# Any good non alcohol beer?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** beer
**Created:** [January 19, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238 "2015-01-19T01:03:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/1 "2015-01-19T01:03:24Z")
Due to medical issues, a friend cannot drink alcohol. Are there any non alcohol beers worth trying?
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### Author:  [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/2 "2015-01-19T01:10:45Z")
Saint Pauli Girl.
Well, that is my go-to.
[This website](http://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/non-alcoholic-beer-taste-test) begs to differ.
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2015, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/3 "2015-01-19T01:14:51Z")
[Beer Advocate.](http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/style/5/)
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### Author:  [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2015, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/4 "2015-01-19T01:32:45Z")
When I was drinking the NA beer, I was happy to have something that wasn’t absolute crap, and did taste vaguely of actual beer- Miller Sharp’s fit the bill.
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### Author:  [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2015, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/5 "2015-01-19T02:37:48Z")
Clausthaler has kind of a Heineken flavor.
Should be noted that none of these, strictly speaking, has _zero_ alcohol, but none of them has more alcohol than, say, a ripe peach.
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### Author:  [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2015, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/6 "2015-01-19T04:36:36Z")
I think the NA beers are too sweet. Last time I bought a case of Clausthaler at Costco, it took me forever to finish it. Gah, that sucked ass.
Anyone know a good low alcohol beer in the US? Say 2-3% range? I’d like a lawnmower type beer that is lower octane. China has some light lagers that are okay, at least they taste kinda like beer and are not sweet. I cheat here in the US and dilute a microbrew (usually 5-6% range) with sparkling water. The result isn’t perfect but have some flavor albeit watery and it tastes like beer.
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### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [January 19, 2015, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/7 "2015-01-19T13:25:09Z")
Becks makes a N/A version that’s pretty good. At least they used to.
Not a big N/A beer drinker. Usually I have the same opinion as with decaffeinated coffee-- what’s the point? But every now and then a N/A beer really hits the spot. I remember one time years ago, having lunch at a Mexican place with a date who wasn’t a big drinker. Had an outdoor table on a hot summer day. Ordered a N/A Beck’s or two to chase the spicy food, and they went down very nicely. More thirst-quenching than beer with alcohol.
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### Author:  [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)
#### Post date: [January 21, 2015, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/8 "2015-01-21T01:54:03Z")
Buckler is the most tolerable of the NA beers I’ve tried, though I wouldn’t call it good per se. It tastes like beer but without much character. I suppose it is more beerlike than Michelob Ultra (and that has alcohol).
One thing to watch out for is ordering an NA beer at a bar that doesn’t serve it very often - sometimes the bottles have been sitting around for a long time and get really skunked. Blech.
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### Author:  [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2015, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/9 "2015-01-22T11:50:16Z")
My favorites are Kaliber and (from Trader Joe’s) Gerstel. If a restaurant only has O’Douls Amber I’ll order it – and maybe the same deal with Sharps, but with no enthusiasm.
Gerstel is my go-to NA. It’s just 6 bucks and I prefer it to either of the Clauthaler’s at TJoe’s. Imported from Germany. They keep it on the bottom shelf and usually I’ll reach past the first six pack to grab one that’s had a little less exposure to light, although I haven’t really had many encounters with The Skunk.
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### Author:  [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2015, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/10 "2015-01-22T12:10:09Z")
> [@solost](#):
>
> Becks makes a N/A version that’s pretty good. At least they used to.
Becks Blue - hard to get enthusiastic about non alcohol beer but it’s the best I’ve tried. Popular over here (UK) so think they’ve done something right with it.
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### Author:  [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2015, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/11 "2015-01-22T12:43:19Z")
> [@China\_Guy](#):
>
> Anyone know a good low alcohol beer in the US? Say 2-3% range? I’d like a lawnmower type beer that is lower octane. China has some light lagers that are okay, at least they taste kinda like beer and are not sweet. I cheat here in the US and dilute a microbrew (usually 5-6% range) with sparkling water. The result isn’t perfect but have some flavor albeit watery and it tastes like beer.
Have you tried any radlers? [Stiegl Radler](http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/817/68049/) is a 2.5% ABV grapefruit beer that is delicious.
But, the GQ answer to the OP is “no”, iMHO.
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### Author:  [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2015, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/12 "2015-01-22T12:43:28Z")
I really like Kaliber. O’Doul’s is my least favorite. St. Pauli Girl, Buckler, and Clausthaler are all decent.
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### Author:  [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)
#### Post date: [January 22, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-good-non-alcohol-beer/710238/13 "2015-01-22T12:49:57Z")
My current favorite is Labatt’s Blue NA. If you’re in a bar and they have it, Kaliber is very good. I find that if I buy Kaliber in the store, it has a very limited time before it gets skunky (if not before you buy it). O’Douls Amber is my second choice. Busch NA is my 3rd.