NA beer...

[ramdom]

I tried to find discussions of this sort, but wasn't very lucky.

I'm relatively inexperienced in terms of alcohol (about 4 years total, and one year of hard drinking--I no longer drink now and I'm 33). I'm even more inexperienced when it comes to beer (3 months total). But just before I stopped, I did (unfortunately?) discover the taste of good beers like Fat Tire, Mac and Jack's, Blue Moon Belgian Wheat Ale, Alaskan Amber, and other Belgian-style ambers. I am one of those people who can say "I'd love to drink good NA beer the rest of my life". Even though the taste of these beers are great, the effect of alcohol makes it not worth it for me to drink them (i.e., I want to be completely clearheaded all the time).

I find that O'Doul's Amber and Clausthaler Amber comes close, but I feel there's really a market for an NA beer that tastes good!

So I am contemplating making my own. But besides this, does anyone know of really high quality NA beer that would match your favourite beers, and where I can get it (online or in the NW)?

--Ram

[P-Train]

What a great post that I haven't had much thought on...!

Interested in hearing some good replies.

[fretlessman71]

I have heard good things about Erdinger NA Wheat beer, and the next time I go to the beer store I'll pick one up and let you know what I think. I've enjoyed Buckler and Haake Beck (someone bought them out, Beck's?) in the past, and I'll keep my eye out for anything else that's cool.

If you're up for it, you can actually brew good NA beer - someone on this board probably knows how to find the link to an article or two regarding just that. Welcome to the board, and keep us updated on what you find!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If beer could taste this good without alcohol, I'd drink little else. :)

[P-Train]

Speaking of which, when I was 18 I went to New Orleans with some friends that were already ‘of age’. I thought I was hot stuff being able to buy beer. So while my friends waited out on the side walk I went into a little ma and pa store near the French Quarter and took my time picking out a ‘good looking beer’ that I had never heard of.

I walked out head high and proud… on top of the world.

Then I hear some giggling that led to an all out roar of laughter. I’d bought an O'Doul's.

[shifty brewer]

I've heard that since ethanol will boil out of solution at a fairly low temp, heating the fermented wort to ethanols boiling temp will result in lowering the ETOH content of the brew. Of course this kills the yeast so you'll have to force carb. I think this was in an article in BYO. I'll check to make sure. This may result in off flavors though I'm not sure.

Anybody else?

[fretlessman71]

Maybe a good brewer would be able to prepare for those off-flavors in the brew... dunno.

[ramdom]

Please do let me know about the Erdinger Weissbeer. I'm unfortunately not able to find it online or near here. Buckler on one taste seemed okay. Haake Beck didn't do it for me. Here's my ranking of NA beers (subjectt o change):

9 - O'Doul's Amber
8 - Clausthaler Amber
6 - Heineken Buckler
6 - O'Doul's Premium
5 - Warsteiner
5 - Sharp's
3 - Bitburger Drive
3 - Clausthaler Classic (Premium)!
3 - Coors NA!
3 - Haake Beck!
3 - Kaliber!
3 - Paulaner ThomasBrau

Originally posted by fretlessman71
I have heard good things about Erdinger NA Wheat beer, and the next time I go to the beer store I'll pick one up and let you know what I think. I've enjoyed Buckler and Haake Beck (someone bought them out, Beck's?) in the past, and I'll keep my eye out for anything else that's cool.

If you're up for it, you can actually brew good NA beer - someone on this board probably knows how to find the link to an article or two regarding just that. Welcome to the board, and keep us updated on what you find!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: If beer could taste this good without alcohol, I'd drink little else. :)

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by shifty brewer
I've heard that since ethanol will boil out of solution at a fairly low temp, heating the fermented wort to ethanols boiling temp will result in lowering the ETOH content of the brew. Of course this kills the yeast so you'll have to force carb. I think this was in an article in BYO. I'll check to make sure. This may result in off flavors though I'm not sure.

Anybody else?

This is how most commercial NA beer is made. I've been reading up on distiliation, in case it ever becomes legal, and ethanol is actually the second substance to boil out, but the first is nasty stuff you shouldn't drink concentrated.

This site (http://homedistiller.org/static_menu.htm) is all about removing ethanol in order to keep the ethanol and throw away the rest. You should be able to use similar methods to separate the ethanol and keep the rest of the mash - maybe keep the distilled ethanol on the side, water it down and give a friend some vodka.

