Tried & tested: the best alcohol-free beers
From sour beers to lagers, stouts to IPAs there's something for everyone in our pick of the best booze-free beverages.
Going alcohol-free doesn’t mean skimping on flavour. With more breweries bringing out zero and reduced alcohol alternatives – and even craft breweries getting in on the action you won't be short of quality, tasty options to choose from. Cheers!
1. Nirvana Twisted Buchabeer (0.5%)
What is it? Pioneers of the alcohol-free scene, Nirvana opened its doors in 2017 dedicated to just one thing; brewing quality alcohol-free craft beers. Following brewing trends, the range includes a stout, IPAs, and pale ales with varying hop levels. Among the most quirky and interesting is the Twisted Buchabeer, a blend of the brand’s pale ale and Japanese green tea kombucha.
Why we love it: If you’re a fan of sour beers this is for you. We’re talking face-scrunchingly sour here. True to the kombucha it contains there’s a strong vinegar-like aroma. Mellow at first, it finishes with an exceptionally sharp but balanced tang. This isn’t for everyone, but we love it.
Buy it: from Nirvana Brewery, £22.50 for 12 x 330ml
2. Løwlander 0.00% Wit (0%)
Courtesy of Løwlander
What is it? This is the first no-alcohol beer from Netherlands ‘botanical’ brewer, Løwlander. From dragonfruit to chamomile, its beers are known for their playful use of ingredients including spices, herbs, teas and tinctures. Environmentally-friendly too, the 0% Wit is made with reclaimed orange and lemon peels sourced from bars and restaurants, which would otherwise have been discarded. Zero alcohol, zero waste.
Why we love it: Packed with flavour, and true to a Belgian-style wheat beer, it’s fruity, but without being sweet. There’s a zesty aroma, and the balance of lemon and orange makes this beer refreshing too. What impresses most is this beer’s body. Whereas many zero-alcohol beers can feel a little thin, this pours and has the consistency of the real deal.
Buy it: from Light Drinks, £1.99 per bottle.
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3. Peroni Libera 0.0% (0%)
What is it? This alcohol-free version of the Italian lager only launched here in the UK in January 2019. And the brewery has worked hard to stay somewhat true to its boozy brother, using a number of brewing techniques from a customised fermentation process, to a dedicated yeast strain, and triple-hopping it for bitterness. That's a complicated way of saying that a lot of thought has gone into making this as flavourful and beer-like as possible.
Why we love it: Though clean and fresh, Peroni Libera tastes a little more malty than the original, and the citrussy notes from the hops dominate the flavour. But, while that’s no bad thing, it does mark it out for anyone looking for an exact replica of the original Peroni. Crisp, light, and with just the right kick of bitterness, this is one for enjoying on a hot summer’s day.
Buy it: from Tesco, £4.50 for 4 x 330ml.
4. Adnams Ghost Ship (0.5%)
Courtesy of Adnams
What is it? Southwold-based brewer Adnams has become well-known in recent years for its exceptional spirits but it has always made great beers. Ghost Ship, a pale ale, full of citrus and biscuit aromas and a hoppy finish, is one of its most loved. This beer is brewed and fermented as normal, then at cold temperatures the alcohol is removed, which in theory leaves the flavour intact.
Why we love it: Fruity but dry, Ghost Ship packs a punch with its bold bitterness, and fruity notes. According to Adnams, the lemon and lime aroma perfectly complements spicy Thai and Indian foods and we don’t disagree. There’s also a lovely minerality to this beer, which gives it a lot more character than many alcohol-free options. Vegan and with just 21 calories per 100ml, it’s guilt free too.
Buy it: from& Tesco, £1.59 per 500ml bottle.
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5. Thornbridge Big Easy (0.5%)
What is it? Sometimes you just want a hit of bitter hops. Sometimes you just want a bold beer, full of body, that you can really get stuck in to. Step forward Thornbridge. The brewery, one of the instigators of the craft brewing movement in the UK, has worked hard to pull all that off. Made to 0.5% rather than having the alcohol removed, development was a tricky process with the first four entire brews ditched until the recipe was right, meaning the equivalent of 60,000 bottles was poured down the drain.
