Near(ly)-beer talk

[ironhat]

Some of us have sworn off of alcohol for one reason or another and I'm wondering what others have found that fits the bill. Personally, I liked the Molson NA products but they have stopped production. Currently, I'm drinking Old Milwaukee in bottles. I've tried O'Doules but that was pretty poor fare. So, what have you found that's satisfying?

[Hellrazor]

I'd sooner drink something with caffiene over beer.

[cbrown]

My recollection is that Becks NA is decent.

--Chris

[Hoover]

Millers distributes a near beer called Sharp's. I still like my beer with alcohol!!

[ironhat]

I'd sooner drink something with caffiene over beer.

If you combine them you'd have Drew Carey's, 'Buzz Beer'!

[docrowan]

I like the O'Doul's, that's what I keep in the fridge for those Saturday evening cool downs after a lot of yard work. My sister got me some Beck's NA for a party and it was good, too. I don't like the Sharp's too much. I should say I gave up alcohol better than 5 years ago, and it was 2 years before I tried my first O'Doul's. I suspect if you go straight from drinking regular to an NA, you won't be satisfied.

As for NA wine, I can't say I've found any that I could stand, plus it's pretty expensive. It's hard to spend about 5 dollars for a glass of grape juice that tastes like it's gone bad.

[ironhat]

I should note that the local beer distributor has a few other import NAs but the price is prohibitive. If anyone has noted an appreciable improvement in one of these I'd appreciate a heads up. And Chris, I suspect that you're right about the need for some abstinance between switching over. I slipped one of mine to a friend a couple of years ago and he almost blew it out. He's quite the actor anyway but he didn't know that I was pulling a quick one on him.

[Rand]

You might want to check out:
http://beeradvocate.com/beer/style/5

[docrowan]

Another thing I noticed about the NA beer, I often don't quite finish a whole one and I never drink more than two even when I'm barbequeing. It's not that I don't like them because I really do enjoy them, but you start thinking about the calories when you're not getting a buzz on. Besides, drinking less beer frees up money to spend on new tools.

[cabinetman]

It's either the real thing or nothing for me. My regular daily fluids are water, infused OJ. And lotsa coffee.
.

[dkerfoot]

I quit drinking about 7 years ago. I also waited a couple years before trying NA beer. Prior to quitting, I was a serious homebrewer, and am quite fond of both malt and hops.

I like the following:

St. Pauli NA
Clausthaler
Haake Beck
Kaliber
Paulaner ThomasBrau

The first three are hoppier if you like that. The last two are maltier. I would be happy indeed if I could find one that balances both as well as my favorite beer: Fuller's ESB. If they would hop-up Kaliber a bit, it would be very, very good.

Good NA Beers are pricey, so I buy them fairly rarely. But, when I do, they tend to last longer than their alcoholic brethren used to.

I also find that if I take a break 1/2 way through mowing the lawn and drink an NA beer, I actually finish mowing the lawn afterward. For some reason, that usually didn't happen in the old days.

[Santa Clarita Len]

I like Bruckers, it's imported from Holland.

[dkerfoot]

I like Bruckers, it's imported from Holland.

Do you mean Buckler perhaps?

[Ed62]

So, what have you found that's satisfying?

No more alcohol for me, as I can't handle it well. My most satisfying drink now is milk! And that's the truth. One beer would probably put me under the table.

Ed