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I'd like to start a thread on this. There is one on low alcohol beer, but couldn't find one on non-alcoholic, (0.5%* and below).
My benchmark is BrewDog Nanny State, although this isn't perfect. It can have quite a bitter aftertaste, but I only notice it sometimes.
I'm yet to find a Pale Ale that isn't just like hopped, sweet sugar water.
Recently I've tried Days 0.0% Lager and Pale Ale. The lager has a real Pilsner taste to it with a slight sweet aftertaste. I'd have it again. The Pale Ale isn't anywhere near as good. Not unpleasant but just a bit too sweet. These are quite expensive at the moment though £2+ a bottle.
I've also tried Infinite Session Indian Pale Ale and American Pale Ale. The IPA was ok, I'd not bother again though. The APA was better but had a very strange smell, almost vegetable like, as it warmed up. I threw one glass of it away as I could not finish it due to the smell. Not one I'd bother again with either.
I've tried a few of the other BrewDog ones but need to sample them again before commenting.
Anyone else tried anything good?
*I know this is still slightly alcoholic!
Coast beer Co. Edinburgh based I think. Best AF beer I've tasted by miles.
Used to be able to get their hazy IPA in tesco... Don't know if that's still the case.
Pistonhead for a dry hopped lager style. Tasty and refreshing with no weird aromas/taste!
Aldi Hop Foundry is ok. 0.5% pale. Also have a look at Big Drop - they do a range of 0.5% beers and I seem to remember a decent pale ale.
Big Drop Pine Trail is not bad at all.
In fact Big Drop do a few decent pale ales, fruity, citrusy or hoppy as you choose.
@Ransos stealing my thunder
Yep, the Big Drop one is nice, as is the Infinite Session. Don't like Nanny State though.
The big winner for me was the Marks and Sparks Czech lager - almost completely indistinguishable from the real thing. Haven't had it for a while though and I noted they changed the packaging after supply issues, so I hope it's still as good.
I saw this in a cafe recently and would like to try, as I like BBF generally:
https://www.bristolbeerfactory.co.uk/collections/all-beers/products/clear-head-12-pack
This Tiny Rebel one is nice too:
https://www.waitrose.com/ecom/products/tiny-rebel-clwb-tropica-non-alc/569630-728248-728249
*I know this is still slightly alcoholic!
Oh, and I understand that 0.5% is generally around the amount of alcohol in natural fruit juice after it's been open a couple of days - it's effectively alcohol free but they can't guarantee it so can't call it that.
Adnams ghost ship isn’t bad
Beaten to it - that's my go-to choice. Lovely stuff. Few cans of that on post-ride bivvy last week. And Tesco sell it so easy to get hold of.
I'm a fan of Big Drop too, I haven't tasted one of theirs I didn't like. The Galactic Milk Stout is my favourite for colder nights.
The Adnams Ghost Ship 0.0 is a good bet as it's pretty widely available and actually comes in a pint (more or less) size, which I like - an awful lot of AF beers are only available in little cans.
A pub near me has Heineken Zero on tap, which is brilliant - a pint of cold fresh alcohol-free beer to drink with friends, and actually for a light summery lager it's one of the best easily-available ones. I'm not a massive fan of Becks Blue, Morreti zero or Peroni Zero, they're all just a bit bland and sugary.
I've discovered a range of beers through a subscription I was given to https://wisebartender.co.uk/ - that's worth a try. 🙂
+1 for the Pistonhead.
Erdinger Weissbrau alcohol free is quite drinkable and the label claims is a 'refreshing isotonic drink' so take that lucozade!
Sainsbury's also used to do an own brand alcohol free Weissbeer but I haven't been able to find it recently.
Erdinger weissbier, all the brewdog stuff is pretty decent. IMO.
I first got acquainted with the Erdinger at the end of Manchester Marathon where they were handing it out as a post-race recovery drink!
I enjoy a Ghost ship, and Erdinger too, but Brooklyn special effects is my fave, it's as good as any beer I've tried, never mind being 0.4%.
https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/307745115
A pub near me has Heineken Zero on tap, which is brilliant
Superb, I don't mind that stuff either, a cold pint of it would be sweet!
I reckon Heineken is the only actual 0% one that doesn't make me want to gag. Tennents brought out a 0% one, I bought 4 and couldn't even force down the first one.
