Consumption of low- and no-alcohol drinks has increased in recent years, with statistics showing that Gen Z consume more than 20% less alcohol per capita than their Millennial counterparts did at their age. With such a significant number of people cutting down, drinking culture has changed and the market has had to evolve. So, can beer with no alcohol taste good? Features Writer Maria spoke to the experts and tried some of the best beverages out there for herself. The verdict’s in…Today’s options are no longer the bland fizzy drinks once quaffed by designated drivers; brewers have finally caught up with the low-alcohol trend, and their offerings are nothing short of fantastic. 
 

To better understand the low-alcohol revolution, I spoke to James Morgan from ZeroZilchZip, an online retail space dedicated to alcohol-free drinks. As one of the startup’s expert Zerologists, Morgan shared with me what excellent non-alcoholic beers should taste like, as well as how they’re made. With this in mind, I tried a selection of the best no- and low-alcohol drinks out there to give you an overview of what to expect.

There are two main ways to make no- and low-alcohol beers. The first one involves using a special, lazy yeast that produces very little alcohol, while the second simply sees alcohol removed following the brewing process. However, alcohol does a lot more than give you the confidence to attempt that dance move; it helps to provide texture to a drink, and it carries many flavours. This is why brewers often have to make up for not including it in their drinks by adding other compounds such as sugar and hops.

Some people feel reluctant to spend the same amount of money on low-alcohol and alcohol-free drinks as they do on booze. However, unlike regular beer-making where alcohol is a byproduct of fermentation, the lack of alcohol in no- and low-alcohol drinks is an intentional choice that impacts the end result. This is why, Morgan explained, making a non-alcoholic beer tends to be more expensive.

Not only is removing the alcohol from no- and low-alcohol drinks an extra step to add into the brewing process, but the flavours also need to be amended to mimic those alcoholic notes. The drink’s shelf-life is shortened too; alcohol is a natural preservative, after all. Nonetheless, according to Morgan, consumers seem open to spending more on a good, high-quality product, especially if that means being able to hang out with their friends without feeling pressured to drink alcohol.

Treat your no- and low-alcohol beers and ciders precisely as you would treat their alcoholic counterparts. Just because they don’t contain alcohol, it doesn’t mean they can’t be unique. That said, you want an alcohol-free or low-alcohol beverage to have layers of flavour, a nice mouthfeel and a good nose. A good booze-free option shouldn’t make you feel like you’re giving up on anything.

We tasted some of the best-rated and most widely available low- and no-alcohol beers out there, looking at their style, Alcohol By Volume (ABV) and flavour profiles. Of course, everyone has their preferences when it comes to beer, so we also looked at how highly rated each of the drinks are in Untappd, a social media app that allows beer drinkers to share and rate beers globally.

Style: IPA
Untappd: 3.39/5
ABV: 0.4%
 

A very good take on a low-alcohol IPA from American craft brewery Athletic Brewing Co. This brewery specialises in innovative, refreshing non-alcoholic craft beers – and it does it really well. The Run Wild IPA has a toasty malt profile both in taste and nose, and it’s balanced out by citrus and floral notes. It’s a hoppy beer with a slight lingering bitterness, yet it’s extremely easy to drink.

Style: Golden Ale
Untappd: 3.28/5
ABV: 0.4%

With a clear blonde colour, this golden ale is light-bodied and very drinkable. The nose is floral and earthy, and the flavours are of honey, lemon and a subtle hint of grass. The medium level of carbonation makes this drink very refreshing and crisp, perfect for sipping in summertime. Not keen on bitter flavours? This one’s for you.

Style: Saison
Untappd: 2.99/5
ABV: 0.5%
 

Swimmers Saison is an amber-toned beer packed with personality. It has a smooth body, due in part to the inclusion of wheat malt in its recipe, with subtle notes of sweet dried apricots and herbal notes reminiscent of coriander (which for some could come across as soapy). While it could use a little bit more carbonation, it coats the palate quite nicely, leaving a final residual bitter taste and a slight tingle.

Style: Sour/Gose
Untappd: 3.42/5
ABV: 0.3%
 

A low-alcohol option that’s both interesting and complex, Henry Gose Lightly is a perfect example of what a sour beer should be. Lemony sour and herbal profiles are strong in this drink, which somehow manages to be both sweet and salty at once. The first sip delivers a sharp and sour kick that’s not unlike what you’d expect from a Margarita, giving way to warm malted wheat undertones and just the right amount of bubbles. 

