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Any recommendations?.
Struggling to find this supposed raft of good AFB that is coming our way. Heineken 0% is about the best I've tried, I reckon it's better than their proper lager (not hard I hear you say!). Becks blue and Bud (surprisingly) prohibition are passable, everything else I've tried is pretty honkin*
*Nanny state isnae bad, but I'd prefer a 0.05% ABV than a 0.5% tbh.
Brew Dog Nanny State is the best I've tried.
Erdinger Weiss bier or Franziskaner Weiss if you prefer a little less sweet
There was a thread a few months ago about this, with quite a lot of suggestions, not all of which I can remember - and taste is, of course, subjective.
My favourite is Bavaria Wit (I don’t like their lager), followed by Bud Prohibition, although 6 of the latter left me feeling a bit queasy this time last year. I was in our local (smallish) Tesco yesterday and noticed that the range is expanding rapidly, which is a good thing, if only they were to stock the Bavaria again.
Sainsburys stock Bavaria, I wasn't to keen on it tbh. I'll try the Franziskanner, Erdinger is way too sweet.
Sainsburys Czech for me.... 0.5% and perfectly acceptable.
The Wit beers are just horrific to me.... I poured 5 away after buying a pack of 6.... Bleeruuugghghghgg.
San Miguel isn't bad.... Becks Blue acceptable if no other alternatives.
For 0.5% Pistonhead Flat Tire (modern, hoppy flavour). For 0% Erdinger Weiss bier.
Try Big Drop
Mikkleller do some decent ones, of which racing beer is my fave
https://shop.mikkeller.dk/collections/low-alcohol
Heineken is my go to, but surprisingly quite enjoyed some Tennent's Hee Haw when I was in Aviemore, perhaps only because of the cute Italian waitress who was serving me and kept pronouncing it 'Hee-Hoo'
"you would like some more Hee-Hoo?"
Think I'd been out in the hills too long as my mind kept going to some unaccountably dirty places...
Heard good things about the M&S alcohol free stuff, must be good as it's always sold out when I shop there!
Didnae know Tennents did one Iain, I'll have a look at that.
I've enjoyed the Erdinger alcoholfrei but only ever drank it at the finish of a marathon (they were handing it out) when I'm probably not the most discriminating!
I like these two
https://www.beerhawk.co.uk/big-drop-stout-alcohol-free
https://www.beerhawk.co.uk/big-drop-pale-ale-alcohol-free
Also Innis and None is the best beer Innis and Gunn do as its actually got some flavour 😀
No idea if you can get it in the UK but Easy Rider IPA by the Swedish brewery Gotlands Bryggeri is really good. It tastes more or less like a normal session IPA..
Adnams Ghost Ship is now available alcohol free-nowhere near as good as the original despite rave reviews but good for non alcohol i you prefer something less sweet than the weissbeers.
Sainsburys Czech for me…. 0.5% and perfectly acceptable.
Seconded, and M&S do a Czech 0.5, which is brewed by Staropramen. Difficult to find as they're often sold out, but pretty close to a decent pilsner. I suspect the Sainos one is the same as (or at least made by the same people as) the M&S one.
Tesco stock those Big Drop Brewing ones, they're surprisingly good, even the stout!
I really don't like the hopster beers like Nanny State. Love Erdinger and could easily drink that as a permanent replacement for normal beers. Try St Peters Without for something more malty.
Another vote for the Pistonhead flat tire - best I've tried so far. Tesco sell it.
I've tried a fair few and adnams ghost shop alcohol free stands out as the best approximation of an alcoholic beer
Pistonhead have an interesting article on no vs low alcohol. Basically, it makes no difference and if you're worried stay off the orange juice.
http://www.pistonheadlager.com/can-you-get-drunk-on-non-or-low-alcohol/
Great suggestions, thanks. 0.5% is a no go tbh, I seem to be developing an intolerance of alcohol even at that low level!. Which is a bugger, as it cuts the options down even further.