Ones I’ve had recently and will be buying again are Ghost Ship, Big Drop Pine Trail, Adnams Sole Star, Brooklyn Special Effects and West Berks Brewery Solo. Erdinger wheat beer is nice too.
Was less keen on Bitburger Drive and Heineken zero.
Shipyard low tide for me, ghost ship comes a close second.Erdinger up there as well
I like Clwb Tropica NA too. Elvis AF is the best of the brewdog ones IMO, but Thornbridge Zero Five is my favourite.
Moretti Zero is good for a supermarket one too.
Oooh, oooh - I can do this one.
I've done a few mixed cases over lockdown, these were the best by an absolute mile:
Ilkley Virgin Mary - Clean, fresh and easy drinking - it's my go-to fridge staple now.
West Berkshire Solo - Nice, actually tastes of beer not that washed-out soggy biscuity hue loads of 0% beers have.
Insel-Brauerei Snorkeler's Sea Salt IPA - Bit left-field but again, a beer that actually tastes of something. I really enjoyed this but may not be for everyone
Any of the Ollenaut Kaineken ones - 0.5% Estonian craft brews for maximum bearded hipster points. All really nice.
Drop Bear Yuzu - one of the better ones from an otherwise largely uninspiring mixed case. I haven't re-ordered it since discovering the ones above though but it's a really decent brew.
Compared to the character-less pisswater we had to chose from not that long ago we're absolutely spoiled rotten for choice now. What a time etc.
Got a selection from Big Drop and there are a few there that are OK.
Erdinger is drinkable too.
Of the supermarket ones I’ve tried the Flat Tyre stuff has been my favourite. The Heineken is about half the price and almost as good so that’s my daily drink.
I’ve really struggled with non-lager ones but I suspect that’s my preference for stronger beers. I can’t see a proper Belgian blonde working as an AF
Magic Rock Freeride,very hoppy IPA, 0.5% ABV ,very nice.
I've tried a lot, and been disappointed by a lot. I prefer Punk AF to Nanny State. That and wheat beers tend to be my favourite, with Franziskaner slightly better than Erdinger in my opinion.
Oh, and I understand that 0.5% is generally around the amount of alcohol in natural fruit juice after it’s been open a couple of days – it’s effectively alcohol free but they can’t guarantee it so can’t call it that.
Somebody on the internet did the maths on this, and you’d have to drink something like 50 cans in an hour to even register on a breathalyser.
Go tos for me:
BrewDog Hazy AF, or Punk AF - both tasty.
Nanny state has a bit of weird after taste, but passable.
Clwb Tropica AF tastes almost as good as the boozy version.
Didn’t like the Drop bear stuff.
Erdinger for me. Though I like it as a drink rather than trying to mimic alcohol. I find it particularly refreshing after a bike ride if I've been supping a sports type drink.
Has anyone said Lucky Saint? Available in Sainsbury's
Nirvana AF beer is exceptional. Pricey but very very nice.
Also explore the various ones Lidl and Aldi sell. Some decent German ones from those.
I first got acquainted with the Erdinger at the end of Manchester Marathon where they were handing it out as a post-race recovery drink!
They did the same thing in York but all that happened was that it put me off the stuff completely.
Might give it another try based on your recommendations.
I like punk AF
but prefer Mikkeler: day in the sun (the best I've tried so far)
I tried Beavertown- Lazer crush, it was OK but not as good as ^^
Brightside brewery do one called Nero and it's really good. Erdinger is a good choice also because the wheat gives it body whereas some are watery. I don't mind the brewdog ones but would rather not give them money at the moment until they make progress on not being misogynistic bosses
Lucky Saint for the win! Sold in Sainsburys as @Twodogs already mentioned
Also available at Tesco and Majestic Wines
Brutal Brewing (Piston Head Flat Tire brewers) do an IPA called Ship Full Of IPA. If you can find it its really good. As good as many regular IPAs.
I have some Saltaire Northern Lights at the moment but its a bit insipid. Tastes like a half decent IPA watered down to half strength.
I’ve recently enjoyed the beers from siwcbrewery.com.
They specialise in low and no alcohol, but their regular strength beers are decent too
My favourite is Bavaria 0.0 it’s nothing fancy, but every time I try something alcohol free and fancy it’s just disappointing, so I don’t bother any more
Forgot about Lucky Strike, it was good too.