You could then prime as usual, add more yeast and carbonate as usual. The ethanol created in the conditioning process is irrelevant compared to what is removed.

WARNING - distilling is illegal in the US. When anti homebrewing and home wine making laws were repealed the and/or distilling got left out. Write your senator for change to this stupidity.

[HogieWan]

Originally posted by ramdom
3 - Paulaner ThomasBrau

I'd seen this on their website - would have expected Paulaner to make a better brew.

[ramdom]

People's tastes vary. Here are some alcoholic beers I used to enjoy:

9 - Alaskan Amber
9 - Alaskan Summer Ale
9 - Blue Moon Belgian Wheat Ale
9 - Fat Tire
9 - Mac and Jack's
7 - Elysian India Pale Ale
7 - Pyramid Hefeweizen
7 - Mirror Pond
5 - Guiness
3 - Michelob Ultra

Originally posted by HogieWan
I'd seen this on their website - would have expected Paulaner to make a better brew.

[newportstorm]

Looks like you've tried most of the top rated NA beers, but there might be one that escaped you:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/top_beers.php?id=5

BTW, why the switch to NA beers? There are plenty of sub 5%abv beers that can be enjoyed in moderation to keep a clear head. Milds, kolsches, etc. You'll be hard pressed to find a NA beer with the flavor and complexity of a beer with alcohol. Unless you live in New England, this one won't be available to you, but I've enjoyed it many times:

Hyland Farmhand Ale (http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/85/13554/)

Cheers!

[chazwicke]

I am like Fret. If I could find a great NA beer I would be happy. I prefer milds and I think that may be one of the reasons I prefer English cask session beers. They are designed to be able to drink many with out getting trashed. I do enjoy an occasional slight alcohol effect but a good 3.8% beer would be a welcome addition to my beer fridge.

[HogieWan]

ditto what chaz said, except that I can't get any cask ale or good milds - I'll have to brew them myself. My next batch (and first batch after gettting hitched in a month) will be a mild.

[ramdom]

The problem is "enjoyed in moderation". I can drink about 5 NA beers in one day (along with several cans of coke). Five 4% beers in one day would translate to almost 4 alcoholic drinks a day which definitely would have an impact on all parts of my body and mind.

Thanks for the top beers listing! I didn't know there was an easy to find that list. Now I just need to find the damn beers! While I can order Clausthaler Amber over the Internet, it costs almost $2/bottle.

--Ram

Originally posted by newportstorm
Looks like you've tried most of the top rated NA beers, but there might be one that escaped you:

http://www.beeradvocate.com/top_beers.php?id=5

BTW, why the switch to NA beers? There are plenty of sub 5%abv beers that can be enjoyed in moderation to keep a clear head. Milds, kolsches, etc. You'll be hard pressed to find a NA beer with the flavor and complexity of a beer with alcohol. Unless you live in New England, this one won't be available to you, but I've enjoyed it many times:

Hyland Farmhand Ale (http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/85/13554/)

Cheers!

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by ramdom
The problem is "enjoyed in moderation". I can drink about 5 NA beers in one day (along with several cans of coke). Five 4% beers in one day would translate to almost 4 alcoholic drinks a day which definitely would have an impact on all parts of my body and mind.

Quality over quantity. Yes, 5 beers a day, every day probably isn't the best idea. I'd be more concerned with the "several cans of coke", though. Absolutely no nutrition there and no positive health effects. Both nutrition & health benefits can be found in beer. Whatever you decide, enjoy!

Cheers!

[fretlessman71]

I've just had the Erdinger Hefeweizen (standard variety), so now I have a basis for comparison when I try the NA version. Not a huuuuge fan of hefes or wheats, but this one was very refreshing and tasty, and pretty easy going down. Many wheats are a little too tart for me, this was not the case this time. I'd buy it again in a heartbeat! (Of course, Tabernash is local and cheaper, and just as good...)

Hope the NA variety compares well... or at least is able to stand on its own merits. I'll know soon enough!

[chazwicke]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Not a huuuuge fan of hefes or wheats,

Gumballhead? ;)

[fretlessman71]

Well, of course, Gumballhead is one of my faves, but it's one of a select few wheats that I really enjoy. What can I say? I'm still a porter fiend at heart. :)

[chazwicke]

I agree about Gumballhead. It does not really fit neatly into most peoples concept of a wheat beer. I think it fits more closely into the Pale Ale style.

