In a world where health-conscious choices and mindful living are becoming increasingly important, the realm of beverages is undergoing a remarkable transformation. Gone are the days when non-alcoholic options were limited to sugary sodas or bland sparkling waters.
Today, alcohol-free beer boasts a diverse range of flavours, aromas, and profiles that can rival their alcoholic counterparts. But how do you go about enjoying alcohol-free beer to its fullest potential? Can it truly deliver a satisfying experience minus the alcohol content?
The answer is a very firm yes, and in this guide Wise Bartender has broken down exactly how to savour the hoppy beverage sip by sip.
Selecting the right glass
You might not think that the glass from which you drink beer matters, but the shape of beer glasses impacts every aspect of the experience. Beer glasses can impact carbonation, temperature and the strength of aromas in your chosen beer, so it is vital to select the correct one in order to truly amplify its impact.
Choosing your glass can feel overwhelming, but individual glasses are tailored specifically to beer types, so you only need to know which beer you’re drinking.
1. Pint Glass
Pint glasses are a staple of British pub culture and are used as the main serving vessel for any beer should you order it out and about, whether at a bar, restaurant or bowling alley however their classic tapered shape is designed to elevate the aromas of punchy beers like stouts, ales and porters.
You could also enjoy a nice IPA or lager from a pint glass because it acts as a good all-rounder.
2. Stein
Steins are often thought of as medieval, ornamental objects to drink from. You may be picturing a leather tankard at a drinking hall, filled with the finest mead, but a glass stein is still one of the best ways to enjoy a pint of beer. The thick material is designed to keep beer cooler for longer, and the handle prevents your hands from warming the cherished liquid inside.
Steins are generally thought of to be suitable for any type of beer - and let’s not forget that they’re very comforting to hold.
3. Beer mug
Beer mugs are similar to the classic stein and more commonly used in unique establishments with a trendy edge. Like the stein, they are suitable for enjoying most beers as standard, but won’t allow you the full experience intended by the brewery.
Their primary purpose is to give you a full appreciation for the colour and clarity of your beer and are therefore more suited to ales, lagers and dry stouts.
4. Weizen glass
Weizen glasses are identifiable by the curvature in their shape, larger at the top and slimmer at the bottom and often mistaken for pilsner glasses. The style of this glass allows the foam to sit more prominently on the surface because it holds more than a pint, and is ideal for wheat beers and wheat ales.
5. Pilsner glass
Pilsner glasses are known for their slim shape. Like pint glasses, they are broader at the top and taper downwards, designed to enhance the carbonation, colour and clarity of the beer. They are also a common standard shape for pubs to serve any beer in because of their tendency to suit highly carbonated varieties.
As the name suggests, pilsner glasses are designed to hold a pilsner due to its enhancement of the aromas, but you could also get away with serving a strong lager or blonde ale. For the appearance, any beer with good clarity would look excellent in a pilsner glass.
6. Goblet/Chalice
It might sound arthurian but never underestimate the power of a goblet or chalice when serving a high ABV beer. These stemmed glasses have a wide head and mouth and, despite most believing their origin lies in English taverns, they beautifully show off the subtleties of Germanic and Belgian beers.
7. Tulips and Thistles
Tulip and thistle glasses are a smaller variant of the goblet/chalice design, boasting a bulbous bowl with a tapered top. These are a fantastic funnel for craft beers that are distinctly direct with their malty flavour, their shape is made for swirling.
8. Tasting and Sampler glasses
Tasting glasses are available in a range of sizes, shapes and styles and do what they say on the tin: give you the opportunity to taste a range of beers before settling on your favourites. These smaller versions of the full-sized glasses are designed to give you the same tasting experience as a full glass, and can be a fun way for you and your friends to sample a crate of alcohol-free beer from home without needing to spend a fortune on bottles.
Try Wise Bartender’s mixed Beer Packs with your buddies and delight in the vast wonder of alcohol-free beer together.
How to pour alcohol-free beer
If you pour a pint of beer wrong then you risk losing carbonation, experiencing too much or too little head/foam, or it just doesn’t have the same satisfying tanginess as when you ordered it at your local.
1. Choose your glass:
Now you’re a verified connoisseur in the art of selecting the right glass for your beer of choice, you should already have it ready and waiting.
2. Get your beer to the right temperature:
Different types of beer will taste better served at different temperatures. Take a look at the below section to find the best serving temp for your drink.
3. Pour the beer:
- Tip your glass to a 45 degree angle
- Slowly pour the beer, making sure it hits the side of the glass rather than the bottom
- When the glass is halfway full, return it to an upright position and continue to pour slowly
- This should achieve the correct amount of head
- Leave it to settle for a few minutes
- Enjoy your beer
Serving temperature for alcohol-free beer
In the same way that red and white wine should be served at differing temperatures to bring out the best flavours in each, different beers will taste better when served at specific temperatures.
Your home is probably only equipped with a fridge and room temperature kitchen and luckily these can provide the perfect starter for achieving that sweet spot of crispness.
Pale lagers and pilsners - 3-7°C
IPAs and American Pale Ales - 7-10°C
Real Ales - 10-12°C
Stouts and Porters - 11-13°C
Whilst this is a general rule of thumb, it is always worth checking the drinking recommendations of the individual beer if unsure.
Common beer drinking mistakes
Advice for drinking alcohol-free beer may differ over the great wide web, but there are a few basic mistakes you should avoid across the board:
1. Frosting your glass
Frozen glasses might seem like the best way to keep your beer cool as you drink it, but chilled glasses can destroy the carbonation and produce ice crystals that lead to foaming. It has also been documented that drinking frozen or extremely chilled can numb your taste buds and spoil the drinking experience.
Instead, serve beer at room temperature or slightly chilled.
2. Storing it incorrectly
Storing beer in warm environments for extended periods of time will cause it to go off fairly quickly. Keeping your beer stored in the fridge or at room temperature rather than in a warm, stuffy cupboard will extend its shelf life and avoid those ‘off flavours’ that come hand in hand with aged beer.
Because most alcohol-free beer still goes through the process of fermentation, this phenomenon still applies, despite the lower alcohol content.
3. Neglecting beer aromas
The aromas of beer go hand in hand with the flavour and contribute heavily to the tasting experience, so releasing them shouldn’t be neglected. There are many things you can do to fully benefit from the malty, hoppy smells that enhance the taste:
- Pour the beer correctly: Aromas are released when bubbles in the beer escape through the foam head. If you don’t achieve the ideal 1-inch thick crown, you risk trapping the wonderful hoppy scent.
- Choose the right glass: As discussed above, beer glasses are designed to enhance the aromas through the size of the opening and the shape of the bowl.
4. Drinking beer alone
Don’t get us wrong, a nice alcohol-free beer with your meal can be a delightful thing, but nothing compares to sharing the experience with your closest friends. Because, after all, the best way to drink beer is with company.
If you’re seeking a new favourite alcohol-free beer then Wise Bartender has just the selection for you. From appetising Ales & Stouts and creative Craft Beers to Fruit Beers and Aromatic Table Beer, you have a plethora of options to choose from. So what are you waiting for? Get sipping to discover the world wide wonders that AF breweries have to offer.
