Galactic
Big Drop Brewing Co.
- From:
- Big Drop Brewing Co.
- England, United Kingdom
- Style:
- Low-Alcohol Beer
Ranked #81 - ABV:
- 0.5%
- Score:
- 82
Ranked #34,949 - Avg:
- 3.44 | pDev: 11.92%
- Ratings:
- | reviews: 11
- Status:
- Active
- Rated:
- Feb 07, 2025
- Added:
- Sep 07, 2020
- Wants:
- 0
- Gots:
- 0
SCORE
82
Good
82
Good
Forget the notion this is a style that has had it's day. Instead,think of it as honeycomb covered in chocolate, because that's exactly what it tastes like:rich, unctuous and an absolutely decadent treat.
Recent ratings and reviews. | Log in to view more ratings + sorting options.
Reviewed by LunchMoney from Minnesota
3.88/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
3.88/5 rDev +12.8%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 4
This is my first ever N/A beer, so I was not sure what to expect. But I know that I kind of expected it to be pretty bad. Imagine my surprise when it was really not that bad and actually pretty enjoyable. It doesn’t come close to tricking you into thinking that it is real beer, but it’s a pleasant beverage nonetheless.
Everything about this screams dark chocolate malt flavored soda to me - look, smell, taste, and feel. It just doesn’t have the taste or the body/feel of a beer. What I like is that it is not as sweet or eye-wateringly carbonated as a soda though.
But if you are wanting something flavorful that’s not a soda and not thc, this hits the spot for me. Truly acored as a dark beer, the marks are a little lower than what I have here. Scored as an alternative (keeping in mind that this is my first NA), it’s pretty good. I think I’ll get a few and keep them around for those random nights that happen every 17 years when I would rather not have a beer.
Feb 07, 2025Everything about this screams dark chocolate malt flavored soda to me - look, smell, taste, and feel. It just doesn’t have the taste or the body/feel of a beer. What I like is that it is not as sweet or eye-wateringly carbonated as a soda though.
But if you are wanting something flavorful that’s not a soda and not thc, this hits the spot for me. Truly acored as a dark beer, the marks are a little lower than what I have here. Scored as an alternative (keeping in mind that this is my first NA), it’s pretty good. I think I’ll get a few and keep them around for those random nights that happen every 17 years when I would rather not have a beer.
Reviewed by puboflyons from New Hampshire
3.78/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
3.78/5 rDev +9.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3 | overall: 3.75
From a 12 oz can with a BB day of 08/01/23. Sampled Feb 18, 2024.
Attractive dark chocolate brown to near black pour under a modest tan head.
Big roasted coffee and dark malt aroma. Smells burnt and ashy too.
Thin mouthfeel.
Sweet roasted coffee taste and a little lactic. Very mild bitterness but it's the burnt, smoky character that carries it.
Feb 18, 2024Attractive dark chocolate brown to near black pour under a modest tan head.
Big roasted coffee and dark malt aroma. Smells burnt and ashy too.
Thin mouthfeel.
Sweet roasted coffee taste and a little lactic. Very mild bitterness but it's the burnt, smoky character that carries it.
Reviewed by Aemely from Missouri
2.94/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
2.94/5 rDev -14.5%
look: 3.5 | smell: 2 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3
Labelled "Galactic Extra Dark" in the US, brewed in Normal, IL. My first stout NA. At 110 calories, it has almost twice as many calories as Guinness Zero, which is a bit of a bummer. Overall, the taste is fine, but the initial smell was off-putting to me, leaning towards funky. The funk lessens a bit after airing out for a few minutes, so I guess that's the go-to strategy. I'm not sure I'd buy this again, but I haven't tried the other options, so, who knows, I may be back!
Feb 10, 2024
Reviewed by MonDak_Joe1953 from Minnesota
3.31/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
3.31/5 rDev -3.8%
look: 3.25 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.25 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.25
12oz can. Bottom stamp provides the information of 'Canned On 01/05/23'. For this can the name on the label is "GALACTIC EXTRA DARK". Brewed and packaged in Normal, IL.
Dark cola brown colored body. Big initial bubbly head upon pouring, but this disappears within a minute or so. No lacing.
Aroma has the smells of roasted malts, molasses, and black licorice.
Taste is in the vein of a milk stout, with lactose being one of the ingredients. Flavors of milk chocolate, chicory, and honey.
