Finally, a choice of beers that are low in alcohol, but high in taste.
Whether you’re taking on a dry January, looking for pre- or post-run beers that don’t require a walk home or following doctor’s orders, these guilt-free options will still crush your craft-beer craving. And the best bit? No hangover!
There’s no denying it, beer with alcohol tastes better. Big barley wines and devilish DIPAs are some of the most flavoursome brews out there. But low-ABV options are getting better all the time. The following six have been selected for flavour that’ll leave you in no doubt that there’s a genuine cold one in your hand.
Mikkeller – Weird weather IPA low ABV
Want the hazy, hoppy hit of a New England IPA without the booze? Then Danish beer magicians Mikkeller have the answer. The bitterness is more akin to IPAs from the other coast but there’s really juicy hop flavour and a citrus kiss. There’s a resinous characteristic too, which helps make this a little thicker feeling that other low-alcohol equivalents. Also, the label features what looks like He-Man’s nemesis Skeletor. Drinking low-ABV never looked so badass.
Riedenburger Brauhaus – Dolden Null
This IPA is brewed just like Riedenburger’s very tasty Dolden Sud IPA, but with the fermentation halted before the alcohol can rise above 0.5%. The brewers refer to this as “alcoholitus interruptus”. Pouring cloudy and amber, it certainly looks the part and the taste is suspiciously satisfying. There’s a whiff of pine and a definite touch of tropical fruit. The bitterness is balanced too. Finally, an upside when it comes to your turn as designated driver.
Erdinger Weissbier Alkoholfrei
Before alcohol-free IPAs were a twinkle in a craft brewer’s hungover eye, I always opted for alcohol-free wheat beers. The wheat in the grist helps counter the watery texture often found in low-abv lagers, hence their absence in this list. Erdinger might not be a microbrewery, but they know their way around a wheat beer. It’s got soft banana notes, just a whiff of cloves and a subtle sweetness. The brewery is positioning the beer as a natural isotonic perfect for athletes, highlighting beer’s natural carbohydrates and its abundance of energy-converting B-vitamins. I’ve now had it thrust into my hand after a couple of races as the official recovery drink and if you win the Berlin marathon you’ll be given litres of the stuff to pose with. If it’s good enough for Eliud Kipchoge…
Mikkeller – Energibajer
Following on the theme for low-ABV beers for high-performance athletes, Mikkeller’s Energibajer wheat ale goes a step further, with runners on the label. A collaboration with athletic brand Hechmann sports, it’s not too sweet, with good texture and a healthy amount of hop bitterness. There’s a touch of banana and apricot and it’s eminently drinkable, especially after a sweaty interval session. Preferable to that synthetic energy drink any day.
Mikkeller – Drink’in the sun
If you want to stay sober in summer, this is the brew for you. Marketed as sunshine in a bottle, this American-style wheat ale is floral and fruity, and has a hint of herbs too. It’s a major thirst quencher and, at just 0.3%, you can drink it and still drive home in your convertible, roof top down, blaring Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Don’t pretend that you wouldn’t…
Back to beer, as you can see from this list, Mikkeller are arguably the kings of chasing down taste without upping the alcohol. From the same range there’s also a tasty Drink’in barely Berliner slightly sour Berliner weisse and Drink’in the Snow – a sweeter, darker spicier festive version. All come recommended. Head to the dedicated section on the Mikkeller webstore to make the only beer order that won’t make your liver wince.
Brewdog – Nanny State
When Brewdog brewed their 18.2% ABV Tokyo* imperial stout, they came under fire from factory brew giants Portman Group for being “irresponsible”. Their response was the original Nanny State, a brew that at 1.1% was not technically classed as beer, but still packed a bruising 250 international bitter units. It made a statement but was not to everyone’s taste, so the IBUs were dropped to a respectable 45 and the ABV further to 0.5%.
Today’s variant is perhaps the most complex low-alcohol craft beer out there and is the fifth-best-selling beer in the Aberdeen brewer’s extensive line-up. While a combo of centennial, amarillo, columbus, cascade and simcoe hops give Nanny State a biting bitterness and a semblance of stone fruit, it’s the malt that makes this imperial-mild style beer so multi-faceted. Eight different speciality malts give it several layers for the palate to decipher. There might only be whiff of booze, but it’s bursting with flavour. Ironically, it’s a health-conscious ale that’s not for the faint hearted.
And there you have it. Spoiled for choice and still firmly on the wagon. Cheers.