[Closed] Non-Alcoholic beer – Why?

It's just an alternative. For me it is a good option when I don't want something very sweet and/or sugary.

I drink both. AF beer is (often) cheaper, lower calorie and doesnt leave me feeling off in the morning if I drink a few.I am not really a fan of coke etc, fruit juice is nice but can't drink more than one really. I do like some of those grown up fizzy drinks (elderflower etc) and will have those too. It all depends on the mood - beer, AF beer, fizzy pop, whisky, gin...

It's all good really!

I like the taste of beer.

I canny really be arsed with the effects of alcohol.

Simple really.

I like the taste of beer.

I canny really be arsed with the effects of alcohol.

Simple really.

So simple. I can't get my head around the fact that some folk don't understand this.

I think the effect of the alcohol is largely in your mind. You think a glass of wine/beer is relaxing because its got alchohol in it but actually unless you're an alcoholic its broadly a placebo I would say. It's the act of having the beer or wine that is the effective part. Having a nice (and thats harder to do) AF beer at the end of a long day is as good as a regular one I would say.

I like the taste of beer.

I canny really be arsed with the effects of alcohol.

Simple really.

This about sums it up for me, though I'd insert the word "sometimes" before the start of the second line.
A lot of soft drinks are full of sugar and sweetness, sometimes I don't want that.

I drink Erdinger alcohol free. Just the one bottle if driving, allows me to have a “beer” and drive safely. Very nice after a ride.
I like the taste of it. Pretty simple really.
I’m a bit of a lightweight, really suffer from hangovers irrespective of what I drink. So for example, tonight I’ll have a few Erdingers with dinner. No hangover and I still feel like I’ve had a nice drink with dinner.
I’ve had a few alcohol free beers that taste awful, but some are pretty good. Not a fan of the Peroni or Becks. But quite a few I find are just as nice as normal beer.

I agree with the OP - if I am drinking, I like the effect of having a drink. If I am not drinking I prefer other drinks to AF beer (lime and soda with lots of ice is my preferred in a pub). At home I like to drink root beer or ginger beer.

I like the taste of beer.

I canny really be arsed with the effects of alcohol.

Simple really.

+1
Also, I like the taste of beer and meeting friends. If it's in a pub I like to be able to drive home legally.

I think the effect of the alcohol is largely in your mind

Pretty sure that if I drink too much alcohol I feel like shit the next day or two. As others have said, that's why I drink low/no alcohol beer.

Switching to coke or sugary soft drinks disrupts my sleep nearly as much as alcohol.

If I want a cold, tasty, refreshing, and not sweet, drink that I can have a few of: beer.

If I want a cold, tasty, refreshing, and not sweet, drink without the negatives effects of alcohol, there's really nothing else that suits better than AF beer.

I used to work for a real ale brewery but I find a bottle of Ghost Ship just as enjoyable as the alcohol alternatives. I enjoy the taste but less health downsides.

If I want a cold, tasty, refreshing, and not sweet, drink that I can have a few of: beer.

If I want a cold, tasty, refreshing, and not sweet, drink without the negatives effects of alcohol, there’s really nothing else that suits better than AF beer.

+1

I only drink beer for the taste, and the alcohol content can be a PITA at times. Hence nice to have AF alternatives that taste as nice as or better than an alcoholic equivalent.

Certainly helps logistics and being able to drive and avoid the need for a taxi or (shudder) the last train/bus home.

But why is AF beer so expensive? It is the same (or indeed more) than alcoholic alternatives yet there isn't the £1 or so per litre of duty to pay on it.

Because when I can't drink for whatever reason it allows me to pretend that I am.

Once I've finished it I realise how pointless drinking it was and I get depressed.

Six months later I forget that it's depressing to drink it and find myself in a situation where I can't drink...

I've found that if I can't drink I'm better off just drinking fizzy water.

Why not find a AF drink that is nice?

