Weihenstephaner Heffeweisen – 3rd
Beck’s Non-Alcoholic – 1st $1.67 per 330mL bottle 0.0% alc./vol. Ingredients: water, malt, hops The winner! All judges scored this high, and it won first place in the finals. Even though this event was blind, a few tasters commented they could tell it was Becks right away due to the “fantastic Euro taste and refreshing full body and efferves- cent crisp,” which says a lot about the brand and their commitment to offer a drinkable non-alco- hol beer.
$2.33 per 330mL bottle Less than 0.5% alc./vol. Ingredients: water, wheat malt, barley malt, hops, yeast There was a tie between this and Labatt Blue 0.5% but this choice had the most amount of tasters scoring it as their favourite, gets it into the top 3. It is also one of the priciest brews, coming in at $2.33 per bottle. This choice had a strong, spicy smell, fruity taste, but a slightly weak finish. Two tasters could tell immediately it was a ‘witbier’ and another commented that it was “a little heavy but could drink a bunch in a row.” Bud Zero – 2nd $1.92 per 355mL can 0.0% alc./vol. Ingredients: de-alcoholized beer and natural flavour This NA beer was the winner for its round and came in second in the finals. Every taster really enjoyed the fruity, fresh, medium-bodied brew that had a nice light aftertaste. It had a bit of a bitter backdrop which gave it more structure. One taster ranked this as their favourite in the first round but scored it lower during the finals when it was up against the others and comment- ed it tasted more like “a sweet fizzy drink than a proper beer… Syrupy?”
Final Thoughts Whether you are newly sober or have the desire to cut back on the amount of booze you consume, these non-alcoholic beers can be a great choice for many people. But it is important to remember that even though there is no (or barely any) alcohol in these drinks that doesn’t mean it can’t have a powerful effect on your mind. The slight smell and or taste of near beer can trigger you to want to drink the “real” thing. So, if you’re serious about quitting drinking or cutting back, this can make things harder on yourself. For most consumers though, non-alcoholic beer is a fantastic choice to add to your mix of drinks. Your liver will thank you, your wallet will rejoice, and your tastebuds will be pleasantly surprised, especially if you go for any of the top 3 from this blind taste test. If you want more details about this blind taste testing event or to learn more sobriety head over to Sober City for the full deep dive.
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JUNE 2021 • SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE
SPOTLIGHT ON BUSINESS MAGAZINE • JUNE 2021
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