Unbarred - Lowkey Pale Ale

Unbarred is a brewery and taproom based in Brighton. As well as their alcoholic beers they offer two non alcoholic ones: Coastin' West Coast IPA and this one - Lowkey Pale Ale. Both are vegan and 0.5% ABV. The ingredients listed on the 440 ml can are oats, barley, wheat and (unspecified) hops. Despite the grains listed, on their website the beer is listed as being gluten free, so I checked with Unbarred and they (very quickly!) responded with: "Our gluten-free beers are tested and contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten, however we leave it on the ingredients list as there are still traces and for allergens purposes. The beer is brewed using gluten products, but we then use certain brewing methods to then break down the gluten and remove it from the beer." On the nose Lowkey is very bright and zingy. The taste is mostly one of citrus but not in any way overpowering, simply very refreshing. At the forefront is grapefruit and lemon, whilst the mouthfeel is as lively as the aroma suggested. The finish has a real sharp smack to it. Not sure Lowkey is the best name for such a vibrant ale but maybe it's to lull you into a false sense of security! Very moreish.

5 / 5

Sierra Nevada - Trail Pass Golden Ale

The Trail Pass can declares the ale to be less than 0.5% ABV, has 90 calories and is vegan. Ingredients are not listed. The brewery is based in North Carolina and the majority of their beers are alcoholic ones. The aroma is quite hoppy and with some floral notes. However, tastewise this initial promise is not delivered. It is bland and rather characterless, with a rather odd "synthetic" taste. The mouthfeel is smooth and with moderate carbonation. The finish has a slight sweetness to it. Not a trail I'll be going along again.

1 / 5

Wiper and True - Low-alcohol Kaleidoscope Pale Ale

This 440ml can is the Bristol brewery's AF take on their flagship pale ale, with just 0.5% ABV. The recipe includes barley, wheat and oats as well as Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic hops. The beer is unfiltered and vegan. There is a bold aroma to this very lively brew - both floral and fruity. Very promising in fact. And the taste does not disappoint. Citrus and tropical fruits, a touch of sherbet and perfectly rounded out with resinous pine. The mouthfeel has a touch of zestiness and the finish has just the right amount of bite in its bitterness. It has won the Gold Medal at the 2024 World Alcohol-Free Awards as well as a 2024 Great Taste Awards star. And now it has just been (easily) awarded five stars from me. 

5 / 5

Huyghe - Delirio Blond

Apparently the earliest evidence of brewing at Melle, near Ghent in Belgium, is 1654 - according to the Huyghe brewery website. This blond beer has just 0.3% ABV and it arrives in a very distinctive 33cl bottle. Barley malt, oats, barley, hops and spices are ingredients listed on the label. The head disappears quite quickly when the beer is poured into the glass.The distinctive aroma of a Belgian blond beer is followed through into the taste - esters of ripe bananas and pears. The mouthfeel is soft and the finish has a slight touch of spice. Delirio is quite a sweet affair and overall I find this to be rather too sweet on the palate. 

2 / 5

Electric Bear / Below Brew Co - Unruly AF Pale Ale

Two breweries from the Bath region have teamed up to produce this 0.5% ABV pale ale. It is (as declared on the 440 ml can - complete with cool artwork) unruly, unfined and unfiltered. It's also vegan, but isn't GF. In with the malted barley, wheat and oats are Citra, Mosaic and Idaho 7 hops. A vigorous head is created upon pouring and it leaves plenty of lacework down the glass as one drinks it. The aroma is at once both floral and juicy. A delightful combination of flavours comes forward upon tasting - citrus (tangerine), stone fruit (apricot and papaya) and pine - and all carried by a smooth and soft mouthfeel. The slight sweetness of the ale is cut through by a finish that is both hoppy and bitter. Easily full marks, unruly or not.

5 / 5

Jump/Ship - Jackstaff IPA

This Scottish brew comes in a 330ml can, and is both GF and vegan whilst the declared alcohol content is less than 0.5% ABV. Mosaic and Centennial are the hop varieties listed, together with barley and oats. Upon pouring into the glass, Jackstaff creates virtually no head which is rather disappointing. The aroma though is a pleasantly floral one. Pine and tropical are the flavours to the fore with just a touch of citrus. As one might expect from the lack of head, the body lacks any real carbonation but the finish is smooth, rather peach-like. A good, solid IPA but let down somewhat by the lack of life in the body.

