I’m of fan of NA beers. Sometimes I appreciate the stupefying effects of alcohol, but in most circumstances it’s a horrible-tasting substance.
I’ve noticed that internet taste-testings of NA brews produce hugely different judgements; people should conduct their own research. My own favorites are Kaliber, Trader Joe’s Dry-Hopped Clausthaler, and (also from Trader Joe’s) Gerstel. I don’t like the other TJ Clausthalers.
The Trader Joe’s brews are generally good values, with the Gerstel around $1.00 a bottle. The Joe’s near me will sell individual bottles of their NA brews, which makes it easy to taste test.
The bad thing about Joe’s is that the NA’s are not refrigerated, and (if memory serves) some of them are in green bottles (a double whammy). The NAs are usually kept on the bottom shelf, and if I’m feeling quality conscious I will reach pass the front six-pack and grab a pack that has been more protected from light.
If there’s a Korean food import shop nearby, you can always try McCol (맥콜). It’s a barley and wheat carbonated drink without alcohol. I drink it when I’m in Korea and when I can find it here in Beijing. Well, turns out it’s available on Amazon.
Last time I was in Korea, I went through the “adult drinks” section of my favorite big box supermarket because they had a big sign advertising “0% Beers”. I checked the labels and all the stuff on offer, both domestic (Korean) and imported was non-alcohol versions, not just extremely low alcohol*, of the various breweries’ usual offerings. I haven’t tried any of those because the price was still higher than the McCol. Maybe next time.
*It could be the alcohol content is so low that the government standards permit them to say “0%”.
O’Doul’s Amber is surprisingly decent for a non-alcohol brew from a macro brewer.
While not non-alcoholic (.5% or less is legally non-alcoholic) Old Style Low Alcohol is fairly decent (2.6%ABV).
IF you can find it Coors Cutter fooled me when I inadvertently grabbed one out of the beer cooler at a party. It was one of the few NA beers I’ve tried that I actually liked.
Between the generally high levels of beer consumption and the extremely strict anti-Drinking & Driving laws here, Eastern Europe is awash in non-alcoholic beers, virtually every major brewery has its own version, although I guess due to lower sales volume, it is almost always more expensive than their actual beers.
My basic daily drinker working around the house beer is Coors Light (yeah I know). I’ll look for a six of Cutter.
I had a Becks last night and liked it quite a bit. Another beer I had A Paulaner Weizen-Radler was WAY too citrus for me, but I could see how others would find it refreshing. Tasted like half beer/half lemonade.
this thread reminds me of a joke about how you make beer in general you get 2 buckets and a horse … fill one with water and the others for the horse …light or na beer ? just add more water and get a bigger horse …
But they have African malted drinks that I’m told taste like beer/malt liquor (there marketed as “energy” drinks believe it or not) I thought one of the home nurses my nephew had was drinking “8 ball” because he smelled like it and he showed me the bottle … and said it tasted the same