We've all been there, you've been in a conversation with someone about beer and the subject of AF comes up, there will always be someone that chimes in with "It just doesn't taste like beer" or "There's always a horrible after taste", the chances are the last time they tried an alcohol free beer was when the choice was Becks Blue or Becks Blue. Things have moved on a long way since then and most converts have a few beer suggestions in their back pocket ready for such conversations, so here are just a few of mine. These are not necessarily the best or even my favourite, but each has a reason for recommending it.
For the stout drinker
No contest, it's Guinness 0.0. Whilst there are loads of great AF stouts around now, in the same way there are loads of alcoholic stouts around, Guinness is the go-to! Guinness 0.0 was a game changer. As per the traditional Guinness slogan, "Good things come to those who wait" the same was true for Guinness 0.0.
For the Lager drinker
The first non alcoholic beer that I started recommending has a special place in my heart, which is why I'm mentioning it here, Bitburger Drive. Whilst we now take if for granted that every major lager producer has an equivalent AF version, things weren't always that way. As crazy as it sounds, Birburger Drive was launched in 1992!
For the IPA drinker
IPAs are my drink of choice and the style of beer I try more than any other so this is a tough one. However, the one I'm going to mention is No Worries Mango from Lervig.I like all the No Worries range but it was the Mango version that I first tried in The Globe, Newbury. I was out with some work friends and I was doing an "every other drink" strategy and asked for a recommendation for an AF beer and was given this, I loved it. Before I'd finished it I'd ordered a mixed case to be delivered from DryDrinker!