I actually prefer the taste of the AF version of the beer I normally drink at home.
Normally have both in the fridge, but much preferring the AF version recently based purely on taste.

If I want a cold, tasty, refreshing, and not sweet, drink that I can have a few of: beer.

If I want a cold, tasty, refreshing, and not sweet, drink without the negatives effects of alcohol, there’s really nothing else that suits better than AF beer.

Now I've converted this sums it up for me.

I was curious before trying as I had noticed more options available at the supermarket and friends, work colleagues and some podcasts I listen too had spoke about how they had improved recently in taste and tasted like the real thing, final push was during the heatwave when the cold water from the kitchen tap got warmer.

But why is AF beer so expensive?

500ml bottle of Ghost ship is the same price as 500ml of coke in my local Tesco.

I think the effect of the alcohol is largely in your mind. You think a glass of wine/beer is relaxing because its got alchohol in it but actually unless you’re an alcoholic its broadly a placebo I would say.

I have devoted most of my adult life to this question. It is not a placebo.

But why is AF beer so expensive?

Usually smaller batch runs so less economies of scale, was an answer I heard the other day 🤷‍♂️

I like a beer. I am teetotal. I drink AF beer accordingly.

They are much much better tasting than they used to be too.

I like a beer. I am teetotal. I drink AF beer accordingly.

They are much much better tasting than they used to be too.

Same here for 2.5 years. Initially I avoided AF beer because I thought the flavour would trigger me into wanting a proper beer again. But it didn't, so I sampled many different brews and as said by others, the flavour/experience is much better than it used to be.

I think the effect of the alcohol is largely in your mind. You think a glass of wine/beer is relaxing because its got alchohol in it but actually unless you’re an alcoholic its broadly a placebo I would say.

I have devoted most of my adult life to this question. It is not a placebo.

Alcohol does not have a purely placebo effect, that's for sure. But if a beer and a comfy chair has always been a signal to your mind and body that a hard day's work is finished and that relax-y good times are beginning, then a bottle, maybe two of AF beer is likely to do the same trick to a large degree.

I like the taste of beer.

I canny really be arsed with the effects of alcohol.

Simple really.

A hundred times this.

I love a beer. I don't love the argumentative, foul-tempered prick that more than about 4 of them turns me into the next day and beyond.

Most standard soft drinks - coke/pepsi etc are foully sweet and probably worse for me than beer.

After a bit of digging I've found a decent roster of NA beers that I enjoy and cracking one or two open of an evening and still being able to drive if needed is worth the minor drop in flavour compared to the 5/6/7% IPA's I normally liked.

practicality: It's a great option for midweek tea with the kids, you're able to do evening stuff with a clear head, especially if you have to drive etc. plus sets a good example as long as the kids know that it's non-alcoholic.

Also is health benefit, lowering your alcohol intake is a good thing

Also makes a really good isotonic after a bike ride without the alcohol fug in the middle of the afternoon

Apparently a fair chunk of the cost is that it still has duty attached, which is why you get age checked at the supermarket when you buy AF beer

There used to be very few AF options in pubs if you didn't want an overly sugary and sweet drink. All these different AF options are only going to improve with more competition. I quite like a guilt free AF G&T mid week which I wouldn't do with alcoholic drinks.

They are much much better tasting than they used to be too.

This.

A Tiny Rebel Clwb Tropicana AF after a ride on a hot ride is a real pleasure.

Currently loving Dobby, by Salt Brewery. 1%, so not suitable for those avoiding alcohol with good reason, but a smashing hoppy brew for those of us just trying to have less.

1 - I think living alcohol free is a super-power.
2 - I want something to look forward to. I still feel like it is a treat.
3 - some are nice - Erdinger, Heineken, Brewdog.
4 - I don't drink pop, what on earth is it made from??
5 - I like it and I'm not sure what else to drink.
6 - I gave up beer and I need to replace it with something.

