I Tried Olive Oil Beer, and It Wasn't What I Expected
“Cold Off the Press” is a nonalcoholic collaboration between Graza and Athletic Brewing Company.
Graza’s cold-pressed olive oil became an instant favorite on social media, thanks to its easy-to-squeeze green bottles. But as customers called for a way to keep their packaging a bit greener (in the environmental sense), Graza responded by putting refills of its Sizzle and Drizzle oils into more easily recyclable aluminum cans.
Now, Graza is coming to us in a can again — but this time there’s some beer in there, too, thanks to a collaboration with Athletic Brewing Company.
What is Athletic Brewing Company’s olive oil beer?
Cold Off the Press takes its name from Graza’s cold-pressed olive oil and, of course, the ideal temperature for a crisp pilsner beer. Graza and Athletic’s announcement describes it as “a classic pils with floral, herbal, and lemon aromas and a remarkably clean, dry finish.”
How is olive oil involved, then? The announcement explains that “the brewing process for Cold Off The Press began with extra virgin olive oil, which nourishes the yeast that helps shape the brew.” So no, it’s not just a pilsner with a glug of EVOO floated on top.
However, the ingredients do list olive oil, in addition to malted barley, rice, hops, lemon, yeast, wheat and water. As with many N.A. beers, the brew is less than 0.5% ABV.
“We’re constantly looking for creative ways to show how versatile olive oil can be, and we loved the idea of taking it somewhere completely new,” Andrew Benin, CEO and Co-Founder of Graza, says. “Athletic brings the same energy, curiosity, and attention to ingredients and flavor that we do. Cold Off The Press is super drinkable and one of the more deliciously adventurous places we’ve taken olive oil.”
It should be noted that this isn’t the first time Graza has experimented with N.A. beverages: In 2023, the brand also collaborated with Aura Bora on a canned olive oil martini.
What does the olive oil beer taste like?
I tried the Graza x Athletic Cold Off the Press beer and appreciated its bright aroma and citrus flavor. It's not too piney, but still delivers those herbaceous, resinous notes. I didn't detect any olive oil outright (which I guess is the intention), but I did notice a lingering fruity and slightly peppery aftertaste that reminded me of, well, olive oil. In the end, it's a poppy, crisp nonalcoholic beer that cuts through any foods you might enjoy it with.
Speaking of which, the announcement cites that Cold Off the Press “pairs especially well with pizza, grilled vegetables, salty snacks, big sandwiches, charcuterie, and whatever else happens to be on the menu.”
Where can you buy Athletic Brewing and Graza’s olive oil beer?
Cold Off the Press is available now, via online order from AthleticBrewing.com for a limited time and while supplies last. A six-pack of 12-ounce cans retails for $14.99, plus shipping.
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