Estrella Free Damm is pretty good. Morrisons have it. Tastes a bit like lager.
St Peters Without
"Without" doubt the most awful thing I have ever tasted! Absolutely vile 🙁
The piston head AFL is pretty good, and any of the wiessbeer style AFB seems to taste pretty good. That stout looks interesting, will have to seek that out 🙂
Any recommendations?.
I cant speak............ ;o(
I rather like the Lidl Patronus; got a wee bit of a malty taste which I like. Seems to be a very personal thing though - seen lots of positive comments about Ghost Ship and St Peter’s Without, neither of which I found very appealing.
my other favourite is the M&S Czech lager which is probably my favourite when I can get it.
Nanny State is pretty good and even gives you a mini hangover!
If you want to go way off piste, try Guinness Malta - like beer that's not been brewed, very popular in Nigeria
Nanny State is pretty good and even gives you a mini hangover!
I've experienced this - a proper evening session of those and i'm feeling bloated like normal beer, voice drops an octave like real beer and I feel pretty lousy the next day. Goes to show it's not all about the alcohol!
Erdinger Alkoholfrei is the favourite by far for me, cold, in the summer.
The Big Drop stout is surprisingly good. I bought a bottle from Tesco and wasn't expecting much but it's good.
The Erdinger is great; I "discovered it" whilst hammered one night and drank two bottles before I realised it was alcohol free.
had Karma Pale by Nirvana on keg at the pub the other day, was pretty good actually. New-ish London brewery who specialise in low/no alcohol beers if you fancy an Indie option.
Erdinger is popular in my pub.
The prohibition bud is surprisingly goid especially if you think of it as "a drink" rather than "a beer"
Another vote for Erdinger but it does need to be cold... they sponsor the German Biatholon team due to it being classed as an Isotonic recovery drink so post sport, its ace.
Failing that, any mainstream Mekin Bud / Redstripe stuff which I have yet to drink enough of to be remotely drinked....
Nanny state isnae bad, but I’d prefer a 0.05% ABV than a 0.5% tbh.
Shandy Bass is 0.5% and that's classed as a soft drink. Or was a soft drink, don't even know if it's still around.
<div class="bbp-reply-author">Nobeerinthefridge</div>
<div class="bbp-reply-content">Great suggestions, thanks. 0.5% is a no go tbh, I seem to be developing an intolerance of alcohol even at that low level!.
</div>
Surely it was inevitable with that username?
Try squeezing a bit of lime (quarter works for me) into the glass before you pour in a Becks Blue - makes it taste much more like proper beer IMO.
TopDeck for the win Rene59!
Thanks black flag, I'll have a swatch at that.
If you have a look on drydrinker.com they have loads of choice to suit your taste, as well as doing selection boxes.
Aye, but it's eye wateringly expensive for what is actually juice!
I'm a big consumer of Bavaria Alc Free Lager and find them tolerably tasty when chilled. As a result of this thread I bought one of every low alc Bitter/Beer/Stout that looked to my taste on the Tesco shelves adjacent to the Bavarias.
Tried the first one tonight: St Peter's Without Original. 0.0pc. (At room temperature.)
Verdict, it's pretty nice. If I'd be served it as a Best Bitter in a pub I wouldn't feel ripped off. I'll be a regular consumer from now on.
Will report back if any of the others work out.
Full Disclosure: I'm not a connoisseur. I like bland beer. I cheerfully consume Boddingons Bitter from the can.
EDIT: FWIW I *really* don't like Adnams Ghost ship. Tastes like cider. Horrible. (Which is a shame, I usually like Adnams Beers...)
Local B&M were selling flat tyre for 60 pence a can. Need to grab a few at that price.
That St Peters Without is vile stuff. It's the only beer I've ever poured down the sink after a couple of mouthfuls.
Lidl Patronus was surprisingly nice and only something like 89p a bottle.