Medium mouth feel, but overall thin. Okay carbonation.
Sweet treat, although far from the real thing.
Dec 31, 2023Dark cola brown colored body. Big initial bubbly head upon pouring, but this disappears within a minute or so. No lacing.
Aroma has the smells of roasted malts, molasses, and black licorice.
Taste is in the vein of a milk stout, with lactose being one of the ingredients. Flavors of milk chocolate, chicory, and honey.
Medium mouth feel, but overall thin. Okay carbonation.
Sweet treat, although far from the real thing.
Reviewed by GrumpyGas from Illinois
3.1/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
3.1/5 rDev -9.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3 | feel: 2.5 | overall: 3
12oz can poured into a snifter shows a dark brown, almost black, body with a short lived 1/8" cap of light brown bubbles that leaves some random spotted lacing.
Aroma is roast coffee bean forward with a hint of cocoa. Aroma is the winner for this NA beer.
The flavor is similar, but with a metallic note that, combined with the watery feel, make for an almost cold coffee like drink.
Overall good roast, but nothing like beer.
Jan 24, 2023Aroma is roast coffee bean forward with a hint of cocoa. Aroma is the winner for this NA beer.
The flavor is similar, but with a metallic note that, combined with the watery feel, make for an almost cold coffee like drink.
Overall good roast, but nothing like beer.
Reviewed by jlindros from Massachusetts
4.04/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
4.04/5 rDev +17.4%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4
Canned 2021/01/25
Pours a brownish fizzy 1/2 finger head with fair retention, soapy lacing, jet black color
Nose intense dark roast malt, dark dark chocolate and cocoa, roasted coffee, a bit of baking spice, touch of smoke, export stout level of roast
Taste very dark roasty malt, bitter roast, dark coffee, dark dark chocolate, bitter mild spicy hop and bitter from the scorched malts, intense coffee and roast, a bit of vanilla and baking spices, little chicory spice, again a little smokey note, burnt lactose, dry finish, more bitterness
Mouth is fuller bod, rich almost chewy creamy, med fizzy carb
Overall this was quite good for a very very dark NA beer
Jan 09, 2022Pours a brownish fizzy 1/2 finger head with fair retention, soapy lacing, jet black color
Nose intense dark roast malt, dark dark chocolate and cocoa, roasted coffee, a bit of baking spice, touch of smoke, export stout level of roast
Taste very dark roasty malt, bitter roast, dark coffee, dark dark chocolate, bitter mild spicy hop and bitter from the scorched malts, intense coffee and roast, a bit of vanilla and baking spices, little chicory spice, again a little smokey note, burnt lactose, dry finish, more bitterness
Mouth is fuller bod, rich almost chewy creamy, med fizzy carb
Overall this was quite good for a very very dark NA beer
Reviewed by vinicole from England
3.05/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
3.05/5 rDev -11.3%
look: 4 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 2.75 | feel: 2.75 | overall: 3.25
Can. Deep brown colour with a light brown head.
Aroma of stale coffee grounds and chocolate milk shake.
Cigarette ash flavour. Some fruit and nut present. Light sweetness. Mild bitter finish.
Thin.
Not great.
Jul 01, 2021Aroma of stale coffee grounds and chocolate milk shake.
Cigarette ash flavour. Some fruit and nut present. Light sweetness. Mild bitter finish.
Thin.
Not great.
Reviewed by thehyperduck from Canada (ON)
3.47/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
3.47/5 rDev +0.9%
look: 2.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.75
355 mL can from the LCBO; best before Jan 15 2022 and served barely chilled. Brewed in Vancouver for the Canadian market; labelled "Galactic Dark Noir" and listed at 0.4%.
Pours inky black, totally opaque save for a few glints of brownish-burgundy 'round the edges. Half a finger of bubbly, dark tan-coloured head disintegrates entirely within sixty seconds or so, leaving almost nothing behind - no cap, no lace, not even a collar. I don't generally put much stock in appearance, but this one just looks flat. It smells of roasted malts and wort, with hints of molasses, cocoa, chicory, coffee with cream and a faint hint of something akin to prune. A little sweet on the nose, but not overwhelmingly so - I like it well enough.
