Sober Superpowers and the Art of Possibility

Jan 24, 2025By Charlie Crebs
Charlie Crebs

There’s a certain rhythm to a good bar—the hum of conversation, the clink of glassware, the slow dance of a bartender who knows their craft. I used to think alcohol was the thread that held it all together, the fuel that kept the engine running. Turns out, I was wrong.

Tonight, I found myself at Folklore, a bar and record shop in Napa that somehow manages to feel both nostalgic and cutting-edge at the same time. The kind of place where you’d expect to find Hemingway nursing a Papa Duble in one corner, and a group of twenty-somethings geeking out over vinyl in another. It’s got soul. It’s got style. And it’s got a non-alcoholic cocktail menu that would make even the most cynical drinker do a double take.

I was there to catch up with Faith Ventrello, the force of nature behind Folklore with her husband Steve, and to throw around an idea I’ve been toying with a podcast about the highs and lows of the hospitality industry and the sacrifices we make along the way. Faith, ever the visionary, was immediately in. We started bouncing ideas off each other—maybe a radio hour, maybe something bigger. That’s the beauty of sobriety, really. The ideas stick. The conversations last. You leave with more than just a headache and a few blurry memories.

And then, like a perfect plot twist, I realized Folklore was hosting a non-alcoholic pop-up featuring Lyre’s. Kayla and Monica, two bartenders who could mix a drink with their eyes closed and still make it taste like magic, were behind the bar, crafting zero-proof cocktails that weren’t just an afterthought—they were the main event. No sickly sweet, neon-colored garbage. Just real, complex, well-thought-out drinks. Not Your Average Date: hit all of the notes perfectly, and reminds you that there is no replacement for a well made cordial to bring richness and beauty to a beverage with a kiss of hop water to make the aromatics pop. My lord were the drinks good!


And then there was Rafa. An old friend, now repping Lyre’s, and living proof that sobriety isn’t a death sentence—it’s a renaissance. He’s been off the sauce for a year and a half, and it’s working for him. We sat down, talked shop, talked life, talked about how we used to think we needed booze to survive in this industry. Turns out, it’s the opposite. Sobriety’s the thing that lets you stay in the game. The thing that gives you the clarity to see the opportunities right in front of you, instead of drowning them in the bottom of a glass.

At some point, I found myself sipping on a glass of Bouchaine non-alcoholic rosé from Carneros. It was crisp, clean, nice acid, good nose from what you’d expect from a Pinot Noir Rose. I’m loving seeing wineries not just dealc a wine but add verjus, and tannins, or other fruits and herbs to bring it into balance. It hit me then—this isn’t a trend. This isn’t some flash-in-the-pan wellness bullshit. This is the future, and it’s coming whether the industry is ready or not.


So here’s the thing: the non-alcoholic movement isn’t about giving something up. It’s about taking something back. Your time, your health, your clarity. The industry is changing, and if you’re still clinging to the idea that alcohol is the only thing keeping the lights on, you’re in for a rude awakening. Sobriety? It’s not a burden. It’s a goddamn superpower.



And if you’re not paying attention, you’re already behind.