Beavertown Lazer crush is decent. Quite taken to their 2.8% nanobot too.
Athletic Brewing Company beers are IMHO really good, wide selection of styles, not had a bad one yet. Suspect they haven't made it to the UK yet though. 🙁
Erdinger and Bavaria are ok
On the flipside, dont be tempted by Doombar zero unless you really enjoy dishwater mixed with soy sauce.
Loads to try out, thanks!
An update on what I said about Infinite Session American Pale Ale
The APA was better but had a very strange smell, almost vegetable like, as it warmed up. I threw one glass of it away as I could not finish it due to the smell. Not one I’d bother again with either.
I had a Brewdog Punk AF last night and could detect hints of what I found didn't like in the Infinte Session, but overall Punk AF was nice. The Infinte Session APA has just Simcoe, Citra, Mosaic hops, which are also in Punk AF (plus a load more). I guess it's one of those 3 hops that just dominated too much in the IF APA for me. I had 12 of the IF APAs, it was drinkable but sometimes that smell was too much.
My favourite is Bavaria 0.0 it’s nothing fancy, but every time I try something alcohol free and fancy it’s just disappointing, so I don’t bother any more
Bavaria is my AF go too these days when doing the shop at Tesco, just wish they sold them in packs bigger then 4!
I'm a lager drink and not a fan of IPA's, tried everything they've had in stock the last few months, Bud zero and San Miguel AF are awful. Becks and Heineken are okay.
Tried the Heineken 0.0% last night. It really wasn't bad at all (for Heineken). My wife said it tasted like watery beer so I think they've got it spot on for Heineken drinkers.... joke!
Essentially, I'm not a fan of Heineken but if I was I think I'd like Heineken 0.0%
Brooklyn Special Effects is head-and-shoulders above any other AF beer I've tried.
I wouldn't be surprised to find out it actually had alcohol in it.
<strikethrough>Probably</strikethrough> Definitely been mentioned, but I tried this last week and it was reet nice:
(typically arty shot, not mine) Available in Tesco and Morrisons it seems
Interesting thread. I would, like many, have assumed it was obvious why people drink AF booze.
I generally have a couple of ciders of a weekend, not a heavy drinker at all, but this thread has inspired me, so i will hunt down some AF options tonight and give them a spin over the weekend.
If anyone knows which supermarkets stock Brooklyn, do post up here.
Fresh case of WBB Solo arrived c/o this morning's Postie, along with a few normal beers to try.
Shipyard low tide for me, ghost ship comes a close second.Erdinger up there as well
looked for this thread to recommend the shipyard low tide that ive just had. probably the only low alcohol (0.5%) that ive drank and hadnt had that 'horrible' taste in my mouth.
recently taken to drinking beavertown neck oil as my favourite 'regular' tipple, and i was amazed that i found that they seemed to taste the same. asked my wife what she thought without mentioning the beavertown and yep, youve guessed it.
lovely straight out of the fridge, this is now going to be my AF beer of choice.
Brewdog appear to be offering all their popular beers in AF form, not tried them other than punk and nanny state.
Bowness Bay make a swan 0.5% ipa, I’ve found it in Booths? The 0% Leffe is good too.
I'd like some alcohol free beers for Christmas, any more recent recommendations?
Perhaps a bit too mainstream but I still really rate Guinness 0.0. I'll follow this revived thread with interest.
St Peters, dark from Tesco, gold from Morrisons- very malty. Guinness 0.0% Brooklyn Brewery special effects, Athletic brewing co. Run wild and Upside Dawn, Lucky Saint and Freedamn lager - on offer at Tesco. There’s many more including Leffe blonde which is very acceptable £4.50 for six at Tesco at the moment- hope this helps!
Bellfield Brewery - Fire Island IPA https://www.bellfieldbrewery.com/collections/gluten-free-beer/products/gluten-free-beer-fire-island-ipa
Schneider Weiss - Alkoholfrei
Also second the recommendations for Guinness 0 and Free Damm
The best I’ve tried is Adnams Ghost
Looking like a chart topper here
Infinite Sessions - I have a monthly subscription and, having tried most of the rest, have settled on these. IPA and Pale Ale.
Nanny states pretty dire has a metallic aftertaste to me.
Hazy AF is the most like drinking a beer I find. I buy it by the 48 direct from their website as it's hard to find in sbops.