I know I asked the question but if I hadn't I probably would have written geomickb's answer, just not sure if I have the superpower quite yet.

AF beer is like Vegan bacon. It is almost but not quite nice. Why persist?

That’s not a terrible analogy. I say that principally because I love the taste (and sometimes the effect) and scent of beer (and cider, perry etc) and I like/d the taste, scent and texture of bacon. Was raised in the Black Country which was pretty much pigs and beer all the way.

Difference is:

Beer = for me about both the taste and sometimes the effect. Can choose either or both.
Bacon = for me only about the taste. Can do without the costs.

I never drank a lot of beer habitually. A couple of pints of cask pale or bitter (3 max) is my sweetspot for a taste and a bit of zip to ride (MTB) or walk home. At home I drink it for the taste alone, maybe a glass or 330ml session with food.

If driving I don’t generally bother seeking LA beer but only because it’s lacking in taste and aroma. Ghost Ship 0.5% is an exception, but I’m sure there must be others I might like. I can’t generally afford to experiment because bad La beers are usually barely drinkable IME.

Bacon consumption, on the other hand, came to a point where I felt that I needed an intervention. So I stopped. I remain convinced that it was no good for me, or the pigs, and the environment. So bugger that for a game of soldiers.

Veggie ‘bacon’ rashers are mostly lacking IMHO. Not all unpleasant IME, but most I’ve tried do lack a lot of the complex umami taste of the ‘real’ thing. THIS Is Not Bacon is about the best supermarket-sourced one I’ve tried but I can still take it or leave it. It’s not addictive.

(Pork) bacon was (for me) addictive though, so it took me a long time to find something that ‘hit the spot’. Luckily I found it in certain mushrooms. Recently grew, harvested and cooked some pearl oyster mushrooms and they were so much nicer than anything else I’d tried.

I’m not saying one day that meat analogues won’t be as good or even better. And there is still the lab-grown meat options of the near future. But mushrooms are just great.

But back to the drinks, I still prefer a cold LA Ghost Ship than a cold cola because I’m not a fan of cola. And the Ghost Ship 0.5% is actually good. I’d have apple juice or a virgin pina colada over a cola. I’d like to try a cask-conditioned low alcohol IPA. Just so I could enjoy my favourite beer tastes and still drive home as I’m always designated/only driver.

Back to the bacon - I don’t ‘prefer’ pork bacon than (say) a king oyster (or shiitake) rasher BLT or breakfast sarnie for a number of reasons. Which is great. But if someone invented a 90% identically-tasting pork bacon analogue from plants then I’ll of course give it a go. That wouldn’t stop me earing/experimenting with oyster and shiitake (and other) mushrooms. They really are very, very good. And the endless options for tweaking marinades makes them even more fun in my book.

#slowfood

Anyone tried a cask-conditioned low alcohol beer pulled from the tap?

I like the taste of beer.

And therein lies the problem! doesn't taste like beer to me. And the effect of alcohol??? if you're driving then fair enough, but what strength normal beer or how much normal beer would you be drinking? I can have easily 3 or 4 pints of sensibly strength beer over an evening without feeling any effects of alcohol.

Without feeling any effects? Not even positive ones? You might have a problem. Take a break.

I don’t usually drink and when I out drink AF beer or decaf coffee. I adon’t want a sugary or caffeinated drink so AF beer Is often the best solution. It’s not gassy like coke and you drink it at the same pace as beer, soft drink i tend to neck.

I also drink AF beer time home usually as I actually like some of them and don’t want alcohol.

And therein lies the problem! doesn’t taste like beer to me

No, that's not the problem, that's your problem.

I can have easily 3 or 4 pints of sensibly strength beer over an evening without feeling any effects of alcohol

Good for you. Honestly, I am being genuine, I'm really not bothered what other people do, fire away. But it's amazing how folks react when I tell them I don't drink, it's quite bizarre! 🙂

But it’s amazing how folks react when I tell them I don’t drink, it’s quite bizarre!