[unkle bik]

Gumball is pretty decent, and like chazwicke said, it really fits into a pale ale category. I really didn't know it was a wheat until I read it here. I just thought it was cloudy because it was bottle conditioned.

I did think it was overpriced (5.79), though. I have had better, for less. (Ruination = 3.79)

[chazwicke]

I have no idea what it goes for here. The bottles I drank were all last summer and a couple I had stashed in the fridge. FFF beers seem to come here in waves. A batch of this and a batch of that. I just know I love those Amarillo hops. Anyone seeing Gumballhead in the stores? I know Wort is looking for some.

[fretlessman71]

Okay... I've poured the Erdinger NA Hefeweizen into a tall glass, and the head is PERFECT. Lacing wonderful, beer is a light amber hue just as cloudy as you'd want. The only bad part is that I decided to pour the whole bottle in at once, and at the bottom of the bottle is some brown sediment that is now floating all throughout my beer. Never seen this before. Aroma is very familiar to anyone who has ever had a high-end NA beer; unfermented malt comes right out. Not a bad thing; just never really experienced that in a properly fermented brew. Taste is sharp and mellow all at the same time (wonder if I ought to buy a 2nd bottle and be more careful with the pour). Very sweet and refreshing at the same time. Other than the NA vibe that all of them seem to have, this really tastes like a decent brew. It looks good, it smells good, but I don't know if I'd step over my own mother to get one, Homer Simpson. ;)

This was a 16.9oz bottle (500ml) that went for $1.99 at my liquor store. Do believe I'll be buying it again (especially if it goes on sale!).

[unkle bik]

Originally posted by chazwicke
. A batch of this and a batch of that. I just know I love those Amarillo hops. Anyone seeing Gumballhead in the stores? I know Wort is looking for some.
I see it everyday at the local Acme-Click (5.79)
For that price, they can keep it. Amarillo hops or not.

BTW, my experience with NA beers is they all have a cereal taste to them. Alcohol DOES add some flavor.

[HogieWan]

I like this thread - Thanks for the review, fret. A good NA beer makes it easy to accept a DD role.

[ramdom]

So any suggestions on where some of these beers (especially the Erdinger and the Point Nine) can be gotten online?

I also tried the Jupiler NA (straight from Belgium)! Not too impressed with it.. but the problem is that I only like the amber ale style. If you like O'Doul's Premium (not Amber), then you would like this too. Unfortunately shipping costs from Belgium are prohibitive.

--Ram

[newportstorm]

Originally posted by ramdom
So any suggestions on where some of these beers (especially the Erdinger and the Point Nine) can be gotten online?

I also tried the Jupiler NA (straight from Belgium)! Not too impressed with it.. but the problem is that I only like the amber ale style.

Locating any brew would be easier if we knew your location. Some local board members might know exactly where you could find some.

And only NA amber ales? At least you're not limiting yourself. The NA market isn't a huge one - your choices will reflect that.

Cheers!

[Robo]

Back to the Gumballhead. $5.79 is a bargain; it's an even $6 at its point of origin in Munster, IN. Just visited there this past weekend. Three Floyds is sort of like brewing in a very large garage with a funky bar in one corner. It's hard to beat Gumballhead on tap at the source!

[ramdom]

I'm in Seattle, WA. Thanks!

I'll try anything, but I can only drink what tastes good to me. Since I've found a couple I do like, I'm not giving up until I've exhausted all my options. :/

--Ram

Originally posted by newportstorm
Locating any brew would be easier if we knew your location. Some local board members might know exactly where you could find some.

And only NA amber ales? At least you're not limiting yourself. The NA market isn't a huge one - your choices will reflect that.

Cheers!

[Grog]

Have you already checked some of the more highfalutin groceries (like any of the Thriftways). The Admiral TW in W. Seattle always seems to have a good selection of beer, but I never pay attention to the NA section. The other thing you could do is talk to the guys at Bottleworks on Wallingford and see if they can get a hold of some of the stuff you are looking for (great guys, but if you do order something you will have to call them to see if your shipment has arrived).

If you really want culture shock visit both places in the same day :D !

[unkle bik]

Originally posted by Robo
Back to the Gumballhead. $5.79 is a bargain;
You must be in a different tax bracket than me, then.