u/explorediscovershare

NA scene in Spain is amazing - tons of widely available tasty lagers and ales, from fancy restaurants to tiny beach bars (chiringuitos). Delicious, everywhere and cheap - trifecta!

Note of Interest: the 0.0s are popular but NA is defined as <1% (not <0.5%) in Spain. I was hesitant after some 2 years no alcohol, but had two (Mahou, Alhambra) that were <1% and felt nada. And Alhambra was a favorite!

Just sharing a few pics and notes from a recent trip (Barcelona region). Supermarket pics from Al Campo in Mataró. Cheers 🍻

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Moritz 0.0 Torrada (Barcelona)
Nice flavor, deeper caramel notes, light body with a clean finish (if a bit watery), very refreshing, reminded me of Shiner Bock for some reason
Poured in a glass has a nice dark brown color and very fluffy cream colored head

FreeDamm 0.0 Tostada (Barcelona)
Rich flavor and full body (for NA), classic tostada notes of caramel/honey, smooth finish no watery feel, loved the first half though the second half of the glass the sweetness/stickiness built a little

FreeDamm 0.0 Lager (Barcelona)
Similar full feel as the tostada with a bit less flavor but also less sweetness, more floral fruity notes to complement the malt character, nice!

Mica Intensa IPA (Burgos)
Wow, amazing aroma and flavor, hoppy pine citrus tropical fruit, very pale color, guessing unfiltered (noticeable particulates), lingering bitter finish, amazing beer!
Apparently Cerveza Mica is Spain’s first brewery to specialize in NA. They crushed it with this one!

Gastro IPA (Castile-La Mancha)
Crystal clear golden color, little head that runs away fast, low carbonation so a bit syrupy, citrus (orange) flavor, muted bitterness, not bad but a little lackluster (Mica way better!)

Mahou Sin (Madrid)
Nice body, full flavor, a floral/honey sweetness, solid (non watery) finish, does lean a bit sweet/syrupy
“Thanks to a controlled fermentation process, we manage to obtain a product with a minimum alcohol content, while still guaranteeing the taste of an authentic Mahou beer.”

I was a big fan of the dunkelweizen ABC released during Oktoberfest last year (alongside their typical, lighter festbier) and know others did too.

So just an FYI that it’s back, should be available on their website Aug 4. Cheers (Prost?) 🍻

This is what it’s all about! So I’m traveling through France with my daughter, wife and in-laws. I was warned on this sub that the French NA scene is lacking (especially after being in Spain)…

First night we eat out and I ask for an NA 1664 Blonde. Others order regular beer and are served ice cold in fancy glasses. Waiter brings me a bottle, pops it and sets it overflowing in front of me, promptly walking away as it foams on the table. It was room temp. Not a nice introduction 🤣. A couple more spots with no NA options at all…

Then we’re at a theme park (Vulcania) and eat at the cafeteria for lunch. I hesitate but order an NA beer (trying to just be grateful they have one). And I’m served the beauty pictured here, ice cold local craft beer brewed with regional grains (Auvergne) and a smooth full flavored fruity/floral taste and nice body, just fantastic! So local I could barely find who made it on the label. What a treat!

It’s a rollercoaster but there’s gems out there friends, keep exploring! Cheers 🍻

Website description (translated):

“Discover our unique non-alcoholic beer, crafted with at least 30% grains grown in the Auvernia region. This beer captures the authenticity and richness of Auvernia's volcanic soils, offering a natural and refined character.

Its bouquet reveals subtle notes of golden grains, with a light malty touch reminiscent of sun-drenched fields of wheat and barley. Refreshing and light, it retains all the aromatic complexity of a traditional beer, without the alcohol. Perfectly balanced, it can be enjoyed at any time of day, whether to accompany a meal or simply for a thirst-quenching moment of pleasure.”

Thrilled to see NA on the menu with American Airlines (ORD to BCN)! Free with dinner and complements both chicken and pasta 🤣. I’ll blame the pour in turbulence… Cheers 🍻

Heading to Europe to visit family and taking a road trip through France with my wife, daughter and in-laws (one Catalan, one Norman). Excited as always to explore and sample any local/regional na beers.

Any recommendations or good na spots?

Quick research shows some widely available big names (eg Kronenbourg, Leffe) and craft na options (eg, Pink Sun in Paris) and but wanted to reach out to this great community!

Itinerary looks like Issoire, Tours, Normandy (Saint-Cyr, Honfluer, Deauville, Lisieux), Niort, Pau, Carcassonne…

Thanks for sharing any experiences and insights!

Pic is my favorite na from a Germany trip, just for fun 😁

Cheers 🍻

This is world class, wow. And I saw posts about this being good but slept on it after checking their website ($17.99 per 4-pack, funky branding but not much about the beer/brewing process). My bad!

Beautiful pour, big aroma and brilliant taste: orange rind, citrus, lovely malt bill to match the hops, then a long clean pine hop linger. And stunning body - it’s like Self Care but without that background sweetness. Best IPA I’ve had, worth a splurge!

I got this at an amazing na bottle shop in Rochester NY (AltBar - go there if anywhere nearby!).

Cheers 🍻