Isn't that the truth. Some people react like I had just asked to remove their testicles with a blunt spoon...

@WorldClassAccident

With the beers and wines it seems the majority of them are not that pleasant tasting with some nice exceptions.

To turn it around, do you ever buy/enjoy drinking anything without alcohol in it? ie Pepsi, Fanta, fruit juice, etc?

If the answer is ‘yes’ then Q:if there was absolutely no difference in taste or price would you order a beer/lager/ale with little-to-zero alcohol in it?

Isn’t that the truth.

It's not my truth - I went a good 18 months alcohol-free (when trying for children) and, after the initial surprise on my first night out with my friends, it was barely mentioned again. But then I was looking for reactions - I was simply choosing not to drink for a period of my life.

Good for you. Honestly, I am being genuine, I’m really not bothered what other people do, fire away. But it’s amazing how folks react when I tell them I don’t drink, it’s quite bizarre! 🙂

Crikey ivy...calm down. just asking. You raised it on a thread with a title prompting a discussion on why people drink AF beers so don't get all triggered when someone asks you a question about it. It was a question not a criticism. Im no big drinker at all but can handle a few pints over the course of an evening and suffer no 'unpleasant' after affects, so just wondering why you'd be so willing to sacrifice flavour and enjoyment of a few beers. Thats the bit that is strange to me so just curious thats all.

o, that’s not the problem, that’s your problem.

On the contrary, no problem here. I can taste a difference between AF beer and alcoholic beer and I just prefer the flavour of proper beer over AF beer. If I'm out for a beer I want a decent beer, its as simple as that. Its all good, whatever floats your boat. Just curious thats all. Drink what you want to drink I don't give a shit. One of my best mates drinks Cider for crying out loud...its all good. We still let him sit on our table.

Without feeling any effects? Not even positive ones? You might have a problem. Take a break.

Well you know what I mean. Of course I enjoy a beer with mates down the local pub once a week if I'm lucky. I don't tend to drink routinely at home on my own so enjoy a tipple at the weekend with a few mates. Of course alcohol affects me, but with a volume like that I'm not feeling any effects of alcohol unless its a particularly strong beer, that would cause me to drink AF beer. I'm certainly nowhere near what you'd describe as drunk. Personally if I'm driving or not drinking I'll just have water, but that, it seems, is my problem.

Never been much of a drinker and only ever drunk alcohol in order to get drunk. On the odd occasion that I do drink it’s normally bourbon. Wouldn’t think of spending money on alcohol free beer. Day to day it’s coffee and water. The former if I want a warm drink, the latter for cold. Also partial to Fenton’s (I think) ginger ale and dandelion and burdock.

Because I'm not going to sit and drink a can of Fanta with dinner like some kind of adolescent

So those of you saying that small amounts of beer make you feel rough, tell me more.

As posted in a thread soon after covid started, I just can't drink more than about half a pint without getting a hangover. Sometimes a full pint is OK. I've always been a bit I a lightweight, but on occasion as a youth would manage 8 pints or so and survive to tell the tale. Even as an adult, perhaps 5 years ago I could do 4 pints in a big session.

But now the idea of drinking two pints is just alien.

I had thought it was Covid related, but perhaps its just age... (49)

????

German mtb mags advertise it as isotonic. So that is like sportsbeer!

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Wobbli, I'm not triggered fella, I've not come across the way intended if that's what you think. 👍🏻

I like the taste of beer.

I canny really be arsed with the effects of alcohol.

Simple really.

+ 1 here too.

I'm going to try this Ghost Ship and if it's rank you lot are in trouble, currently I think zero alcohol beer is like vegan meat, perverted, if it tastes authentically good you are reprieved.

