Dear Dry Drinkery Redefines the Non-Alcoholic Experience in Austin
Learn more about Austin’s first non-alcoholic bottle shop that hosts tastings and community events
East Austin gained its first-and-only brick-and-mortar non-alcoholic bottle shop Dear Dry Drinkery in late August at 2226 E Cesar Chavez Street. The co-owners, a lovely husband and wife duo Joe Patterson and Grace Vroom started this business to reimagine the non-alcoholic beverage shopping experience, eliminating alcohol influence throughout every aisle.
The shop offers an extensive selection of non-alcoholic wines, beers, and functional beverages. With a focus on redefining the non-alcoholic shopping experience, the founders have established a curated selection and fostered a warm, welcoming, judgment-free environment for patrons.
From food truck beginnings to a dedicated brick-and-mortar experience
“Everything here is very highly curated for a reason, with stuff that we’ve just tried over the last seven-plus years of not drinking that we loved and a lot of a lot of these companies are based in Austin,” said Vroom.
Patterson and Vroom love getting to know their customers and getting feedback on different beverage suggestions by ordering samples and “if it passes our tastes us and then we’ll order it because we want to be a place where people enjoy coming and enjoy getting the things that they like,” said Patterson.
In 2016, Patterson and Vroom, both committed to a sober lifestyle, envisioned Dear Dry Drinkery to address the limited options for non-alcoholic drinkers. “What was really missing for us is just having that one-stop shop where you can explore all of these brands, get to know which ones are really good,” said Vroom.
Their journey began in February 2023 with a custom-built mobile trailer, offering a range of expertly crafted NA cocktails and beverages until June 2023. Though being on wheels allowed them to go to events, they needed a space for more variety of products and to create an atmosphere where they could host tastings and community gatherings.
Building a supportive community at Dear Dry Drinkery
“The most gratifying thing is when people coming in here and say, ‘I’m so glad you guys are here. I’ve stopped drinking for a day, a week, a month, a year and I had nowhere else to go to.’ It’s a beautiful thing to be able to support, uplift and bridge that community that we care so deeply for,” said Vroom.
They plan to continue fostering connections within the community through informative non-alcoholic mixology classes and casual gatherings. In one of their events on January 7th (hosted by Sober & Funky’s Paige Danoff), participants will learn to craft four unique mocktails while enjoying snacks to pair with their creations. These exciting events provide an opportunity for both locals and visitors to connect more intentionally with the things that matter to them, free from the influence of alcohol.
To stay connected with Dear Dry Drinkery’s offerings, events, and community, visit their website or follow along on Instagram.
