I'm Not One To Drink and Drive (Beck's Alcohol-Free Beer)

Member Name: DavyMichelle

Product:	Beck's Alcohol-Free Beer
Date:	04/05/08 (164 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Almost Alcohol Free, Acceptable Taste

Disadvantages: Leaves a Bitter After Taste, Not Suitable for Total Alcohol Abstinence

Normally I wouldn't touch alcohol-free beer with a bargepole. I was at a wedding recently though and really fancied a beer but couldn't have one was because I was the designated driver. So instead, I thought I'd give this Beck's Alcohol-Free Beer a try. I didn't have to pay for it (which was a bonus) but I've discovered it's actually quite expensive to buy at around £3.50 per standard sized bottle!


I think the high price is because this is a real beer made from actual hops rather than just a flavour substitute. The problem with this however is that it does in fact contain alcohol! Yes really, if you check the label you'll find there is 0.05% alcohol content in each bottle. So whilst this is okay for those of us abstaining from alcohol because we're driving, what about those who don't want to drink ANY alcohol no matter how small? I work with a chap who's not allowed to have any alcohol whatsoever because he follows Islam lore.


Taste wise this was okay actually. I found it had a very strong taste and wasn't at all dissimilar to regular lager. It was noticeable that there was no alcohol in it though (or very little) I must say. I suppose it's a bit like drinking a shandy but with a bitter after taste! The texture was just the same as normal lager too, thin and watery - easy to drink.


I guess I do recommend this as an alternative to alcoholic beer if you really fancy one while you're the designated driver or trying to abstain for medical reasons or something. Obviously I feel it's important to remember that this is very low alcohol rather than alcohol free though. I've tried alcohol free brands in the past (ten years ago or so now) and not really liked them but this I found perfectly tolerable. I'd recommend sneakily putting a drop of the Mrs' lemonade in the bottle when no-one's looking though to take away the bitter aftertaste.

Summary: I'd drink it again in similar circumstances if I fancied a beer.