^ I actually bought the 0.5% Ghost Ship by accident, thinking it was full fat. It’s definitely not ‘rank’, it’s palatable, hoppy, good aroma. I’d like to try it side by side with the 4.5%. Especially as it’s nearly half the calories IIRC and my 1 x occasional bottle of beer with evening dinner doesn’t require alcohol as 330ml or even 500ml makes zero difference alcoholic or not.

When you are designated driver drinking coke all evening is worse the next day than a hangover.

Generalist, my hangovers have gotten worse with age.
Always been a lover of my beer, rum, wine. Would have a limit of 4 pints on a school night with only a slight head. Now it’s down to either 1 pint or two glasses of wine max. Hangover can last for 2 days.
I’m going away this weekend on the beer, every other drink will be AF. Hopefully that will help with the hangovers. I’m slightly nervous about it which is weird, out Friday and Saturday night and then also Sunday dinner (I’m driving so no beer on Sunday). But it’s a 5 hour drive on Sunday normally in bad traffic.

Havent found a alchohol-free beer that I like the taste of, if I'm looking at AF I'll drink something else.
Does anyone else find that non-alcohol beer makes you really thirsty?
I like the taste of good beer (not the likes of Carling) , so I have one or two now and then.
If I found alcohol-free that actually tasted nice, I might drink that, depends on the cost and if it was better than coke/lemonade etc.

"Why not find a AF drink that is nice?"

Like a nice AF beer. They do exist.

It's an obvious fact that people have different taste buds. Maybe those who like AF beer don't even register the actual flavour of alcohol, so don't notice the lack of it? (As a food development person in a previous career, I'd be interested to know more about what sort of foods they like, etc.) I enjoy the taste of alcohol, so drinking an AF beer means that there's a major component of my drink missing. Similarly, I've never understood why anyone would drink an alcoholic drink where the alcoholic flavour is disguised, other than to get drunk.

I recently had a few cans of AF beer, so that I could drink something while watching some rugby with my father. It was perfectly pleasant but hasn't inspired me to rush out and buy more.

Has anybody tried AF whiskey?

@mick_r - it is my understanding that German breweries now have to make at least one AF offering by law. Not sure if it is true however there is some decent stuff coming from there...

it is my understanding that German breweries now have to make at least one AF offering by law

That's interesting because the ingredients of some AF beers don't have yeast listed but do have 'natural flavouring'. In Germany, beer has to only have malted grains, hops, water and yeast? I wonder if they've found themselves restricted to some extent

^ I actually bought the 0.5% Ghost Ship by accident, thinking it was full fat. It’s definitely not ‘rank

I did this too (obviously the labeling isn’t clear enough). I thought it was pretty rank. Certainly didn’t taste like any beer I’ve had before. But then, beer is an acquired taste really, so I guess non-beer is too.

Has anybody tried AF whiskey?

Whisky tastes like bin juice at the best of times, the alcohol is the only reason to drink it, if I catch anyone drinking it they will get a proper anti hipster roasting.

And those getting a hangover after half a beer are lightweights, that's what a lightweight is, someone that thinks 0.02% of alcohol in the bloodstream affects their ability to do small motor tasks or some fkn thing, it doesn't, if you were a Glaswegian you would be considered defective, you need a blood transfusion and a decent curry in you..with nan bread..and..sorry I forgot what what I was ranting about.

beer is an acquired taste really,

True. Have been drinking bitter for 40 years now. Mrs P reckons it (bitter or hoppy ale) tastes like ‘Money, you know - coins?’ before refusing to drink it ever again.

And she thinks my tastes are weird…

Quite like the taste, don't have a high tolerance for alcohol. I don't get hangovers - neither do my brother and dad - but I get drunk exceptionally quickly and don't really enjoy the experience.

Also, have you seen how many calories are in a pint of beer?

