Non-Alcoholic (ABV < 0.5%) Beers (2022)

3 Magnets Fuzzy Hat by Self Care



Described on the can as a British Brew, I'd call it a Bitter. Malt texture in spades, it's a convincing example with 3 Mag's subtle-but-it's-there NA fermentation characteristics. Bonus that they used local craft maltster Skagit Valley Malting.

 

Exactly! There is a reason why NA IPAs (for example) are rated against other NA beers and NOT against full ABV IPAs. IMO the mods should delete any NA review where the beer has a low score because the reviewer says it is not good compared to a full ABV beer of the same style.

 

I've tried beers from Athletic (the Sunset Stoke IPA and the All Out Extra Dark Ale), and from Wellbeing (Intentional IPA). Sunset Stoke was okay (about 6 months old) but I liked the Intentional IPA better (also around 6 months old). The Extra Dark was like roasted barley juice to me. Didn't seem like a beer at all.

Athletic: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/52867/
Wellbeing: https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/50986/

 

Opened up a can of Athletic's Lodge Life last night. It carried the same heft as All Out, but with a much different flavor profile. Almost tasted perfumy to me. Still, a good texture and feel for those seeking a heavier NA beer.

I intend to review the new-to-me Athletic I have, but opted to consume this can while playing video games.

 

Looking forward to your review. Athletic has offered a couple interesting rotating or one-off beers lately including that one, but my stash of Athletic has been growing to exceed capacity to store it properly since I already get 2 6pks a month of their std fare as a club member, plus I bought a few of their others in Nov. I really wish they sold mixed six packs. Occasionally I have been less than totally thrilled with their one-off beers but testing the first can still leaves 5 more taking up storage space.

 

I'll be certain to share. Trying to for-go 'real beer' during the work week and any day proceeding a big workout. That leaves lots of time to lean into NA. I bought something like five different 6 packs. I'm sure the last cans won't be fresh by the time I get to them. I will make an effort to get to them closer to fresh when I review. I did order the Rice Helles and ESB - both I'm pretty darn curious about. I think I'm "set" for a long time.

I will probably supplement my stash with local pick ups when stores have a sale. An $8 Athletic 6-pack here locally is a no brainer, even if it's just their flagship stuff. It'll scratch the itch just fine, even if I can't provide a 'new' review.

 

But isn't that the way the brewers promote them?
The Athletic Difference

On top of that, they've adopted the use of beer style labeling ("IPA", "ESB" "Hefeweizen", etc.) which used to be against TTB regulations. Still is according to the LABELING AND ADVERTISING OF MALT BEVERAGES last updated "12/10/2021":

 

I think we've discussed this in the past, but I prefer the style naming for NA beers. It's a similar scenario (though, not against TTB regulations) for vegan food to be named after its 'real' counterpart. I think it serves to set some expectations as for what you'll be getting, with the underlying understanding the products are fundamentally different.

If I ordered a 'vegan meatloaf', I would know what texture, flavor profile, etc. to expect to some degree. If I ordered a 'kidney beans and seitan loaf', I would have no clue how that entrée would be flavored without some further description.

 

@jesskidden, I agree they are promoted as a being similar to their full ABV counterparts.. Better expectation management by the NA brewers, i.e., "ours is the best of fake beers but unlike full ABV beer" would not sell their product. Expecting NA beer to taste like a full ABV counterpart is folly and akin to expecting sugar-free carob chips to taste like Godiva chocolate (IMO).

I checked my stash of Athletic "beverages" and some, but not all contain reference to a specific style (like "IPA").

I think arguments could be made multiple ways for the "best" way to rate NA beers. BA has chosen to rate NA beers against other NA beers, not against the full ABV counterparts referenced on the NA cans. To me, if BA says rate against other NA beers then that is what should be done. If BA ever changes things and says "rate NA against all beers of the same identified style" then I could go that way too.

 

When you rate NA beers you can concentrate only on how good they are, as they all are of the same style

 

I'd nominate @beer_beer first, since he's been a sole proprietor of NA for a long time.

I'm happy to take it on if this falls thru and the schedule allows for me to join.

 

Thanks. You are welcome to start, @elNopalero or you!

I have my own role

 

oh, this could be fun and verrry interesting. I am curious to see how many participate in the tasting. Based on the comments in the Dryuary/alcohol free January thread, it is unclear to me how many people actually are using NA beer as a substitute for full ABV beers in January and how many are just eliminating beer and drinking completely unrelated beverages. There seems to be a prevailing attitude among full-ABV beer drinkers that NA beers are terrible and they will never drink them. Perhaps the tasting will consist of only the same people who regularly post on the <0.5% ABV thread plus a few curious lurkers.

 

Think how cool it would be to get someone from Athletic or from Wellbeing to be actively involved in this tasting, perhaps by leading it off with a brief discussion of how NA beer is made and the challenges in the process vs. full ABV beers.

 

I may actually be able to do that....

I'll send an email.

 

EXCELLENT! I have found the staff at Athletic to be very responsive to e-mails.

 

Wouldn’t the better comparison be caffeinated coffee to decaf?

And if so, then decaf can come damn close to tasting as good as regular.