing as Edinburgh’s Coast Beer Co brews its two NA beers in Belgium.

Founder Sonja Mitchell left a career in marketing to set up the brewery, helped by £15,000 from a crowdfunding campaign.

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A positive contribution to society is at the forefront of the brewery’s philosophy with 10% of profits going to charity and a focus on environmentally friendly packaging and production processes.

“Yardarm” is the brewery’s first beer. A 0.5% lager, it’s brewed as a low-alcohol beer from the off with no alcohol removed at any time.

Close up of can of Jump Ship Yardarm non-alcoholic lager

Ingredients and calories, carbs and sugar

The hops in Yardarm are Citra and Austrian Styrian Bobek, which are both known for their intense flavours with Citra especially uncommon in lagers until recently.

The ingredients also include maltodextrin, a natural but highly processed additive that can increase head retention and body.

Yardarm is low in calories, carbs and sugar – per 100ml, there’s 12 calories, 2.5g of carbohydrate and 0.3g of sugar.

It’s gluten free (less than 20 parts per million) and suitable for vegans.

Flavour, appearance and mouthfeel

Yardarm is golden/amber and clear. A lively head settles to leave small islands of foam and a foamy ring around the edge of the glass.

Close up of can of Jump Ship Yardarm non-alcoholic lager with glass

The hops feature strongly in the aroma with mango, lychee and blossom mixing with a toffee and caramel maltiness. The aroma settles to leave a focus on the malts.

The mouthfeel is tacky but doesn’t cloy. The body is on the lighter side of medium but it’s pleasant. 

Close up of can of Jump Ship Yardarm non-alcoholic lager with glass close up

The carbonation may suit real ale fans. The bubbles are tiddly and smooth and light years away from those gassy mass-produced European lagers. 

There’s a dry finish.

A lot of the character from the aroma infiltrates the taste with a flowery caramel flavour and a wheaty, musty yeastiness.

These flavours die off a little before there’s a lovely hit of bitterness that marries nicely with the sweet flavours.

Close up of can of Jump Ship Yardarm non-alcoholic lager with glass in background

Verdict

Despite a light body, Jump Ship Yardarm is a distinctive and satisfying beer, which will appeal to ale fans as well as lager drinkers who aren’t after a standard big-name pilsner-style beer.

It’s gluten free and vegan friendly too, so it’s another NA beer for your arsenal if you don’t consume gluten or animal products.

Key info – Jump Ship Brewing Yardarm

  • Name: Yardarm
  • Brewery: Jump Ship Brewing
  • Style: lager
  • Alcohol content: 0.5%
  • Calories: 40 (per 330ml can)
  • Carbohydrates: 8.2g (per 330ml can)
  • Sugar: 1g (per 330ml can)
  • Ingredients: water, barley malt, maltodextrin, hops, yeast
  • Country: UK
  • Dispense: can (330ml)
  • Selected stockists (UK): Wise Bartender*

Related posts:

Insel "Skippers" review - low-alcohol (0.5%) pilsner
Stella Artois "Alcohol Free" review - non-alcoholic (0%) lager
Guinness Open Gate Brewery "Pure Brew" review - low-alcohol (0.5%) lager

"Yardarm" (0.5%) by Jump Ship Brewing

"Yardarm" (0.5%) by Jump Ship Brewing
7

Aroma

7.3/10

Mouthfeel

6.8/10

Flavour

6.9/10

Pros

  • Gluten free
  • Suitable for vegans
  • Distinctive flavours

Cons

  • Light body
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Disclosures

*If you buy something after you visit links marked with *, I might receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.

†Reviews marked with † feature beers I didn't pay for (usually because the producers gave them to me for free). My aim is to review these beers the same as beers I've paid for but you may want to bear this in mind when reading the review.

Find out more on my disclosures page.

About Tom Hallett

New(ish) dad, slow runner and Border Terrier owner (or is it the other way round?) on a mission to find the world's best low-alcohol and alcohol-free beers.

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