(Courtesy High Spirits)

Dry January is ON, but thankfully there are now uber-interesting ways to approach this alcohol-free new world, some a little less ”sober.”

High January (USA) – Chris Fontes is a hemp beverage pioneer, the man behind High Spirits who has almost single-handily navigated the hemp beverage revolution. Working in step with evolving regulations, he helped define what compliant, hemp-derived THC beverages could look like—and showed there was a safer, clearer path forward for both consumers and retailers.

Along the way, Fontes helped pull hemp-derived Delta-9 drinks out of the shadows and onto mainstream shelves, with products that were clearly legal, properly labeled, and easy to understand. He spent just as much time educating the market as building it, translating complicated policy language into plain English for distributors, retailers, and customers.

Most importantly, he proved it could work at scale. Fontes launched and ran one of the earliest hemp-THC beverage programs in the country, eventually evolving it into what’s now High Spirits.

“We didn’t just join the wave—we helped make it,” Fontes says. “High Spirits is the drink we always wanted: legal, honest, and actually fun.”

High Spirits’ focus has always been real-world drinkers: clean formulations, transparent labeling, and consistent dosing that delivers a predictable, enjoyable experience every time.

And here’s just some of what High Spirts is offering for those who choose a different approach this Dry January…

• Seltzers:
  • Grapefruit Lemon: A crisp, citrus-flavored seltzer available in various THC/CBD ratios (e.g., 10mg THC, or 3mg THC with 15mg CBD).
  • Cherry Limeade: A nostalgic-flavored seltzer, available in a 10mg or 50mg THC concentration.
  • Green Mango Seltzer: Offered in different blends, including a 5mg THC + 5mg CBD or 1mg THC + 15mg CBD option.
  • Passion Fruit Seltzer: A 10mg THC option.
  • Strawberry Tangerine Seltzer: A blend of 10mg THC + 5mg CBG.
  • Ruby Red Ranch Water: A 10mg THC option featuring adaptogens.
• Sodas:
  • Blackberry Zinger Soda: An award-winning blend with 10mg THC, naturally sweetened with organic blue agave.
  • Orange Pop Soda: Available in 10mg THC, or 5mg THC + 5mg CBD variations.
• Other Beverages:
  • Iced Tea Lemonade: A smooth fusion of tea and lemon, available in 10mg and 50mg THC versions.
  • Yuzu Lemonade Spritz: An award-winning, low-calorie spritz with 10mg THC and adaptogens like Magnesium, GABA, and L-Theanine for a calm, clear-headed buzz.
  • Zesty Lime Ginger Ale: Available in 5mg THC + 5mg CBD or 1mg THC + 15mg CBD blends.
• Elixirs/Shots: The original “Tiger’s Blood” and “Forbidden Fruit” formulas were designed as potent “shots” to be enjoyed straight, on the rocks, or mixed into mocktail

Bitburger 0.0 (Credit: Gab Bonghi)

Bit by Bit (Bitburg, Germany) – Bitburger, the family-owned German brewery founded more than 200 years ago, and home to signature Bitburger Premium Pils has just released a buzz-free alternative that we guarantee you will make “Dry January” a much easier coast.

Brewed using only water, barley malt, hops, and hop extract, adhering to the German Beer Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot), Bitburger 0.0% is a  robust non-alcoholic German Pilsner that is rich in vitamins and true to the original, just without all that baggage. This beer is fully fermented, and the alcohol then carefully removed, which helps preserve the lagers authentic flavor profile, unlike too many non-alcoholic beers where fermentation is stopped early.

“We’re thrilled to see more and more people across the country enjoying Bitburger 0.0., and recognize several factors contributing to our success,” says Scott Baver, Bitburger USA. “There’s an undeniable movement in the industry to cleaner more traditional beers such as a premium German Pilsner and 0.0, as the no-alc space is one of the fastest growing segments in the beverage industry

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