Sonja Mitchell is a former brand manager with consumer goods giant Unilever who became her own boss when she launched Jump Ship Brewing, Scotland’s only non-alcoholic brewery, in 2019.

Ms Mitchell’s passion for brewing was sparked when she tried her first beer after a debut rugby match to remember.

When she is not overseeing the creation of award-winning beers with her trusty crew, she likes nothing more than to be out on the ocean waves.

What is your business called?

Jump Ship Brewing.

Where is it based?

Our brewery is based at Rosemains Steadings, a hub for makers and producers on the Prestonhall Estate in Pathhead, Midlothian.

What does it produce/do?

Jump Ship Brewing is Scotland’s first non-alcoholic brewery, and we have created a range of award-winning alcohol free beers. Rather than stripping the alcohol out of the beer and removing flavour at the same time, we brew our beers to be naturally less than 0.5% ABV (alcohol by volume) - about the same level of alcohol as a large ripe banana. We have a core range of a lager, IPA, pale and stout, as well as seasonal releases such as our current Gooseberry Gose and Galaxy IPA. We brew our beers to be as inclusive as possible, all of our beers are vegan and gluten-free. We’ve pledged 10% of profits to charity and brew on 100% renewable energy.

To whom does it sell?

Anyone who would like to try our beer. Our beers are stocked in over 300 independent bars, restaurants and retailers, mainly in Scotland with a few stockists south of the border.

Just a few weeks ago we launched a range of kegs, which means businesses can for the first time have our beer on tap. We also sell online via our website and on Amazon. Since opening our brewery in Midlothian, people can now visit us for our Tap Room sessions and join tours and tastings.

We’ve gained fans in the sober-curious and alcohol-free space but equally we want regular beer drinkers and people who don’t think they like beer to give us a go. We have found a lot of customers are people who enjoy sports like cycling, running and triathlons as they can still enjoy a great tasting beer which won’t affect their training.

What is its turnover?

We’re targeting £300,000 this year.

How many employees?

We’ve grown to a team of five people.

Why did you take the plunge?

I tasted my first beer moments after my first rugby match. I’d made a try-saving tackle that helped win us the game and the team captain brought in a jug of ale to celebrate. There and then I decided that not even the finest champagne could beat the flavour of a freshly-pulled pint.

So it was a pretty disappointing time for me when I hit my mid-thirties and decided that although I still wanted a beer, life was too busy for the fuzzy head I would have the next day. I tried many beers, but none matched the quality of the amazing locally-brewed craft beer I was used to drinking. Frustrated by the lack of decent alcohol-free alternatives, I sent off a voyage of discovery to brew my own.

What were you doing before?

I’d spent my career up to that point in marketing, training as a Unilever brand manager and then moving into the charity sector. When my children came along, I switched to consultancy, working with some great start-up food and drinks businesses. I didn’t have a background in brewing or the drinks industry, so the learning curve was steep.

What do you least enjoy?

The pressure from social media to be always on and sharing pictures. It’s been a great way to grow our brand on a budget and build our network, but sometimes I just want to enjoy a beer without taking a photo!

What are your ambitions for the firm?

In some ways it feels like we’re only getting started. We have plans to triple our sales over the next couple of years, increasing distribution of our beers across the UK and developing key export markets.

What single thing would most help?

Clear government guidelines on the labelling of no and low alcohol drinks to help consumers navigate the category more easily. It can become confusing when people look at the free-from, no and low-alcohol displays and bringing the UK in line with the EU (European Union) and much of the rest of the world in using the descriptor alcohol-free for drinks less than 0.5% ABV would be a huge help to us.

What is the most valuable lesson you have learned?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. People have been so generous with their time as I’ve grown the business. Generally I find when I’m facing a tough problem, someone else has already been there before and is willing to share their knowledge. We have an amazing community of business owners in Scotland and joining this community has been so rewarding.

Where do you find yourself most at ease?

On a sailing boat! The west coast of Scotland is stunningly beautiful and the best cruising ground in the world. Just being out on the water makes me feel relaxed. My love of sailing has also inspired our brand design, which features international maritime signal flags. For those who sail, our cans carry a message or secret code.

If you weren’t in your current role, what job would you most fancy?

I can honestly say that I’m doing my dream job just now, which feels such a privilege. My other daydream has been to run a beach cafe, somewhere warm of course, and only open for breakfast so that the rest of the day is free to be out on the water.

What phrase or quotation has inspired you the most?

A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.

What is the best book you have ever read? Why is it the best?

Probably Lord of The Rings, it’s total escapism into a different world.

What has been your most challenging moment in life or business?

The business was only a couple of months old when Covid hit, production halted, and customers shut down. I suddenly had three children to home-school who needed support and reassurance. It felt desperate at the time, but I kept moving forwards, accepted that some plans might need to be put on hold for a while, opened up an online business and weathered the storm.

What do you now know that you wish you had known when starting out in your career?

To stop worrying so much about whether I was good enough, and just crack on. It’s when things go wrong that you learn the most.