For me AF beer was a stepping stone when going teetotal after "self medicating" with alcohol for years. I'm bi-polar and the only thing that slowed a racing mind during hypomania was getting drunk. Once properly diagnosed and medicated I weened myself off beer with AF Heineken. Now been teetotal for 18 months but still find the (very) occasional AF Heineken really refreshing. Can't stand the smell of alcohol now.

If i'm out at a restaurant then I'll almost always have water to drink. Once in a while I'll have lime and soda but find the sweetness a bit too much normally.

A good AF beer gives a very similar experience to beer, just without the morning after experience if you've had a few.

Mrs P reckons it (bitter or hoppy ale) tastes like ‘Money, you know – coins?’ before refusing to drink it ever again.

You didn't ask why she knows what coins taste like?

Not seen it said yet, but you can have a combination of AF and normal beers of an evening.

I originally thought Ghost Ship was only an alcohol free beer, and thought it was a pretty good name for a beer that’s missing alcohol.

Was surprised when I came across the alcoholic one.

Just to offer another brand/option, the M&S ale 0.5% Southwold is my favourite low alcohol at the moment.

https://www.ocado.com/products/m-s-low-alcohol-southwold-pale-ale-520206011

The choice of AF/Low alcohols beers has never been better; the days of Kaliber are long gone. Dry Drinker have a wide selection, and from many well know brands. The German beers are particularly good, there are even Leffe, and Hoegaarden LA versions. M&S have done a 0.5% Czech lager, made by Staropramen which is nice.
I've just started drinking beers from a south London brewery who only brew LA beer; all 2.8% and less; they're called Small Beer, well worth a try.

Not seen it said yet, but you can have a combination of AF and normal beers of an evening.

I think that may confuse a few sticklers.

Off the back of this thread I switched tonights tipple from FourPure Citrus Session (think was formerly named ‘Easy Peeler’) to a Ghost Ship 0.5%

The Ghost Ship (on second taste) is … ok with food. It does lack something (other than alcohol). Hard to describe. It tastes not quite ‘3D’ but like an isometric projection of 3D 🧐. Still, 60p less per bottle (and nearly half the calories) is good for me. I think a small slice of lime may improve/balance it to a decent taste.

I missed the Fourpure Citrus though 😋. May mix and match next time.

Leffe, and Hoegaarden LA versions

Both are really good, but both taste like a spoon of honey has been added to the full alcohol version.

Because I’m not going to sit and drink a can of Fanta with dinner like some kind of adolescent

Quite right, but you could put it in a glass like most adults do and worry less about the image projected.

I like an AF beer although they are often lacking in flavour or watery, so would rather go for low alcohol beers. I also avoid beer over 5% now as I find them too strong and just make me feel rough.

Weirdly I don't have any issue knocking back several glasses of wine.

Last night I tried Micro Machine (awesome name) from my favourite brewery Good Chemistry. 2.8% IPA.
Recommended!

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Similar thing to decaf coffee. I like coffee but I don't like the dependancy on caffeine that comes with it so I have "real" coffee when I get up and then caffeine free the rest of the day (no headaches, no feeling like I have to have a coffee etc,.). Tastes fine to me (when compared to caffeinated coffee of same brand/flavour)

I’ve not really had a drink since having COVID back in November - partly didn't fancy it due to a permanent headache for 5 months, and partly due to the drugs for said headache. AF beer means I can enjoy a relaxing ‘adult’ drink on an evening with friends etc, without the complications. Though I’m starting to be headache and drug free, I’m still drinking it. Found some I like, and it doesn’t leave me with bad night sleep, feel fresh the next day etc. I probably will go back to the odd glass of wine with dinner, but that is likely it.

I also have the same approach as kerley with coffee.

I think it's just a social thing. A way to drink without drinking so you don't seem out of the loop. I don't get it either though. NA beers don't even taste good, except for maybe a ginger beer.

I don't drink, I'm not sure I can. Anything with alcohol in it tastes to me like it's mouldy or gone off. In our youth my sister was very concerned about this and to try ad help would occasionally get me a Coke with with vodka in it on the assumption I wouldn't be able to taste it. I don't even like sherry trifle, and as a kid I used to hate Top Deck shandy when everyone else liked it.