Other than that the Erdinger is probably my go to choice. All the lagers are OK but nothing special. The Nanny State just tastes too hoppy and seems a bit fake.
That St Peters Without is vile stuff.
I liked it, if everything else is nicer than that I'm gonna be a happy man!
Erdinger Weiss bier or Franziskaner Weiss if you prefer a little less sweet
One or both of those are usually £3 for 3 from Sainsburys home delivery. Lidl Patronus is OK as well at under a pound.
They're my go to drink now when i want something refreshing and not full of sugar.
St Peters Without” doubt the most awful thing I have ever tasted! Absolutely vile 🙁
You've not tried their Plum Porter then.
Worst.
Beer.
Ever.
I struggle to do 3 nights off so following this thread I road tested a few on Wednesday from Tesco's.
Flat Tyre tasted pretty much like a cold lager so I guess thats ok if thats your sort of thing.
Last Drop Pale was bad enough for me to pour away.
Infinite Session Pale was pretty impressive, tasted close enough to a session craft beer.
Long Drop Stout was genuinely impressive.
So thats Tues, Wed Thur this week 🙂
Just bought brewdog nanny state to give a try. Will report later/tomorrow
God that's horrific! !!! !! !!
Just tried that st peters without, ooft, howling!...
Quite a few I've never tried mentioned on here, I'll need to check them out, cheers.
My go to ones are Heineken, Erdinger or if there's nothing else then Bud. Really didn't like Becks or Brew Dog. All make me feel really bloated after a few though.
Bavaria is a good 0% lager, Asda sells it cheap in cans and bottles but tastes better than brand names imo.
I read a few recommendations for Nanny State but I thought it was horrible. I can believe that Mikellers do a good a good one but I'm willing to bet I can't afford it 🙂
Just tried a big drop pale ale. Very tasty. Gotta be honest, the Bavaria Lager seems to do much the same thing for less calories, less alcohol and less cash. (...and less flavour.)
I'm gonna buy a good selection of all these and go alc free this Xmas. Really grateful for this thread, opened my eyes to a lot of opportunities.
Also grateful that I seem to be fairly easily pleased in the beer stakes, which is a bit of a blessing. 🙂
My favourite is still the Bavaria. The flat tyre is pretty good too though. I really like stout but I thought that the big drop stout tasted like slightly flat coke with an odd aftertaste 🙁
My favourite is still the Bavaria.
I love the Bavarias in summer, ice cold. Like those little French bottled lagers but you can drink them at a time and situation that would normally be totally inappropriate.
Erdinger Blue or Nanny State.
Interested to try some of the suggestions on the thread too though.
(old enough to remember Kaliber, so really any modern low/non alcohol beer is bound to taste decent by comparison...)
Cobra AF reminded me of kaliber, truly boak inducing.
Anyone tried warsteiner? Mate from Marstons recommended it and I found it a pretty good compromise. Bit more flavour to it than bavaria, pretty drinkable.
Yeah, not too bad that one.
Mini-PSA - the Lidl Patronus stuff was reduced to 69p a bottle in Lidl last night (that was at the one in east Coventry neat the A46, assume it's the same everywhere)
“Without” doubt the most awful thing I have ever tasted! Absolutely vile 🙁
Its the single worst "beer" I've ever had. Poured 90% of it down the sink, I've got two unopened bottle in the house from when I was trying different non-alcoholic beers in the summer.
Franziskaner Alcoholfrei is excellent, its much better then Erdinger which has a kind of yeasty, chemically tang to it. Schneider Weisse is even better if you can find it.
I do like Nanny State too, nice and cold and they just taste like a weak session IPA
Are you all alocholics or something? Why the **** would you drink alcohol free beer.
It's like vaping.
agreed on the "without" - nasty
AFB is more like anti-vaping, I'd say, rbw. Vaping equivalent would be more like drinking pure alcohol to avoid all that "other" stuff in there.
