Strawberries, Cream and a Cold One: The Perfect Wimbledon Drink
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Strawberries, Cream and a Cold One: The Perfect Wimbledon Drink

Strawberries, Cream and a Cold One: The Perfect Wimbledon Drink

There's something about Wimbledon that makes everything feel more civilised. The white outfits, the polite applause, the strawberries and cream, the commentary delivered in hushed tones as though watching surgery rather than sport. It's two weeks where the entire country pretends to understand tennis and secretly loves every minute of it.

And then there's the drinking. Wimbledon has been synonymous with Pimm's for decades - but if you're watching from home, heading to a screening, or lucky enough to have a ticket, there's a smarter option that works from the first serve to match point.

The Problem with Pimm's

We've nothing against Pimm's. It's a fine drink. But let's be honest about what it is: sugar, alcohol, more sugar, and some fruit floating in it to make you feel healthy. A standard Pimm's and lemonade comes in at roughly 170 calories a glass, with a hefty sugar load, and after two or three you're less interested in the tennis and more interested in the cheese board.

For an afternoon of sport that can stretch past five sets and five hours, Pimm's is a sprint drink in a marathon event.

Why Beer Belongs at the Tennis

Beer and tennis might not be the obvious pairing, but think about what you actually need for an afternoon of Wimbledon viewing: something cold, something refreshing, something you can drink slowly over a long period without it becoming too sweet or too heavy.

That's beer. Specifically, that's non-alcoholic beer - because you want the refreshment without the drowsiness that comes with three hours of drinking in the sun.

UNLTD. Lager at 23 calories and zero sugar is built for exactly this. Crisp, clean, properly refreshing, and it won't send you to sleep during the fourth set.

Your Wimbledon Drinks Setup

Whether you're watching at home, at a pub screening, or from Henman Hill itself, here's the drinks plan:

  • Pre-match: Something light to set the tone. A cold UNLTD. Lager with some crisps or olives. You're settling in. The roof is open. Life is good.
  • During play: Keep it non-alc and stay sharp. You want to actually follow the rallies, spot the tactics, and have an informed opinion when someone asks if the umpire got it wrong. UNLTD. keeps you in the game.
  • Changeovers: Top up your glass, check the scores on other courts, argue about the line call. A cold beer makes every changeover feel like a mini event.
  • After the match: If your player won, celebrate. If they lost, commiserate. Either way, a UNLTD. IPA with something from the BBQ is the perfect way to debrief.

The Wimbledon Picnic

If you're going to Wimbledon or setting up in the garden for an afternoon of BBC coverage, the picnic spread matters. Here's what pairs with non-alcoholic beer and fits the Wimbledon aesthetic:

  • Strawberries and cream: Obviously. The lager's crisp carbonation cuts through the richness of the cream beautifully.
  • Smoked salmon sandwiches: Light, elegant, and the delicate flavour works perfectly with a clean lager.
  • Cheese board: A mix of hard and soft cheeses with crackers. If you're having stronger cheeses, switch to the IPA - the hop bitterness stands up to blue cheese and mature cheddar. More pairing ideas in our food pairing guide.
  • Scotch eggs: A proper Wimbledon picnic staple. The lager handles the richness of the sausage meat and the egg perfectly.
  • Something sweet: A lemon drizzle cake or Victoria sponge. Keep the lager flowing - it refreshes between sweet bites.

The Numbers Game

A typical Wimbledon afternoon on the Pimm's vs the UNLTD.:

  • 4 Pimm's and lemonade: ~680 calories, ~60g sugar, noticeable alcohol effect, probably a headache by evening
  • 4 UNLTD. Lagers: 92 calories, 0g sugar, no alcohol effect, completely clear-headed at stumps

That's nearly 600 calories saved and a completely different evening ahead. You can have dinner, enjoy the rest of your day, and wake up ready for tomorrow's matches.

Two Weeks of Tennis, Zero Hangovers

Wimbledon runs for a fortnight. That's fourteen days of potential drinking if you're following the tournament properly. On Pimm's or wine, that's a fortnight of cumulative damage. On UNLTD., it's a fortnight of genuinely enjoyable tennis viewing where every day feels as good as the first.

UNLTD. is built for the long game. Our Lager and IPA are both gluten-free, vegan, sugar-free and B-Corp certified.

Game, set, match.

Stock up for Wimbledon at unltd.beer.

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