Elvis AF is nasty.
Punk AF is the most common to find on tap out and about and is quite drinkable.
I also like the lidl af lager - FiL put me onto that.
Peroni AF is much and such the same as their regular if you like that sort of thing.
I've got some Pure Shores and some Tropical Shores ready for collection tomorrow from Big Smoke Brewery in Esher tomorrow. Probably not a lot of good unless you're local!
Other than that, I still recommend the Brooklyn Special Effects which I can get in my local Sainsburys and Waitrose. I quite like Lucky Saint as well, also from Sainsburys and they apparently have a new beer out but not managed to try that yet
Impossibrew Pale.
+1 for Guinness 0%
Lucky Saint on draught is perfectly drinkable if you can find it. Fine out of a bottle too.
Leffe Blonde 0% is decent as well.
I’d like some alcohol free beers for Christmas, any more recent recommendations
Probably too late for Christmas, but DryDrinker have a huge selection for delivery...i particularly like the óllenaut kaineken ones, especially the smoked porter.
https://williamsbrosbrew.com/products/joker-af
This is my current favourite. More than acceptable imitation of the full bore Joker and available in Aldi.
For my part the AF Asahi is an excellent lager. The Brooklyn Brewery AF one is also pretty good and flavoursome.
Personally I can't be doing with Nanny State - it's undrinkably bitter to me. Punk AF isn't too bad though.
Best one of all is by Brulo though - their 7 Hop 7 Grain and Lust for Life DDH IPAs are genuinely excellent IMO - I prefer them to many alcoholic beers.
I’ve got some Pure Shores and some Tropical Shores ready for collection tomorrow from Big Smoke Brewery in Esher tomorrow. Probably not a lot of good unless you’re local!
as it happens I am - do they have a sales room that you can just call into, or is it collection only?
Another +1 for Guinness 0% - excellent stuff, so good infact one of my local pubs is charging £6.50 for a can🤬
Lucky Saint IPA and the Big Drop Pine Trail are both ok. Not amazing but ok, and more summery stuff than Christmas non-boozing.
That Brooklyn beer looks promising and is on offer at Tesco's.
so good infact one of my local pubs is charging £6.50 for a can
That's outrageous; I picked up a 4 pack for I think a fiver, or you can get a 10 pack for a tenner. Even allowing a pub premium, there's no duty to pay. Pubs should be incentivised to provide AF beers or softies at low price particularly this time of year.
That Brooklyn beer looks promising and is on offer at Tesco’s.
The Brooklyn one is probs the best of the lot we've found.
Pubs should be incentivised to provide AF beers or softies at low price particularly this time of year.
Pubs have always had a ridiculous profit margin on soft drinks, it's nothing new
Brooklyn special effects is good as is Thornbridge zero five,
as it happens I am – do they have a sales room that you can just call into, or is it collection only?
They have a tap room at the same premises where I have previously just turned up and made a selection from the fridges behind the bar and they've boxed it up for me. This time around I did a click and collect as I didn't want to chance it with it being Christmas. Unless you are in Esher anyway might be worth giving them a call before you make the journey
https://www.bigsmokebrew.co.uk/
I'll be at Garsons farm raiding their cheese counter so practically next door either tomorrow or Saturday
I think the lady on the phone today said they were only open half day this Saturday (could have misremembered), again might be worth a check
Interesting about the big smoke af beers as we have one of there puba in Chi that it's my backup choice in town.nl Will have to investigate if they have any of the af beers in.
Brooklyn special effects
Ghost ship
Guinness
in that order
This brewery does some lovely AF options, if you can find it near you.
https://www.onlywithlove.co/collections/af-beers-page
My current favourites are Leffe (Tescos) and Beavertowns Lazer Crush (Sainsburys) but I'm more than happy to drink Erdinger.
Lucky Saint lager is a refreshingly clean taste.
I find the .5% ciders very agreeable too.
Who sells the Brooklyn one or do I have to buy it online?
AF beers and ciders have taken me from one or two nights off a week to a regular 4 days a week, happy days indeed and it only takes one to hit the spot 🙂
Yet another vote for Guinness 0%
also a fan of the Aldi pilsner which is £3 for 6 bottles.
Lucky Saint also a decent lager.
When at home I enjoy those AF ones as much as the full fat beers