delicious Australia - May 2020

SOBAH, QLD
CLINTON AND LOZEN SCHULTZ
It wasn’t long after giving up drinking in
2013 that Clinton Schultz realised Australia
needed to have a little talk about the
stigma of socialising sober.
Virtually laughed out of the bar for
requesting a non-alcoholic beer, it became
gratingly obvious to Clinton that not only
was a decent booze-free alternative
desperately needed, but that as a nation,
we just don’t know how to approach the
subject of voluntary sobriety. “I wanted to
know why non-alcoholic drinks weren’t
offered at venues, and why non-drinkers
were made to feel shame for making a
lifestyle choice,” he recalls.
Both a proud Gamilaroi man from
Yugambeh Country (Gold Coast) and
a psychologist working in the drug and
alcohol space, Clinton felt compelled to
create a profit-for-good business that
began a conversation around alcohol
consumption. Despite scoffs from
beer-swilling mates, he started looking
into brewing a craft beer that was uniquely
Australian and, more uniquely,
non-alcoholic.
His research uncovered a specific strain
of maltose-intolerant yeast, which enabled
him to brew without the production of
ethanol. Once he had the basics, Clinton,
who happens to be a former chef, began
playing with native ingredients and the
first Sobah (sobah.com.au) brew hit taps.
Initially sold at his native food truck
business, it wasn’t long before Sobah was
drawing thirsty hordes. After a crowdfunding
campaign, Clinton and his wife,
Lozen, launched Sobah into production
and now the sober-curious can purchase
tinnies made with ethically sourced
indigenous ingredients, such as the Lemon
Aspen Pilsner, Finger Lime Cerveza and
Pepperberry IPA.
Still just a start-up, Clinton admits
he’s often frustrated with his inability
to give back as much as he’d like, yet he’s
bolstered by the fact we’re willing to pay
more for a business with a sense of social
justice. “People now, particularly the
younger generation, are looking for what
is more ethical, what is more sustainable,”
he says.
@sobahbeverages
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