The quest to find a good non-alcoholic beer now arrives at the doorstep of Guinness. Yes, the producers of the world's best Irish stout and one of the worst IPAs I've ever had have decided to further dilute their brand by going further down market to a beer that isn't a beer at all, but it's supposed to be a version of the beer they do best. Can they get there?
The can has the nitrogen widget and it produces a reverse cascade! If only their bottle version still performed this well! The presentation is immediately nearly identical to real Guinness, but it's significantly thinner - to the point that sunlight streaks right on through the center of the beer to show the ruby color. The tan head of dense nitrogen bubbles is exactly what I want, and it has the staying power of the real thing. Yes, the aroma is that smoky-sweet malt that I love so much. They might have cracked this code!First sip is pretty darn close to the real thing. It lacks the heft of a proper Guinness, but it has the flavor just about right, aside from a finish that just seems a bit off. Honestly, I'm just about as pleased as a human can be about how good this is going so far. A 60-calorie, alcohol free Guinness is exactly what I need when I am out and about and will need to drive home later. I can't wait for a full gulp.
Tip-in is thin and creamy with sweet malt bringing some smoke and earth to a touch of wood. The middle sprawls into the middle I wanted, but turned to about 5 instead of 10 - it's watery. I don't know how a thick stout can be watery, but this is it. The finish is a let-down with bitterness and water leaving the drink without a proper finish.
If you're a fan of Guinness, and you have tasted the difference between a properly poured pint and a poorly poured pint, this tastes more like the poorly poured pint. That said, it still tastes very pleasingly like Guinness.
Bottom Line: Hands-down the best NA I've ever had.
2.5/5