GUINNESS ZERO
By GUINNESS BREWERY
Guinness Brewery is older than the United States, so you best believe they’ve mastered the art of making their beer enjoyable for us draught-loving teetotalers
Shawn: Guinness Brewery is easily the oldest supplier of non-alcoholic beer to my knowledge, having been founded in the year 1759 in Dublin, Ireland. I jest, mostly, but the world-famous brewery isn’t a stranger to non-alcoholic brews. Having tested the waters with a sweet, non-alcoholic drink called Malta Guinness in 1984 and their first <0.5 beverage in 1986 with Guinness Kaliber, Guinness has long been a friend to the non-drinking community. Hell, as of 2016 all Guinness beers are even vegan now!
Eric: Implying that they weren’t vegan before 2016?
Shawn: Before 2016, ‘Isinglass’ was used in the brewing process. Isinglass, for the uninformed, is a fish bladder product. The more you know!
Eric: Is…in…glass? Well, not anymore!
Shawn: Guinness Zero is a wonderful recreation of an Irish classic, faithfully recreated with the same foamy finish thanks to the nitrogen-infused mechanism inside every can. I like to cut open my cans to collect the plastic balls inside that give Guinness its trademark smooth texture, because they make great cat toys. For the drinker, the innovative cans make every sip taste like you’re enjoying the beer from a frosty pint glass instead of that tinny aluminum taste you get from drinking out of the can.
Eric: They call those little plastic balls widgets! Through the magic of depressurization they release nitrogen into the beer when the can is opened. But enough about science and balls…while it may taste great from a can, a pint of Guinness Zero pours beautifully into a glass and is the ideal way to get the pub experience at home.
Shawn: I like this beer a lot, and it’s one of my go-to alternatives to darker beers. It shines as a alcohol-free Guinness however, tasting exactly like it’s boozier variety. It’s silky smooth, super light for a dark beer, and incredibly tasty. Once called “a meal in a can”, this beer is filling, refreshing, and one of my favorite NA beers that is almost always readily available in my super-markets thanks to the Guinness Brand name.
Eric: Agreed, it stands out as being super authentic to the Guinness the world has come to know and love, and I love that a 4-pack will last multiple nights in my fridge thanks to just how filling one or two of these are. If you’re a fan of Guinness, this will not disappoint!
Our rating:
4.25/5
Shawn: 4.5/5
Eric: 4/5