3 / 5

Gower Brewery - Zero IPA

"Packing all the taste and flavour of a regular IPA", it says on the  330ml bottle label so that's what I'll call this low alcohol beer from the Gower Brewery based in Swansea. The brewery produces several beers and this is their low alcohol offering (given as no more than 0.5% ABV). The beer is described as suitable for vegans and the ingredients listed are malted barley, hops and wheat. The main hop used is the Simcoe, although a grand total of 9 hops is utilised - from the US, the UK and New Zealand. It pours a rich bronze colour into the glass and the aroma is one of an inviting traditional pale ale. The taste is a very smooth one, a very easy to drink one. It is both resinous and hoppy, with the piney character blending well with stone fruits and a soft lemon sherbet undercurrent. Zero's mouthfeel is smooth and is not given to too much carbonation. The slightly clipped bitter finish rounds off a very enjoyable brew. 

4 / 5

Padstow Brewing - Crew Brew Hazy Pale Ale

This Cornish brewery produce both alcoholic beers and ciders, but also offer up this 0.5% ABV hazy pale ale. The company donate 10p to the Cornwall Air Ambulance from the sale of each 440ml can. The ingredients listed are barley, wheat and oats. It is a very lively beer upon dispensing and releases a prominent tangy grapefruit aroma. The taste is similarly citrussy - mostly grapefruit but also with some lemon and orange in the mix. Despite the billowing head the mouthfeel is gentle and it has modest carbonation on the tongue. With all the citrus characteristics, the finish is expectedly sharp. A refreshing brew and a worthy cause.

3 / 5

Chouffe

Chouffe comes in at 0.4% ABV and is produced by Brasserie D'Achouffe in Belgium, this being their first low alcohol beer. Barley malt, wheat malt, hops, spices and hop extracts are the ingredients listed on the distinctive 330 ml bottle. A large foamy head bursts into life as one pours the beer into a glass but it very quickly dissipates. There is very little aroma, maybe just a touch of breadiness. The taste is equally reticent; perhaps a hint of spice or the mildest of fruit, but not much more than that. It has a very thin and watery mouthfeel and soon loses any carbonation. Unsurprisingly the finish is as unmemorable. It's not unpleasant but it doesn't really tick any boxes for me. 

1 / 5

Brains - No Brainer IPA

Brains brewery hails from Cardiff and was established in 1882. This, an IPA, is their first foray into NOLO beers - coming in at 0.5% ABV. The ingredients listed on the 330ml can are given as malted barley, wheat and hops; although which three varieties of hop are utilised is not specified. A soft, wholewheat bread aroma kicks off proceedings. On the palate No Brainer has a biscuity, caramel and malty vibe going on and is all perfectly balanced. The taste is robust but not overpowering. The body is very smooth, whilst the finish allows a citrus bite to come through. Would I buy another one? That's a no brainer.

5 / 5

La Trappe - Nillis

"Authentic Trappist Produce" is declared on the traditional-looking label. This Dutch ale comes from the Koningshoeven Brewery, which is owned by the global company Royal Swinkels. It has 0.0% alcohol, comes in a 33cl bottle and the ingredients are listed as barley malt, hops and hop extract. When poured into the glass the beer creates a delightfully dense creamy head. On the nose it has a rich caramel aroma. Tastewise the sweetness continues, together with liquorice and dark fruit - think dates and soft figs. The body has a nicely rounded feel to it, whilst the finish manages to have a distinctly bitter edge to it. It has the character one expects of a Trappist beer - for sipping, not quaffing - but for me there is too great a level of sweetness in the taste to be a beer that I'd pray to have another.

3 / 5

Downton Brewery - Secret Sobriety

Downton Brewery was set up 20 years ago and is based in Wiltshire. The can declares Secret Sobriety as "a low alcohol beer" but the description pitches it as an IPA. It comes in a 330ml can and has an ABV of 0.5%. The ingredients are listed as Avon water, malted barley and hops. The latter are Willamette, Azacca and Celeia, but the first two have subsequently been swapped out for Styrian Dana and Wolf. The beer is golden coloured and creates a good head upon dispensing. On the nose it is seriously hoppy. The body is light and well-rounded and delivers a delicious and balanced range of flavours - at once floral, resinous, piney and a touch herbal. The strong hop character follows through into the finish. Hopefully the tweaked recipe will be as good as this, because this is the best IPA I've had in a good while. 

5 / 5