Penn's Best N.A.
Genesee Brewing Co. / Dundee Brewing Co.

Penn's Best N.A.Penn's Best N.A.
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From:
Genesee Brewing Co. / Dundee Brewing Co.
 
New York, United States
Style:
Low-Alcohol Beer
Ranked #104
ABV:
0.5%
Score:
70
Ranked #28,002
Avg:
2.84 | pDev: 25.35%
Reviews:
33
Ratings:
45
Status:
Active
Rated:
Mar 14, 2024
Added:
Feb 13, 2005
Wants:
  2
Gots:
  6
No description / notes.
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Photo of Death_Adder
Reviewed by Death_Adder from South Carolina

2/5  rDev -29.6%
look: 2 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2 | overall: 2
I was over the moon that a single of this only costs me 99 cents, you can’t even get anything at the Dollar Store for that price anymore. Had an odd bit of a spice note to it, and basically zero carbonation, it will not be a repeat purchase sadly.

Style: Non Alcoholic Beer | Tap/Can/Bottle: Can | Abv: 0.5% | Rating: 2
Mar 14, 2024
 
Rated: 2.22 by jera1350 from Minnesota

Aug 21, 2023
Photo of BeerAndGasMasks
Reviewed by BeerAndGasMasks from Virginia

3.33/5  rDev +17.3%
look: 4.25 | smell: 3.75 | taste: 3 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
From the can, it pours a clear very light yellow color with a large white head that slowly reduces. The nose gets a dose of floral hops. The taste is muted and light - notes of malt and a pinch of hops. Unobjectionable overall.
Jul 16, 2023
Photo of LiquidAmber
Reviewed by LiquidAmber from Washington

2.52/5  rDev -11.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Poured into a Seattle Beer Week pint glass. Pours a light to medium golden amber with a fizzy, two finger head that dissipates to a thin film with light lacing. Faint aroma of malt and maybe a hint of hops. Flavor follows, with very subdued malt and a hint of hops that do show up at a slight astringent bitterness in the finish. Medium bodied with light creaminess, sharp carbonation. Well, I had low expectations for this but it is interesting in a banal way. The light color and fizzy head seemed just right for something from an adjunct brewery, but the near complete lack of aroma was a real surprise. The light amber color distinguishes this from a flavored seltzer, but that might be the only reason I'd know to look for the malt flavor in this one. Hops too are nearly absent, except in the finish. I've been sampling all the available NA brews and hopped teas and seltzers (which I liked better than I expected). This tastes pretty much what I'd expect if I combined about 1/4 adjunct lager with 3/4 seltzer water. Definitely the tamest of anything I've tried so far. On the plus side, except for the very light hop astringency in the finish, quite drinkable as a very, very light quaff with faint hops. No surprise, I passed this one up a few times, then decided I could tick Genesee (other than this, blissfully absent in our market) and a new NA brew. Won't get it again, but it's refreshing this afternoon.
Nov 27, 2022
Photo of Bouleboubier
Reviewed by Bouleboubier from New Jersey

4.22/5  rDev +48.6%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5
(12 oz can, E042 13; purchased single off shelf... poured into a 14 oz mug)

L: brilliantly-clear, near pale gold liquid; lots of frothy, yellow-tinged white foam... actually keeps a collar; scant thin lace top ring

S: Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray soda?!?... grassy-floral, almost citrus peel-ian hop overtone... something 'green' about its tones... fair amount of potency

T: wow! almost like a dry-hopped pale lager, wtf?!... notable absence of alcohol apparent in its underbelly... aftertaste of woody-earthy top note of hop bitterness with a cool, clean, if somewhat diluted malt pool on the palate floor

F: light-bodied, glassy and smooth in texture and flow, perfect amount of subtle sizzle... somewhat dry aft, with a touch of residual grease

O: seriously one of if not the most beer-like NA lager I've tried... do not judge a book by its cover... I could honestly see this being my go-to if and when I start an NA kick (1924)
Jul 12, 2022
Photo of gshak
Reviewed by gshak from Texas

3.65/5  rDev +28.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4
For a NA beer, this one is alright. In blind taste test, the only thing that would probably give it away against the macro light lagers is the mouthfeel, but other than it holds its own against any of the name brands especially after working up a sweat on a hot sunny afternoon. And at $2.99 a sixer, I'm grabbing a pack of these on every beer run.