I drink AF because I prefer it (or tonic) to other soft drinks, don't want to just drink water and because I like to be able to drive if I need to
I quite like
Mikkeller drink'in the sun (very "hoppy")
Fat Tire
Adnams Ghost Ship, as slated up ^ there (better than their sole star IMO)
Didn't like ST Peter without, Palm Green, Beck's blue (not bad, just v bland)
Bought some Beck's Blue this week. Not my preferred NA drink but all there was in the Sainsbury's Local. I put it through the scanner and apparently it needs approval from staff as it has 0.05% alcohol in it. Jobsworth fella took great pride in telling me. I think he was hoping I'd buy 500 cans to see if I could get tipsy. I'd die of hyponatremia first I think. Anyway, as recommended above, it's much better with a squeeze of lime in the glass first - oh and a vodka.
I had a few bottles of Erdinger after riding the Golfy on a hot summers evening and it hit the spot. Furstenberg is okay if you can get a hold of it.
Are you all alocholics or something? Why the **** would you drink alcohol free beer.
It’s like vaping.
Agree, but disagree
I'm an alchy, no doubt, but can do a month off - and do every year. Sod alcohol free beer, what's the point? It all tastes like shit, without the good side of it. I can't actually believe that I've read further back about people getting 'mini hangovers' from it ffs. Hold on, I'll not get pissed, but still feel like shit the next day????
Vaping though - you still get the addictive bit, nicotine, so a bit different. I feel a damn sight better vaping than smoking fags
What's the point?
Well, I enjoy the taste of beer, but not the effects of alcohol. Surely even the hard of understanding can process such a simple rationale?.
While I'm not the park bench kind of alky I definitely drink more than I want to. AF beer is part of the picture in cutting down for me.
What’s the point?
Well, I enjoy the taste of beer, but not the effects of alcohol. Surely even the hard of understanding can process such a simple rationale?.
That. I guess there are some folk for whom getting alcohol down their neck is more important than the taste though.
As for the "hangover" thing from AF/LA beer, it's a genuine effect for some folk. There is an enzyme produced during the malting process of barley that stays in the final product. Some folk react to that. For a few years it would cause me to develop a migraine. Some beers are worse than others. Wheat beers are the least affected.
The St Peter's alcohol free ale is the most horrific beer related product i've ever tasted......absolutely howfin!
Krombacher and Paulaner do some decent wheat and pilsner styles.
Dry Drinker do a great selection including some worthwhile mixed cases.
What’s the point?
Well, I enjoy the taste of beer, but not the effects of alcohol. Surely even the hard of understanding can process such a simple rationale?.
I'm also amazed people need to ask. If Pork Pies normally came laced with heroin then I'd be keen to try "Heroin Free Pork Pies". In the same way if I can have beer without falling over and making a **** of myself without too much of a sacrifice in taste I'm gonna jump at it.
A lot less calories as well.
On another note I am seriously proud that I seem to be alone in not only being able to stomach St Peter’s without, but also quite enjoy it. Go me!
I am seriously proud that I seem to be alone in not only being able to stomach St Peter’s without, but also quite enjoy it.
I recommended it earlier in the thread. I reckon it has too much taste for the effete lager/hopster types.
I recommended it earlier in the thread. I reckon it has too much taste for the effete lager/hopster types.
Like it, let's go with the working hypothesis that 'we' have more sophisticated taste than 'them'.
Absolutely!
Not sure if they've been mentioned but Adnams now make Ghost Ship in 0.5% which is very good, they also make 2 other beers at 0.9 and 3.4 so reasonably low alcohol.
Woah there folks,I never claimed to have sophisticated tastes!😊
I’m just back from Fuerteventura and found Falke lager in the supermarket.
0% and very cheap, yet tasty in a Bavaria kind of way.
Don’t know if it can be obtained in the UK but it was very refreshing in the 29 degree heat.