We鈥檙e almost done with January, and typically, this is when some people are struggling or at least rethinking their resolution for 2026.
If鈥痽ou resolved to go alcohol-free, or鈥痬aybe just鈥痗ut back on your alcohol consumption, 四虎影院鈥檚 Alexsis Jones and I discovered a place that just might help you stay on track.
,鈥痩ocated off鈥疌entral Expressway in Richardson, is a bottle shop that offers a wide selection of non-alcoholic spirits, wines, beers and sodas. Plus, it has a lounge with events like tasting classes and sober karaoke.
INSPIRATION COMES AT A ROXY MUSIC CONCERT
Co-founders Reid and Julie Robinson owned two traditional bars in Richardson before pivoting toward a non-alcoholic venture. Reid had quit drinking a few years before, but inspiration for the new business came to him while attending a concert with friends.
鈥淲e were pre-gaming at a club beforehand, and all my friends were having these lovely cocktails, and I felt kind of left out, 鈥淩eid said. 鈥淭hen I got to the Roxy Music show, and all they had was Pepsi. And I thought, 鈥楾his is not right. Why am I not having a good cocktail with everyone else?鈥� And that's kind of where we started to germinate on the idea.鈥�
DRINKING WITH FRIENDS
Julie noticed that patrons at their old bars would ask Reid why he wasn鈥檛 drinking.
鈥淏ecause鈥痽ou've鈥痝ot to have a drink in your鈥痟and鈥痑t the bar,鈥� Julie said. 鈥淭hen he started drinking non-alcoholic鈥痓eer-- because he loves the flavor of beer--and a light went off in my head.鈥�
Those aha moments led the duo to open a store that was more than just a place to buy non-alcoholic products.
鈥淲e鈥痺anted鈥痶o be a little bit of a mini social hub,鈥� Julie said. 鈥淲e want people to be able to come here and get a drink. And鈥痶hat's鈥痺hy we decided to also have a tasting room and lounge.鈥濃���
And鈥痗ommunity鈥痠s鈥痺hat Beyond the鈥疊ar is鈥痓uilding.鈥疓en Z, older generations, expectant mothers, South Asian and Muslim鈥痗ommunities鈥�, and people who鈥痗an't鈥痙rink because of health reasons:鈥�疊eyond the Bar has a seat for everyone.
鈥淟ots鈥痮f different people have been into the shop, and鈥痠t's鈥痓een鈥痳eally interesting鈥痶o see鈥痑ll of鈥痶he communities come together,鈥� Reid said. 鈥淓verything is polarizing, but this seems like something where everybody comes around to the table.鈥濃��
WHAT 四虎影院 THE TASTE?
True to the name, Beyond the Bar goes beyond a mocktail. You can expect craft, non-alcoholic, or zero-proof cocktails. And because鈥痶he ingredients are layered and lower in sugar,鈥痶he drinks have a real flavor profile.鈥�
Julie whipped up a couple of drinks for us to sample.
Up first was the Blueberry Moon Shrub, a fizzy, fruity-tasting drink made up of a鈥痓lueberry ginger mint botanical鈥痵pirit, paired with an elderberry shrub, fresh lime juice and a鈥痭ice鈥痝inger beer.鈥��
I tasted notes of pepper in the cocktail. Alexsis liked that it kicked like a Moscow Mule despite being alcohol-free.
Julie also mixed up a non-alcoholic鈥疧ld Fashioned for Alexsis.鈥��
鈥淚 could really taste the coffee notes,鈥� Alexsis said, 鈥淭he only thing鈥痬issing鈥痺as鈥痶he鈥痓urn going down,鈥痺hich makes it鈥痶he鈥痯erfect鈥痙rink if I鈥痺ant鈥痶o鈥痾ebra-stripe鈥痜or a鈥痭ight out. 鈥溾��
For those not in the know, 鈥渮ebra striping鈥� is alternating between an alcoholic and a non-alcoholic drink.鈥�
If you want to dip your toes into other non-alcoholic alternatives and events, Beyond the Bar offers monthly zero-proof cocktail classes and hosts a sober karaoke event on the last Saturday of each month. You can also sample some of Beyond the Bar鈥檚 creations when they host a pop-up bar at the upcoming on Feb. 15 in Richardson.
Beyond the Bar, 101 S Sherman St B, Richardson, TX. Hours are Tues-Sat 12-7 p.m., Sun 12-4 p.m., Mon, closed.