The few things I've had that didn't taste bad - some kind of cider related alcopop, maybe a liquor chocolate, or a coffee with whiskey in it - were difficult to drink (or eat) and after a minute or two left me feeling fairly poorly and with a terrible headache at the front of my skull.

I'm tempted to try AF beer as I do often like a cold drink. Coke is out, obviously, and diet soft drinks start giving me irregular heartbeats if I drink more than a couple a week.

Which would you lot recommend for something light and easy to drink? Clearly alcohol-free cider is actually Appletise (which I really like!) but it's sugary albeit naturally - can you get alcohol-free dry cider?

EDIT you can apparently, what's it like?

EDIT2 hmm the beer is still somewhat sugary

Decaffeinated coffee, zero alcohol beer, pretend meat made out of soya, what is this nonsense? caffeine and alcohol...and meat are the key ingredient, the money shot, the reason for being, that's what it is, the effect is what it does, what you have when you take the caffeine out is a brown drink, and when you take the alcohol away you have fizzy beer like drink, if you don't like beer why on earth would you want to drink pretend beer? or pretend coffee, or pretend meat?

It's wrong on every level, unauthentic, a fake life pretending to be a coffee and beer drinker, and probably pretending to be a meat eater too, on the surface to onlookers you are normal, having a beer with your roast beef but it's a lie, you are drinking fizzy bin juice and eating bean mash, why the pretense? why want to be like those you don't want to be? have social norms gripped you so tight you cannot be free to discover new things to drink and eat? think of the children growing up in a world of things that used to be real things, never knowing a restaurant that sold food without the constituent ingredients missing, a world where the word 'ham' still works for a spam like pink substance, where was I? think I lost my way at the children....

Which would you lot recommend for something light and easy to drink? Clearly alcohol-free cider is actually Appletise

If you mean those those fizzy pseudo cider analogues such as Magners, Stowford Press, ‘white’ cider etc…then yes they are already like Appletiser.

A decent raw apple juice is already far and away superior to those drinks.

Well inspired by this thread I bought a bottle of AF Doom Bar and a pack of AF Leffe to try. Haven't had a drink other than tea, coffee or water for months so thought I'd see how they go with dinner later.

I found Doonbar foul which was a surprise. Punk Nanny State is okay for the first can and Infinite Session is just non-descript

In principal I love the idea of AF or LA beers.

I *really* like the current crop of hoppy pale ales & IPAs, especially NEIPAs and if I could have the delicious taste that comes with a double or even triple IPA with less of the alcohol I would probably drink a lot more.

Don't get me wrong, I love the relaxed warmth that comes with a couple of nice beers but it would be a path I don't want to take to have that on a very regular basis. More AF beer that tastes good means I get to enjoy more beer full stop. Win/Win.

Sadly they are not quite there yet, but the progress in the past couple of years has been remarkable so I live in hope.

For me it's the fact I have gone totally alcohol free. Even a few drinks sends me deeper and deeper into the drinking rabbit hole and I don't want that in my life.

I like not having a blurry head every day. I like having a good sleep and I like feeling 10x more alive every day than I did when I drank. But I do like the taste of beer on occasion.

I'm not getting the symptoms, on my second full fat beer and clear as a bell, clearer actually, it improves me, refreshes me, does what beer should do, I think these side effects are some sort of new disorder, a defect, a couple of beers shouldn't effect you detrimentally.

I worked in Germany some years ago, very efficient and ordered, they showed me round when I arrived, where I was to work, where everything was, toilets, office, and the fridge where the beer is..no beer before tea break...at 10am, liquid bread they called it, no idea who filled the fridge but it was emptied at a fair rate during working hours, usually with black bread and cheese, never saw a drunk German yet.