Courtesy of Thornbridge Brewery
Why we love it: This has everything. That initial lemon, peach and apricot aroma and taste, followed by a cutting bitter sharpness, and that savoury, dry and tangy long finish with delicious biscuit end notes. The body is great too, though does feel a little thin towards the end. But that's a minor criticism of what is a deliciously moreish brew.
Buy it: from Thornbridge Brewery, £1.40 per 330ml bottle.
6. FitBeer Alcohol Free Helles Lager (0.3%)
What is it? FitBeer is a golden Bavarian Helles lager, handcrafted in Germany with ingredients sourced from within 13 miles (20km) of the 500-year-old brewery. And in Germany – yes, we’re generalising – but they make good beer. Why is it called FitBeer? Vegan, rich in vitamin B12, full of folic acid and 66 calories per bottle, according to its makers, it’s a natural isotonic, perfect for post work-out hydration.
Why we love it: Health claims and alcohol-free credentials aside, this is a truly excellent brew from the mouthfeel to the flavour. While some alcohol-free lagers can be a little sweet, this beer is well-balanced with just a hint of sweet malt character. And it’s all delivered with a delicate but full carbonation, it feels so much like the real thing. Complex, rich, and not in any way a compromise.
Buy it: from Ocado, £1.79 per 330ml a bottle.
7. Erdinger Weizen Alkoholfrei (0.5%)
What is it? German brand Erdinger has been making its Bavarian wheat beer for over 130 years. So, they should know a thing or two about perfecting that gorgeous banana-like taste and aroma you expect. This alcohol-free version is another beer that claims to offer health benefits, with folic acid and vitamin B12 said to reduce fatigue, support the immune system, and boost the metabolism.
Why we love it: This version does deliver that sweet, banana aroma, and certainly, you get that full rounded taste at first. However there’s also a strong cereal undertone, which does taste slightly unfinished. And it doesn’t quite have that thick full mouthfeel and long finish we love from a wheat beer. That said it's still a crisp, refreshing choice.
Buy it: from Waitrose, £1.30 per 500ml bottle.
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8. Big Drop Chocolate Milk Stout (0.5%)
What is it? In a sea of lagers and wheat beers, here is a non-alcoholic stout. Hurrah! Big Drop – another UK brewer dedicated solely to creating tasty non-alcoholic beers – has a fantastic range, including a sour beer, Citra IPA, a brown ale, and a lager. But it’s their first beer, this gluten-free chocolate milk stout that we love most.
Why we love it: With a coffee toasted malt nose, there’s a warmth here that you usually don’t find in alcohol-free products. With a hint of chocolate, a balanced complexity, layers of toasty flavour and a lovely thick body, it sips like a decent stout. Worth the premium pricing.
Buy it: from Amazon, £26.65 for 12 x 330ml bottles or Dry Drinker, £11.95 for 6 x 330ml bottles
9.Heineken 0.0% (0%)
What is it? Let’s not be snobs about it, there’s a time and place for every beer. Some people will love Heineken, and some will prefer to order a craft brew from a local brewery. Each to their own. But this alcohol-free version of the mainstream lager is pretty darn good.
Why we love it? In the early days of alcohol-free beers, there were a number of pitfalls. Without the alcohol, many tended to be overly sweet, a little thin, or fairly malty. Heineken 0.0% shows just how far we’ve come, with refreshing fruity notes and a soft, slight malt body. Hands-up, this beer is missing some of that full flavour; there’s a little hint of citrus and the liquid is lacking slightly in body. But is it a thirst quencher? Yes. If you’re looking for a sessionable mainstream lager alternative, then this might be it.
Buy it: from Asda, £3.50 for 4 x 330ml.
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