The appearance isn't really going to win any awards. It starts spritzy and the head dies down almost immediately. No lacing observed. 3
Smell - Very muted smell, and since I'm usually drinking these ice cold, there isn't much I can sense. Faint biscuity smell of mildly toasted grains, and that's about it really. No hops to speak of.
Taste - Toasted grains, and just a kiss of earthy hops to even out any semblance of sweetness. Very balanced in terms of taste. Impressive.
Feel - Thin, but for a NA lager, this works to its advantage. I can easily put down a few of these in a hurry.

Overall - a fantastic take on a NA lager. All of the chilled hydration and none of the effects of alcohol.
Well done!
Apr 14, 2022
 
Rated: 3.18 by mdshensky74 from South Carolina

Mar 26, 2022
 
Photo of GlenFarclas
Reviewed by GlenFarclas from Connecticut

1.94/5  rDev -31.7%
look: 3.25 | smell: 1.75 | taste: 2 | feel: 1.75 | overall: 1.75
Honestly, no better and no worse than your average light AAL. It's really just sort of, I don't know, almost unfinished. Anyway, at barely 3 bucks a sixer, if you're a busch lite/bud light drinker I'm, guessing this would do fine? I'm not sure what I'll do with the rest of them, maybe I'll throw em into a session, maybe just leave to hang out in the pantry, gravy? Marinade? I dunno. I will say, there's nothing off about it. It's just very much barely beer.

Edit: I'm finding NA lagers seem the hardest to hit, not sure why that is. But just good old bitter pale lager so often seems to be hit or miss. I don't want to rate this too low however because I'm certain it has a market and it does that job well enough.
Jan 08, 2022
Photo of Guppy314
Reviewed by Guppy314 from District of Columbia

2.46/5  rDev -13.4%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
From a can, pours as a clear nicely carbonated gold with essentially no head. Practically no aroma but perhaps "mineral water" and slight malt. Taste is like a carbonated beverage with a bit of malt and hops with just a slight sweetness. If I were to drink this in a blind test, I'm pretty sure I'd declare it to be a "novelty soda" rather than a type of beer.
Jan 01, 2022
Photo of yetijosie
Rated by yetijosie from Texas

4.2/5  rDev +47.9%
look: 5 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4
tastes like a solid cookout beer, good all around imo, will definitely buy again ;)
Dec 21, 2021
 
Rated: 3.02 by BuddyZ from Pennsylvania

Dec 12, 2021
Photo of flagmantho
Reviewed by flagmantho from Washington

2.87/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
Poured from 12oz can into a dimpled mug.

Appearance: medium golden hue with a light effervescence and a thin layer of foam that dissipates almost immediately.

Smell: extremely light malt aroma with a dash of sweetness. It's appropriate to the style it's emulating, but not very interesting.

Taste: light malt, a bit on the sweet side up front, with kind of a watery finish. It's like if a light beer were extra extra light. It's not terrible, but there's not a lot here.

Mouthfeel: very very light indeed, but a big carbonation that almost makes up for it.