Style:IPA
Untappd: 3.31/5
0.5% ABV
 

This Dutch take on a fruity IPA is a zesty and fruity brew with a nice crown. Grapefruit is a well-established flavour in the brewing industry as it enhances the taste of the hops, delivering the perfect level of bitterness every good beer needs. Plus, the label is fun and distinctive, something that’s become a priority in the craft beer industry. 

Style: Ginger Beer
Untappd: N/A
ABV: 0.0% 

This well-known Scottish brand delivers exactly what it promises: an alcohol-free ginger beer that tastes much like its traditional alcoholic version (without the hangover). The drink has a spicy ginger kick, a warm mouthfeel, a good level of carbonation and some sweet and sour notes. In all honesty, I believe if I were to blind-taste this drink I wouldn’t be able to pinpoint the difference between it and its alcoholic counterpart. It’s great on its own, but could also work as a fantastic mixer.

Style: Lager
Untappd: 2.37
ABV: 0.0% 

Sometimes you want a complex, flavourful beer with lots of undertones, and sometimes you want an easy-to-drink, thirst-quenching beer that tastes like it’s five o’clock somewhere. This one is the latter. Estrella Galicia is a perfectly good, well-rounded Spanish beer that’s unpretentious, refreshing and bright. A quick fermentation process gives it hoppy and bready notes that result in a long, bitter aftertaste. 

Style: IPA
Untappd: 3.47
ABV: 0.5% 

This is a very good quality take on a low-alcohol IPA, with just as much character as you’d expect from a craft brewery. It’s fairly bitter, and contains a decent level of hops (which is evident from the first sniff). The beer is smooth and has a slight caramel sweetness to it, making it a perfectly pub-worthy beer.

Style: Social Soft
Untappd: N/A
ABV: 0.0%
 

Not quite a beer, not quite a cider, this drink gets an honorary mention thanks to its uniqueness and palatability. ZAG is what its creators have deemed a Social Soft: a long, alcohol-free drink that packs complex, not-so-sweet flavours without trying to imitate existing options. The drink has the earthiness of kombucha and tea, with a zestiness that’s balanced out by sweet, but not sickly, notes.
 

Style: Pale Ale
Untappd: 3.08/5
ABV: 0.5% 

Fresh and light, with a nice crown, this beer has a strong pine flavour and a herbal nose. It’s an all-day drinking beer, perfect for a barbecue or beach day. Very light, slightly thin and with a pale hazy tone, it has a lovely amount of carbonation. One for those who like no-nonsense beers.

Style: Cider
Untappd: 3.05
ABV: 0.0% 

Classic, crisp, refreshing; there’s not much more to be said about this drink except that it’s just as good as the original Thatchers. The apple flavour is intense, but unlike other apple beverages, it’s not sickly sweet. It also packs the right amount of acid. To me, it feels a bit like an Appletizer’s grown-up sister, and I’m here for it. The perfect drink for autumn.

Style: Wheat Beer
Untappd: 2.87
ABV: 0.4% 

This wheat beer is surprisingly complex, with strong, caramelised malt flavours coming across right from the first mouthful. The nose reminded me of freshly baked bread, and though I didn’t find it the most refreshing of the bunch, it’s isotonic, meaning it’s engineered to rehydrate you quickly after a tough workout. There you go: the perfect excuse for a cheeky post-gym beer, with no alcohol included.

Style: Wheat Beer
Untappd: 3.08
ABV: 0.3%

Erdinger's alcohol-free wheat beer is another popular grapefruit-flavoured option. Inside the bottle, bittersweet malt goes hand in hand with citrusy grapefruit for that perfect touch of fruity acidity. While it’s a full-bodied brew, it’s subtle and thirst-quenching.

Style: Lager
Untappd: 2.96
ABV: 0.5%

Bready, fruity and biscuity, this lager shines brighter than its more commercial peers, containing the right amount of hops counterbalanced by some subtle citrusy notes. It has a good, frothy head, and as an unfiltered brew, it has quite a good body to it, aided by equally strong carbonation.

Style: Lager
Untappd: 2.4
ABV: 0.0%

If you like Heineken, you’re in luck: this no-alcohol beer tastes exactly the same as its alcoholic counterpart. No surprises, no nuances, the Dutch company has managed to perfectly emulate the classic taste of its most famous brew by using Heineken’s signature yeast. It’s a refreshing and comforting choice, best served properly chilled on a hot day.