It Started With One Drink at Hy-Vee. Then Everything Changed.

If you haven't walked through the doors at UN:INEBRIATED yet, you'd be in the minority. Owner Brandon Yaw says they've welcomed a new customer nearly every single day they've been open for the past two years, and hearing why each person decided to stop in is still his favorite part of the job.

Brandon picked up a non-alcoholic Sierra Nevada Citrus Hop Splash at Hy-Vee one evening, cracked it open, and realized he'd happily drink it instead of beer that night. When he went back a few days later, the store's NA selection had already doubled. That was all the sign he needed.

Today, the downtown Kearney social bottle shop and community hub carries more than 300 options, up from about 120 when it first opened. Don't let the name fool you: this isn't just tea and soda for the sober crowd. You'll find NA versions of your favorite beers, spirits that work as one-to-one swaps for gin or tequila (think gin and tonics and margaritas), wines, and functional beverages made with mushrooms, herbs, and berries. For Brandon, it's less about giving up drinking and more about being mindful, whether that means skipping alcohol on a weeknight or making sure you're at your best the next morning. Every product on the shelf has been tasted and chosen by Brandon and his wife, Miki, so if he tells you something is his favorite, he means it. His usual picks are the Dad Gras Grapefruit Mint or the house Kavahol Mule.

It's a laid-back spot to hang out with friends, sip something from the mixed drink menu, or grab drinks to go.

Brandon isn't a Kearney native, but he's been around town since the mid-'90s, when his brother moved here. He and Miki made it official and moved back permanently in 2008. What keeps him here is Kearney's forward-thinking spirit: "Standing still is not an option in Kearney," he says, "and we're not afraid to do things differently than similarly sized communities in Nebraska."

When he's not at work? Those who know him would say he's usually doing more work, but lately he and Miki have been spending a disproportionate amount of time at Drop Zone.

Stop in, try something new, and tell Brandon what brought you through the door.

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