Non-alcoholic beer

66Mustang

Does anyone have any experience? Can anyone recommend some good ones?

I've managed to drastically cut my alcohol for over 3 months now but sometimes I kind of miss the taste of beer (not the effects) and was looking at the alcohol free beers in the supermarket and wondered whether it's worth a try?

I'm aware that by law anything under 0.5% ABV is considered alcohol-free but I'd rather something that was completely 0% if possible, because a couple of pints of 0.5% is still half a unit of alcohol

My Dad just says it's nasty but he tried it in the 80s and never tried it again. While I am in no position to disagree that it probably wasn't nice in the 80s I am guessing there has been some innovation and improvement since then and maybe there are some good ones now??

Looking forward to hearing anyone's experience

michael57

not being a drinker cant help you how about a wine gum in a pint of water save a fortune 

66Mustang

Ha ha

Albus_Scope

Have you tried the 0% alcohol Guinness? I actually really like it. I thought it'd taste horrible. I know there are several alcohol free ciders doing the rounds too which are surprisingly nice. 

KG100

I agree with the Guinness, I tried it in a pub and it's quite good. 

WelshBlue

As someone who drank 10 cans of Stella Artois a night for too many years.  Stay away from the Stella zero ... most disappointing taste

Ghost Ship, Doom Bar are good ales.  Peroni is a good lager.  My go to now on a Saturday night is Aldi's pilsner zero, £2.99 for 6 ... Home Bargains do a good big bottle for 89p.  Heineken isn't bad.

All down to your own palate I guess ... worst I've tasted is Brew Dog.  Uck.  Never drank cats pee but i should imagine it's not much worse.  weird tang and after taste

The day Newcastle Brown do a zero ... I'll be moonwalking down the aisle.  For 20 metres 

KG100

I've been trying to remember the non alcoholic drink I used to have in pubs in the 1980's when I passed my driving test.
I'm sure it was called Kaliber, and it really wasn't very nice. 
I just drank cola or lemonade when driving after some of those.

66Mustang

Thanks everyone for the suggestions and comments!!! 

I guess it would have been useful if I said what beer I like  

I tend to prefer hoppy traditional beers, mostly bitters but I like an IPA as well. Not so much into like fizzy lagers. Stout is not my favourite but I would drink a super cold Guinness...I'm not so keen on the new wave of craft beers but there are a couple I like (Neck Oil IPA is one)

I'll have another look next time I go to a shop

Albus_Scope

Make sure you let us know how you get on in your search @66Mustang I know I'm always on the look out for new tasty drinks.

66Mustang

@woodbine

I can well believe that because the thing with wine is even in a £5 bottle about £4 of it is tax (in a £10 bottle about £6 is tax so the wine is 4 times as "good" if that makes sense) so a £3.50 bottle of 0% wine when you remember you aren't paying any alcohol tax is the equivalent of paying like £9 or £10 which would get you a half decent bottle of wine  

66Mustang

Just to add that's one reason I think non-alcohol "spirits" are overpriced

A £20 bottle of gin like £12 of that is alcohol duty, so why is a 0% gin £20 as well, it should be £8 to buy as you don't have to pay the tax?

Sandy_123

I don't really drink either very accasionally will I have a drink. Its usually an Irish coffee if I do, I would expect the non alcoholic drinks would of improved massively since the 80s

SueL

I too like Guinness Zero. I also like Becks Blue, very refreshing. I tried an alcohol free prosecco too a few weeks back but can't remember what it was! 

WelshBlue

There are some really nice ones, some really nasty ones ... but whichever, compared to alcoholic lager/ale, the zero goes straight through me.  I have 3 or 4 bottles of a Saturday night and I swear I spend an hour of my 2 hours peace in the toilet