In Germany, alcohol-free wine is very common, and even smaller supermarkets sell alcohol-free gin and rum (specifically Captain Morgan Spiced). Whether those are any good really depends on what kinds of drinks you make with them, IME they usually suck when drunk neat, but e.g. alcohol-free wine is fine in an Aperol Spritz.
I have never tasted a difference between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer of the same brand, though I’m not a big beer drinker so the nuances might be lost on me. But I don’t really like wine, either, and that difference is extremely obvious to me.
I’ve never seen a herbal tea that tastes like juniper. You’re not wrong, though, and it definitely feels like a ripoff when it’s the same price as the brand’s regular alcoholic product.
There are some where there is no difference or where it tastes like a slightly different beer but not thin. I have tried over 100 different non-alc beers and Helles and IPLs tend to get pretty good non-alcoholic variants. However I recommend staying away from Bitburger, Paulaner, Clausthaler, Bayreuther and Oettinger. Basically most of the most available large brands have the worst non-alcoholic beers.
Never had a decent NA helles, but Athletic does have some IPAs that aren’t awful. Lagers though always taste way too malty, at least ask the ones I’ve tried.
Not on my new phone, no. They’ve got just a website, you can just link that. I’m sincerely interested if you know NA lagers that actually taste like the beer they’re trying to be.
I’ve yet to try an alcohol free wine I’ve liked, a lot more alcohol to replace than beer, I guess. Also don’t see the point with wine. Alcohol free beer is nice as a fizzy beverage that isn’t sugary.
I’ve bought alcohol free wine in Canada and Japan. They were ok, but it makes me want to drink the real thing even more so I stay away from it. And I think my body still reacts to the tiny bit left in it because I can feel my face get warm and red (I have that crappy Asian genes that doesn’t process alcohol).
That might also be a reaction to the histamines common in wine and well cured cheese. Some people are very sensitive to that and have allergy like symptoms.
As compared to what? Non-alcoholic wine? Is that even a thing? And I don’t mean grape juice obviously.
I find the taste difference to be pretty strong and would rather have no beer at all 🤷 Which is also fine ofc.
In Sweden, alco-free wine definitely is a thing. I’ve also already seen it in a German supermarket. But, as I don’t like wine, I didn’t try it.
In Germany, alcohol-free wine is very common, and even smaller supermarkets sell alcohol-free gin and rum (specifically Captain Morgan Spiced). Whether those are any good really depends on what kinds of drinks you make with them, IME they usually suck when drunk neat, but e.g. alcohol-free wine is fine in an Aperol Spritz.
I have never tasted a difference between alcoholic and non-alcoholic beer of the same brand, though I’m not a big beer drinker so the nuances might be lost on me. But I don’t really like wine, either, and that difference is extremely obvious to me.
captain morgan spiced isn’t very good to begin with
Wouldn’t alcohol free gin simply be herbal tea?
I’ve never seen a herbal tea that tastes like juniper. You’re not wrong, though, and it definitely feels like a ripoff when it’s the same price as the brand’s regular alcoholic product.
Hmm, TIL. I never noticed those in any supermarket, but I admit I never looked for them either.
I second that the taste difference is pretty big, at least for most I’ve tried.
I’ll third that, I would never confuse any of the German NA lagers I’ve tried with the real thing.
There are some where there is no difference or where it tastes like a slightly different beer but not thin. I have tried over 100 different non-alc beers and Helles and IPLs tend to get pretty good non-alcoholic variants. However I recommend staying away from Bitburger, Paulaner, Clausthaler, Bayreuther and Oettinger. Basically most of the most available large brands have the worst non-alcoholic beers.
Never had a decent NA helles, but Athletic does have some IPAs that aren’t awful. Lagers though always taste way too malty, at least ask the ones I’ve tried.
Do you have Untappd? I can show you my reviews.
Not on my new phone, no. They’ve got just a website, you can just link that. I’m sincerely interested if you know NA lagers that actually taste like the beer they’re trying to be.
Champagne / sparkling wine is a common one with non alcoholic versions
I’ve yet to try an alcohol free wine I’ve liked, a lot more alcohol to replace than beer, I guess. Also don’t see the point with wine. Alcohol free beer is nice as a fizzy beverage that isn’t sugary.
I’ve bought alcohol free wine in Canada and Japan. They were ok, but it makes me want to drink the real thing even more so I stay away from it. And I think my body still reacts to the tiny bit left in it because I can feel my face get warm and red (I have that crappy Asian genes that doesn’t process alcohol).
That might also be a reaction to the histamines common in wine and well cured cheese. Some people are very sensitive to that and have allergy like symptoms.
There are non-alcoholic Rieslings that taste like actual wine. I have done enough tastings to know that.