Overall: this is definitely not the worst NA beer I've had; it just doesn't have enough personality to be either good or bad.
Oct 19, 2021
Photo of jlindros
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts

2.07/5  rDev -27.1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 1.5 | taste: 2.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 1.5
No can date
Pours a light fizzy frothy 1 finger head with med retention, touch of lacing, crystal clear light pale to tan color

Nose has very little to it, a bit of mineral water, hint of malt, a bit of a skunky like character, touch soapy as well

Taste is light as well but not terrible, a strange malt sorghum like thing, stale grains, wood pulp, hint of fruity character and hint of hop bitterness

Mouth is thin and watery

Overall terrible, I would rather just drink water, why, seriously why?!
Aug 04, 2021
 
Rated: 3.24 by Steve62

Jul 06, 2021
Photo of John_1947
Reviewed by John_1947 from Virginia

3.12/5  rDev +9.9%
look: 5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3 | feel: 3 | overall: 3
When I was forced by medical conditions to stop drinking alcohol, I switched to N/A beer. I was disappointed by the cost of most of them, however, considering that alcohol taxes are a major factor in the price of alcoholic beverages.

Then I discovered Penn's Best N/A, sold at Total Wine. It's not the best flavor, but the price is right. I buy it by the case, and drink it every day.
Apr 07, 2021
Photo of tigg924
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts

2.11/5  rDev -25.7%
look: 3 | smell: 2 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2
Pours clear, gold in color with one inch head. Taste is slightly sweet American adjunct lager. Light bodied, high carbonation. If you want any cheap adjunct lager but no alcohol this is the beer for you. For me many non alcoholic beverages are so much more interesting. A hard pass in the future.
Dec 25, 2020
Photo of teromous
Reviewed by teromous from Virginia

2.67/5  rDev -6%
look: 4 | smell: 2 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 2.5
From the bottom of the can: "F119 1315:29"

Appearance: The body of the beer has crystal clarity and ranges in color between light and medium gold. It has a medium white head that slowly fades to a well-maintained short cap. Good retention. Not much in the way of lacing, but the beer overall looks outstanding.

Aroma: There is a very light cereal grain aroma and a noticeable metallic scent.

Taste: Up front there is a sweet cereal grain flavor and a touch of noble hop character which makes its way to the middle of the palate. Towards the end the hops disappear and it finishes very sweet.

Mouthfeel: The mouthfeel is light and it finishes wet and sweet.

Overall: The beer is drinkable but it has a strong sweetness to it and the metallic aroma isn't doing it any favors. Even as a "Non Alcoholic Malt Beverage" (as indicated by the can) it just doesn't feel well-crafted. I wouldn't really recommend it and I probably wouldn't pick it up again.
Jan 28, 2020
Photo of almoje
Reviewed by almoje from Colorado

3.48/5  rDev +22.5%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
This stuff pretty quickly became one of my favorite NA beers. I'm sure someone with a more refined palette would laugh, but I honestly cannot distinguish this as NA. Granted, that's mostly due to the convenience that it's 'copying' your run-of-the mill, watery, low-ABV mass-produced beers like PBR or Coors Light, but it's a great trick! After trying a handful of craft non-alcoholic beers that are trying too hard to innovate, it's nice to find something just plain drinkable. Didn't even pour it, right from the can it just tastes and smells and feels like a big-name cheap beer.

There's another side that, of course, this isn't going to convince anyone that's not already sold on non-alcoholic beers, as it doesn't really do anything exceptionally or notably well. If you're already on board though, I think this is a great one to pick up a dozen or so of and toss in the garage. Highly drinkable, reliable, and cheap!
Dec 12, 2019
Photo of hophugger
Reviewed by hophugger from Virginia

2.48/5  rDev -12.7%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 2 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 2.5
Pours a light, golden yellow. Initially decent head and seemingly good carbonation but in a matter of seconds, the head has completely vanished and there are only a minute amount of baby bubbles rising. Smell is almost non-existent with a bit of toasted malt. Taste is very light with again, very light flavors of bitter malt and a lot of water. Mouthfeel is like tap water and there is literally no finish to speak of. Trying to fair when rating because it is a NA beer, but come on, I am sure anon-alcoholic beer can be brewed that has some decent flavors?
Apr 09, 2019
Penn's Best N.A. from Genesee Brewing Co. / Dundee Brewing Co.
Beer rating: 70 out of 100 with 45 ratings