Are you thinking of Dry January? After all the excess of Christmas and New Year, there’s plenty of reasons why many of us will be thinking it’s a good idea to have a month away from the sauce. Over the past decade, the initiative has grown in popularity with over 130,000 people signing up to take part with charity Alcohol Change UK in 2022, and evidence is emerging that Dry January is an effective way to change alcohol habits for those of us who take the dry plunge.
I spent 100 days teetotal last year (on a side note, I lost 23 pounds and felt much fitter), so I feel I have a good grasp on what many of those thousands of people will be feeling as they struggle through January. Giving up alcohol is hard, the temptation is everywhere and as human beings we’re very social animals who – more often than not – like to have a relaxing tipple when we meet up with friends. Depriving ourselves of the things we love is never much fun, but the pay offs can be worth it.
READ MORE: ‘I stopped drinking and lost 23 pounds – I saw a change after just 4 weeks’
One thing that can help is finding healthy alternatives to our usual drink fixes. This week, I’ll review six non-alcoholic beers available in supermarkets that, if you’re a beer lover like me, might just help you get through Dry January….
Heineken Zero – 330ml
Heineken Zero is the boss in my book, my go-to whenever drinking in the house
(Image: Stewart Carr)
Drinkers often twist their face at the thought of non-alcoholic lager, but it’s surprising how close to the real thing some of them taste. Heineken Zero is the boss in my book, my go-to whenever drinking in the house – it’s light and refreshing and it has a satisfying, fully-rounded golden taste. Ever since I returned to drinking, I still buy this from the supermarket – ideal for quiet nights in or for between drinks to pace myself during a party.
4/5
Becks Blue – 330ml
Becks Blue is a very harsh-tasting aperitif – it has a strong, almost soapy aroma
(Image: Stewart Carr)
The familiar sight in most pubs whenever we go for a non-alcoholic drink, I usually feel completely dismayed when I see Becks Blue. It’s a very harsh-tasting aperitif – it has a strong, almost soapy aroma that doesn’t make me want to go any further. And putting it to my lips – the dishwater soapiness is replicated in the taste – it’s not a pleasant drink at all. If Heineken Zero is the gold standard, then this is the one to avoid.
1/5
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Ghost Ship pale ale – 500ml
Ghost Ship pale ale has an enticingly fruity, earthy aroma and a hoppy taste
(Image: Stewart Carr)
Now, whenever I see Ghost Ship stacked in the fridge behind a bar – I think, “This is a venue that has good taste!” At 500ml, this is comfortably closer to pint size and this 0.5% ABV pale ale is also low alcohol enough for me to enjoy during my periods of abstinence. It has an enticingly fruity, earthy aroma and a hoppy taste that’s as good as any BrewDog beer. For anyone struggling to think of what beers to try during Dry January, I’d heartily recommend giving this one a go.
4/5
Erdinger wheat beer – 500ml
Erdinger is a hoppy, full-bodied wheat beer with hints of caramel and a tangy upper palate
(Image: Stewart Carr)
Another 0.5% ABV bevy, Erdinger’s alcohol free wheat beer was a revelation to me when I stopped drinking alcohol. Just pouring this malted beer into a glass and you can appreciate the swirl of its gorgeous golden hue and creamy head. The aroma is sweet and honeyed, but even that is no match for the taste. This is a hoppy, full-bodied wheat beer with hints of caramel, spices and a tangy upper palate. Again, even now that I’ve returned to drinking – I still regularly treat myself to this.
5/5
Lucky Saint unfiltered lager – 330ml
Lucky Saints is a subtle, inoffensive drink, I feel it could be stronger
(Image: Stewart Carr)
I’ve only tasted Lucky Saint once or twice in pubs, but I’m always pleased to see it as one of the few non-alcoholic lagers on draft. Pouring it at home, I can see this is a cloudy lager with a citrussy fragrance that promises to yield more. But the taste is surprisingly different. It’s got a very savoury, wheat flavour – no such fruitiness as the aroma might suggest. It’s a subtle, inoffensive drink, I feel it could be stronger but it’s by no means bad. Perhaps a palate cleanser between bevvies.
3/5
Days alcohol-free lager – 330ml
Days alcohol-free lager is an odd-tasting beverage with a distinctly Marmite flavour
(Image: Stewart Carr)
I feel I’ve been quite tepid in this week’s product comparison. So far, there’s been no alcohol-free drink that I absolutely loathe – but that’s about to change. Days 0.0% ABV lager is a newcomer on the scene and it’s one of the few drinks that makes me wince with displeasure. I’m an eternal optimist but sometimes you just hit a wall with a drink that just doesn’t taste good. Days lager is like Marmite but not in a love-it-or-hate-it way. That’s right, it really does taste like Marmite….
0/5
And the winner is…
Of course, I have to say Erdinger! For all the tasty reasons I outline above! But I’ll add a clause that fruity and delicious as it is – there’s only so much Erdinger I could neck back before switching to something less busy on my taste buds. For regular drinking at home when keeping off the booze, I’d recommend Heineken Zero as a solid choice.
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