#82. “I Thought Alcohol-Free Beer Was Disgusting” How Jump Ship’s Founder Changed Her Own Mind

Mindful Drinking & Moderation in Midlife: Low No Drinker Podcast

Sonja Mitchell is the founder of Jump Ship, the award-winning Scottish alcohol-free brewery making waves in the low/no space. From knowing absolutely nothing about brewing to winning 'Scottish Small Brewery of the Year', Sonja shares her remarkable journey—including launch delays, a pandemic pivot, and even a David and Goliath-esque legal battle.

0:00 Sonja's story
4:09 Building the business step by step
6:03 When brewing goes wrong
9:44 Pandemic setbacks
13:33 Opening her own brewery
21:24 The Jump Ship Range
24:35 Taking BrewDog to court
28:11 Chuckleberry sour
29:32 Making alcohol-free sour beers
31:08 Why brewing to 0.5% makes a better beer
35:07 Jump Ship non-alcoholic beer on draught
38:22 Why it's hard to find alcohol-free on draught
42:28 Naming the brand & nautical flags
47:05 Getting listed in Selfridges
49:46 Alcohol-free: A growing market
52:30 Led by the consumer
55:10 Labelling confusion
59:06 Finding Jump Ship
59:54 The BBQ-Q
TRY JUMP SHIP* // @JUMPSHIPBEER
WE ALSO TALK ABOUT:
Noughty AF*
Love No More
Wilfred’s*
Dry Drinker*
Big Drop*
BEST EPISODE TO CHECK OUT NEXT
#24 Going international with Big Drop Brewing co-founder Rob Fink

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Chapters

1. Sonja's story (00:00:00)

2. Building the business step by step (00:04:09)

3. When brewing goes wrong (00:06:03)

4. Pandemic set backs (00:09:44)

5. Opening her own brewery (00:13:33)

6. The Jump Ship Range (00:21:16)

7. Taking BrewDog to court (00:24:27)

8. Chuckleberry sour (00:28:03)

9. Making alcohol-free sour beers (00:29:24)

10. Why brewing to 0.5% makes a better beer (00:31:00)

11. Jump Ship non-alcoholic beer on draught (00:34:59)

12. Why it's hard to find alcohol-free on draught (00:38:14)

13. Naming the brand & nautical flags (00:42:20)

14. Getting listed in Selfridges (00:46:57)

15. Alcohol-free: A growing market (00:49:38)

16. Led by the consumer (00:52:22)

17. Labelling confusion (00:55:02)

18. Finding Jump Ship (00:58:58)

19. The BBQ-Q (00:59:46)