Sambrook’s Stand Easy

Sambrook’s Brewery is located in Wandsworth Town, London, and is the brainchild of former accountant Duncan Sambrook. Founded in 2008 in Battersea with some help from brewing magnate David Welsh, formerly of Ringwood Brewery, the brewery was created with a mission to bring back local beer brewing to London. At the time there were apparently only a handful of breweries still operating in the capital, and Mr Sambrook saw the opportunity to get himself in there and make an impact. Nearly 14 years later and the brewery produces over 50,000 pints of beer a week, sold throughout London and further afield. They now also occupy the former site of the Young’s Brewery next to the River Wandle, where historically beer has been brewed since at least the 1500s.

Sambrook’s are not strangers to the non-alcoholic beer scene. They’re contract brewers for Infinite Session, brewing all of the company’s beers for them to their specifications. I’ve found the Infinite Session range to be fine if you just want something easy to drink, but none of them have much character or flavour. Stand Easy is the first AF beer I’ve seen Sambrook’s Brewery bring out under their own label, and they’ve chosen a New England IPA as the style. A NEIPA tends to try and get as much flavour out of the hops it uses as the brewer can, without stifling it with bitterness, and heavily uses dry hopping and late hopping techniques to produce juicy tropical aromas. Azacca, Wai-iti and Northern Brewer hops are used in Stand Easy, known for their tropical, citrus and resinous flavours respectively. Have Sambrook’s Brewery really let the juice loose with their first own-brand alcohol-free beer?

The beer pours from the can with a pale golden colour, with only very slight haze. A large frothy head appears as we pour, and I was in danger of having to mop some of it off the table top. It does recede with time though. On the nose I could make out lemon citrus, along with some tropical mango sweetness and some grassy resinous notes. So it doesn’t look too much like a NEIPA but I’d say it certainly smells like one.

The taste of the beer follows on well from the aromas. Fruitiness from mandarin citrus, tropical mango and a touch of pineapple, and some pine, with even a slight earthy nuttiness in the background. The flavours are on the mild side, but the overall experience is very pleasant, helped by good carbonation and a smooth mouthfeel, maybe ever-so-slightly veering into thin territory. We get a short slightly bitter finish to the drink.

Miles away from what they’ve previously churned out for Infinite Session, Sambrook’s Stand Easy proves that the brewer has what it takes to brew a great nolo beer on their own terms. Whilst it may not live up to the NEIPA label for some people, it’s packed with great flavours that don’t wallop your tongue, but leave you ready for more. The first of many AF beers from them hopefully!

Buy Sambrook’s Stand Easy

Sambrook’s Brewery’s beers are mainly available around the London area, but Stand Easy should easily be available online from either the brewer or one of the shops below:

Nutritional Information (per 100ml, taken from the side of the can)
ABV	0.3%
Energy	9 kcal
Fat	0g
Carbohydrates	2.1g
Sugar	1.4g
Protein	0g
Ingredients
Water, Malted Barley, Wheat, Oats, Hops, Yeast
Additional Information
Country of Production	United Kingdom
Brewer	Sambrook’s Brewery – https://www.sambrooksbrewery.co.uk/
Gluten Free?	No
Vegan Friendly?	No, uses isinglass in finings