Is there a good one out there?
The words: "Non-Alcoholic beer " are enough to send any sane, dedicated beer drinker into a fit of coughing, strange facial expressions usually to do with the tongue--or a torrent of expletives one of which is usually the word "piss" Why is non-alcoholic beer so unpalatable and why can't they get the taste right?
As Egypt is a Muslim country and that type of beer sells well here (in supermarkets), and as I am a real beer drinker, I decided to do a taste test. I chose 4 non-alcos and here are the results:
(Some may be sold world-wide but I'm not sure.)
Amstel Zero: Advertised as refreshing and natural having all the right ingredients (the hops, barley etc), I found Amstel Zero an unpalatable beer with a sickly sweet and sour taste. I tried one but could not face a second. In fact 3 or 4 of these would make me ill--or depressed.
Becks Non-Alcoholic: The familiar green can has malted barley and hops listed as ingredients and the taste is foul--like a mixture of dishwater and old beer mixed together. I could not drink more than one of these and hoped that all good Germans avoid it like the plague.
Barbican: Barbie may well enjoy this beer. I didn't. It is a mixture of water and water with a few hops thrown in. Disgusting stuff!
Busch NA: I found a reviewers comments on this beer."Not applicable to my life", he said, "even the cons in Shawshank prison would have turned this down!"
I decided that there were three types of people who drank NA beers: Ex-Alkies trying to pretend it was real, Muslims who abstained normally and found them refreshing---not having tasted a great 5% brew (or wanting to), and men who have no taste buds.
Can any Joeuser name me a non-alco that is like the real thing? I doubt it. The secret is not in the ingredients but in the sugar and the fermentation.
Some interesting facts here for real-beer drinkers:
Egyptian beer (Sakkara 4%), brewed from Nile water, is one of the finest tasting beers in this country ( Egypt caters for non-Muslims too).
South African Breweries (owners of Castle, Miller and many other brands), brought out a 2% beer five years ago Sterling), and it was one of the greatest beers they ever produced--marvellous taste). It died a natural death as South Africans (like Aussies and Kiwis), don't do 2%! Is not the done thing to flash a two percenter at a party or a barbie, mate!
Fosters beer (Australian) is one of the biggest selling beers in the UK.
Last word from my Aussie mate, James: If my Sheila's drinking an NA beer stubbie at a barbie, mate, she's out!
What do Joeusers think?