[Drinking] Alcohol free beer

[Normal Rob]

As I'm cutting back for a month or so, and I had heard that alcohol free beer has improved a lot in the 20 years or so since I last tried it, I thought that I'd get a couple of bottles in to have whilst cooking/eating dinner. Not knowing much about it I opted for Peroni Libera, as Peroni is a lager I like.

What a mistake! It's horrendous. I cannot belive that it is all this bad so could the great and the good of NSC help me to make a better choice next time please.

 

[Barham's tash]

Try the San Miguel version. Really hard pushed to tell the difference

 

[Shropshire Seagull]

Key question, why?

Are you wanting to cut down on alcohol intake or cut down on calorie intake?

Alcohol-free beer only supports one of these ...

 

[clapham_gull]

As I'm cutting back for a month or so, and I had heard that alcohol free beer has improved a lot in the 20 years or so since I last tried it, I thought that I'd get a couple of bottles in to have whilst cooking/eating dinner. Not knowing much about it I opted for Peroni Libera, as Peroni is a lager I like.

What a mistake! It's horrendous. I cannot belive that it is all this bad so could the great and the good of NSC help me to make a better choice next time please.

Heineken zero is very good.

However the daddy of all alcohol free beers is Guiness Zero if you can get it.

They've nailed it in a way others haven't. Best drunk ice cold.

Its been sold out for months, but Waitrose are doing it again. I get it on click and collect be because its not always in store.



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[clapham_gull]

Key question, why?

Are you wanting to cut down on alcohol intake or cut down on calorie intake?

Alcohol-free beer only supports one of these ...

That's simply not true. Look at the calories in nanny state for instance.

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[Normal Rob]

Key question, why?

Are you wanting to cut down on alcohol intake or cut down on calorie intake?

Alcohol-free beer only supports one of these ...

Alcohol, as it inhibits me exercising which I'm looking to step up again. Love the odd beer but just want the taste without the next day lethargy.

 

[chaileyjem]

Key question, why?

Are you wanting to cut down on alcohol intake or cut down on calorie intake?

Alcohol-free beer only supports one of these ...

You’re right to argue that some AF alternatives have a few calories - but There’s quite a few AF beers that are low calories and in my experience you’re unlikely to want to drink them at high volume …
I lost a fair bit of weight too when I went AF.

 

[BN9 BHA]

I’ve just done 11 months without an alcoholic drink and not once had an AF beer, I keep thinking if I try an AF beer I may want a pint with alcohol, because of the taste.

Maybe try a month on soft drinks, unless you really don’t like the taste of them.

 

[chaileyjem]

As I'm cutting back for a month or so, and I had heard that alcohol free beer has improved a lot in the 20 years or so since I last tried it, I thought that I'd get a couple of bottles in to have whilst cooking/eating dinner. Not knowing much about it I opted for Peroni Libera, as Peroni is a lager I like.

What a mistake! It's horrendous. I cannot belive that it is all this bad so could the great and the good of NSC help me to make a better choice next time please.

I’m not impressed with any of the main lager brands AF versions (Becks, Budweiser, Peroni, Heineken etc)

I’d try
- Clausthaler AF
- Big Drop Brewing Co (try their stout and IPA)
- Brooklyn Special Effects
- lucky Saint is still my favourite lager
- and Brewdog Nanny State is still a good go - to (I don’t like their Punk AF as much)

These are all in the big supermarkets…

If you want to get a bit more into it then there’s a fair fee AF beer clubs and specialist stores that sell a lot of UK and imported craft stuff

You’re right the quality has vastly improved on last few years.

 

[Superphil]

Big Drop Brewing only make AF beers, some of them are very pleasant. Also Punk AF is decent, and I believe there is an Elvis Juice AF coming along too.

 

[jabba]

The missus has tried a few and settled with Stella AF. £2.50 for 4 bottles in Asda makes it one of the cheapest as well.

 

[South west gull]

Heineken zero is very good.

However the daddy of all alcohol free beers is Guiness Zero if you can get it.

They've nailed it in a way others haven't. Best drunk ice cold.

