Family Pale Lager Style Non-alcoholic
Country Germany ABV 0.5%
Price $$ Packaging 12oz/355ml bottle
Characteristics Malty, unusual

Overview There are different ways to produce near-beer. O’Doul’s, for instance, is fermented and then has the alcohol removed, while Clausthaler mashes the grain using a process that produces only a small amount of fermentable sugars.

Flavors and aromas A touch skunky, this near-beer smells of nuts and sweet corn; it’s an interesting nose but one which isn’t much like beer. The palate is slightly sweet, with low hop character and a touch of bitterness, and a strange mouthfeel that’s alternately grainy and chalky. Given the lack of beer character, we’ve chosen not to rate this, but that doesn’t mean it was flawed.