It's not bad - pretty flavourful actually. Roasted malts, caramelized sugars, molasses, milk sugar and oatmeal, with suggestions of earthy hop bitterness developing in time for a slightly ashy, bittersweet finish with briefly lingering hints of cocoa, coffee and plum skin in the aftertaste. Light in body, with low carbonation that weakly flits across the surface of the palate, lending the barest semblance of a bite to its otherwise slick, wet mouthfeel. Easy enough to toss back, though I did enjoy letting it roll around the taste buds and discovering what it had to offer.
Final Grade: 3.47, a B-. I've only had a handful of non-alcoholic brews - a couple so-called pale ales and a few more based on pale lagers - but this marks the first time I've sampled an NA stout. I liked Big Drop's Galactic Dark Noir more than the others, but I'd be lying if I said that I might mistake it for a 'real' stout. Honestly, it kind of reminds me of the aroma that filled the house the last time I tried a homebrew - it was a brown ale, and the boiling wort smelled a lot like how this one smells/tastes. I've got a lot to learn about low alcohol beers, but my guess is that you could do far worse - so I'd say it's worth a chance, assuming you're in the market for this sort of beverage.
Mar 08, 2021Pours inky black, totally opaque save for a few glints of brownish-burgundy 'round the edges. Half a finger of bubbly, dark tan-coloured head disintegrates entirely within sixty seconds or so, leaving almost nothing behind - no cap, no lace, not even a collar. I don't generally put much stock in appearance, but this one just looks flat. It smells of roasted malts and wort, with hints of molasses, cocoa, chicory, coffee with cream and a faint hint of something akin to prune. A little sweet on the nose, but not overwhelmingly so - I like it well enough.
It's not bad - pretty flavourful actually. Roasted malts, caramelized sugars, molasses, milk sugar and oatmeal, with suggestions of earthy hop bitterness developing in time for a slightly ashy, bittersweet finish with briefly lingering hints of cocoa, coffee and plum skin in the aftertaste. Light in body, with low carbonation that weakly flits across the surface of the palate, lending the barest semblance of a bite to its otherwise slick, wet mouthfeel. Easy enough to toss back, though I did enjoy letting it roll around the taste buds and discovering what it had to offer.
Final Grade: 3.47, a B-. I've only had a handful of non-alcoholic brews - a couple so-called pale ales and a few more based on pale lagers - but this marks the first time I've sampled an NA stout. I liked Big Drop's Galactic Dark Noir more than the others, but I'd be lying if I said that I might mistake it for a 'real' stout. Honestly, it kind of reminds me of the aroma that filled the house the last time I tried a homebrew - it was a brown ale, and the boiling wort smelled a lot like how this one smells/tastes. I've got a lot to learn about low alcohol beers, but my guess is that you could do far worse - so I'd say it's worth a chance, assuming you're in the market for this sort of beverage.
Reviewed by tigg924 from Massachusetts
2.46/5 rDev -28.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
2.46/5 rDev -28.5%
look: 3.75 | smell: 2.75 | taste: 2.25 | feel: 2.25 | overall: 2.25
Pours opaque, jet black in color with minimal head. Taste is big charcoal. As the beer warms the lactose comes in as well as a bit of berry. Medium-heavy bodied, sweetish and roasty, moderate carbonation. First sip I was not a fan. It got better as it warmed. However after going through most of a six pack, I gotta say I will not be getting this again. I use this as a beer to take off some of the sweet edge after drinking an alcoholic milk stout.
Mar 01, 2021
Reviewed by Sigmund from Norway
3.57/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
3.57/5 rDev +3.8%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.75 | feel: 3.75 | overall: 3.5
330 ml can, as Big Drop Galactic Milk Stout, from leske.no . ABV is 0.5%, IBU 35. Black colour, small tan head. Aroma of moderately roasted malts, oatmeal and porridge, lactose and cocoa. Smooth flavour, with cocoa, oatmeal and lactose, but not too sweet. A slight fruitiness too. Very drinkable.
Feb 05, 2021
Reviewed by EmperorBevis from England
3.43/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
3.43/5 rDev -0.3%
look: 3.75 | smell: 3.25 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.25 | overall: 3.5
Canned in a little 330ml crafty can
Pours a jet black body with big thick tan head
Aroma is burning toast and blackberry jam
Taste has some charcoal and dark fruit
Sep 16, 2020Pours a jet black body with big thick tan head
Aroma is burning toast and blackberry jam
Taste has some charcoal and dark fruit
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