Its been sold out for months, but Waitrose are doing it again. I get it on click and collect be because its not always in store.



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Yes Clapham gull agree with you Guinness zero is the dogs bollocks.

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[The Clamp]

What is the point?

 

[vegster]

Well done for cutting down, hope all goes well but, alcohol free beer is a waste of time. You pay almost as much as proper beer although it is not subjected to Beer Duty. I think it's a massive rip off. It's the same with " Sugar Free " drinks, they usually taste awful and use chemical sweeteners that are as bad as sugar anyway.
My advice is to abstain totally. After weeks of being good have the odd beer and also the odd can of full sugar cola. Life's too short to have to drink shit alternatives, just do moderation.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

As I'm cutting back for a month or so, and I had heard that alcohol free beer has improved a lot in the 20 years or so since I last tried it, I thought that I'd get a couple of bottles in to have whilst cooking/eating dinner. Not knowing much about it I opted for Peroni Libera, as Peroni is a lager I like.

What a mistake! It's horrendous. I cannot belive that it is all this bad so could the great and the good of NSC help me to make a better choice next time please.

Peroni Libera is being withdrawn. A Peroni Nastro Azzurro version is being released very soon. I had a bottle at our HQ pre Christmas and it is far better than Libera which frankly is shocking. They never made it to taste the same as Peroni NA but have rectified this.

 

[Justice]

Isn’t a bit like vaping almost but not quite the same and sooner or later you think **** it I want a proper pint or a ciggie Now I have the odd ciggie and vape most of the time still better than smoking 20 a day I guess.

 

[The Mole]

Big Drop Brewing only make AF beers, some of them are very pleasant. Also Punk AF is decent, and I believe there is an Elvis Juice AF coming along too.

Another vote for Drop Brewing - their stout is good

Also I’d recommend BrewDog’s Hazy AF which is a nice drink. I spent last year’s dry January going through the BrewDog range

There are some nice low alcohol,beers especially from the small brewers

 

[chaileyjem]

Well done for cutting down, hope all goes well but, alcohol free beer is a waste of time. You pay almost as much as proper beer although it is not subjected to Beer Duty. I think it's a massive rip off. It's the same with " Sugar Free " drinks, they usually taste awful and use chemical sweeteners that are as bad as sugar anyway.
My advice is to abstain totally. After weeks of being good have the odd beer and also the odd can of full sugar cola. Life's too short to have to drink shit alternatives, just do moderation.

Ha! I gave up drinking nearly four years ago and have the odd AF beer and sugar free drinks alongside tea, coffee , juice and water .
There’s lots of different routes to cutting alcohol out of your diet (if that’s what you want to do - whether for a week or a year or even forever) and AF beer for some (but not everyone) is a way of doing that.
And the alternatives aren’t “shit” - some of the AF options taste fine. I know. I drank beer for 30 odd years.

Of course for some - complete abstention might be the way to go but it depends on all sorts of things.

You are right about prices though - they are pretty expensive especially if you manage to track down some of the decent options on pubs which is hard.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Look for Brulo. They make some very palatable AF beers.

And our very own Harvey's make an award winning version of Old Ale (tho currently out of stock). Their af Best Bitter is ok.

Check out Dry Drinker and Wise Bartender websites for good choice.

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

Ha! I gave up drinking nearly four years ago and have the odd AF beer and sugar free drinks alongside tea, coffee , juice and water .
There’s lots of different routes to cutting alcohol out of your diet (if that’s what you want to do - whether for a week or a year or even forever) and AF beer for some (but not everyone) is a way of doing that.
And the alternatives aren’t “shit” - some of the AF options taste fine. I know. I drank beer for 30 odd years.

Of course for some - complete abstention might be the way to go but it depends on all sorts of things.

You are right about prices though - they are pretty expensive especially if you manage to track down some of the decent options on pubs which is hard.

This. I haven't had alcohol for three years (today). If you think af beer is shit, you've tried the wrong ones (Heinken, Stella etc all pretty dreadful) or you haven't tried recently. There see some amazing af brewers making great drinks.

I'd add athletic Brewing company and drop bear beer to the options I mentioned above.