Bare Beer (like me – world famous – in New Zealand!) – a non-alcoholic pale ale from the Sawmill Brewery – a tiny, craft brewery in Matakana, a stone’s throw from my sister Trisha and husband Colin’s idyllic Omaha home.

I tried my first Bare Beer in Judith Tabron’s brilliant new restaurant in Auckland’s Westhaven Marina (First Mates, Last Laugh) on Thursday – paired with some crunchy tuna/salmon taquitos and a freshly caught grilled snapper.

Unforgettable.

Happy, flavourful, refreshing, sessionable – and alcohol free.   Created through fermentation, rather than reverse osmosis of a finished beer.

Masterminded by Head Brewer Rory Taylor, the process involves the alchemy and genius of blending a poorly fermentable wort, English Ale yeast, specialty malts, high protein adjuncts, hop oils and hops.

The result?  A citrus/pine flavour, a thirst quenching IPA mouth-feel and no alcohol – just a tricked mind, a social evening and a great time (and only 39 calories in a 330ml bottle).