Non-alcoholic Guinness sounds intriguing, right? Non-alcoholic beer has developed into a fascinating segment of the beer market; a non-alcoholic version of the most renowned dry Irish stout in the world is definitely met with some… ok a lot, of skepticism.
At the end of October 2020, Guinness 0.0 was briefly on the market before being recalled for “microbiological contamination” concerns of moldy beer. Given that conventional beer contains alcohol, which helps to prevent such biological nastiness, this could present a risk for many non-alcoholic beers.
Guinness 0.0 was soft-relaunched at the end of August 2021. Then, Guinness 0.0 received oddly divisive reviews.
The Ingredients
Water, barley, and hops are among the ingredients, along with a few unusual ones. One of them is the nebulously defined “natural flavorings.” Another is the natural sugar fructose.
Nitrogen is the last component. This, together with the plastic “widget” you can hear rattling around the empty can, stirs the beer during opening and pouring and produces Guinness’s well-known surge and settling effect.
Although Guinness 0.0’s ingredients list excludes all animal products, it is not specified on the label if it is suitable for vegans. Animal products could be used in the packaging.
There is no gluten-free or gluten-reduced Guinness 0.0.
Nutritional Information
Guinness 0.0 is healthier than many other alcohol-free beers since it has fewer calories, carbs, and sugar. The table sourced from Free Beer shows the nutritional information of the drink.
|
ABV |
0.05% |
|
Energy |
17 kcal |
|
Fat |
0g |
|
Carbs |
3.8g |
|
Sugar |
0.7g |
|
Protein |
0.3g |
How It’s Made
To remove the alcohol from their beer, the brewer employs a process they call “cold filtration,” which refers to a reverse osmosis system in which the liquid is forced through an incredibly fine filter, leaving the flavoring compounds on one side and the alcohol/water mixture on the other. The residual water is then reintroduced back to the drink after the alcohol has been distilled out.
The Taste
Upon opening the can, the brew begins to make the infamous “pschhttt” sound as the nitrogen in the widget begins to work. The beer pours into the glass with a smooth, creamy appearance before becoming deep, nearly black, crimson.
Upon sipping my Guinness 0.0, the creamy topping remains and leaves plenty of lacing. The pour is exactly the same as the full ABV stuff. But, it settles a little bit faster. No matter.
Dark roasted grains dominate the scent, which perfectly matches Guinness. Notes of coffee and dark chocolate are barely detectable.
The nitrogen in the beer gives it a creamy texture, and the mild carbonation adds to the superb body. The beer is slightly less fattening than its full-fat big brother, but not significantly. The drink finishes with a brief harsh, barely sweet aftertaste.
In short, we loved it. It’s the most authentic flavor to its alcoholic, older sibling.
Comparing Guinness 0.0 to Guinness Draught
To give you a full idea of how Guinness 0.0 differs from its alcoholic counterpart, this section of the article will outline the differences between the two.
Full-strength Guinness has a stronger coffee fragrance, whereas 0.0 has a stronger fruit flavor. You can certainly taste the alcohol in the full-strength version when they are side by side. It also has a little fuller body thanks to the alcohol.
Irish stout Guinness made its debut in 1759 and over the years has established itself as an iconic brand thanks to both its excellent and innovative marketing strategies as well as the high quality of its product.
Due to the roasted malt used, stouts are often dark in color. They come in dry, oatmeal, milk, and imperial varieties.
The truth is that a lot of alcohol-free beer really isn’t that great. You will adore 0.0 if you enjoy drinking Guinness. We have a list of good non-alcoholic beers to try here at our N/A Beer Calories Comparison blog if you’re observing your health.
Additionally, you might want to read this if you’re wondering whether non-alcoholic beer makes you fat.
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Non-Alcoholic Guinness FAQs
What does non-alcoholic Guinness taste like?
Upon sipping the drink, the creamy topping remains and leaves plenty of lacing. The pour is exactly the same as the full ABV stuff. However, it settles a little bit faster.
Dark roasted grains dominate the scent, which perfectly matches Guinness. Notes of coffee and dark chocolate are barely detectable.
Is Guinness 0.0 completely alcohol-free?
Yes, Guinness 0.0 is alcohol-free. To remove the alcohol from their beer, the brewer employs a process they call “cold filtration,” which refers to a reverse osmosis system in which the liquid is forced through an incredibly fine filter, leaving the flavoring compounds on one side and the alcohol/water mixture on the other.
Can you drive after drinking Guinness zero?
Even though they typically contain 0.5% alcohol by volume, they’re still a safe alternative to ordinary beers if you’re driving, pregnant, or simply don’t drink.
Is Guinness 0.0 high in sugar?
Guinness 0.0 is healthier than many other alcohol-free beers since it has fewer calories, carbs, and sugar.
It only has 0.7g of sugar.
Is there caffeine in Guinness zero?
Water, barley, and hops are among the ingredients, along with a few unusual ones. One of them is the nebulously defined “natural flavorings.” Another is the natural sugar fructose. There’s no caffeine in Guinness 0.0.