Keep Your Resolution, Enjoy a Tasty Near Beer
At this time of year, it’s customary to make an effort to improve oneself. Resolutions have a reputation of being fleeting, and hard to keep up, but the problem is often an over reaching attempt to change too much, too quickly. The best way to success may be to tackle these goals incrementally. After the season of Holiday parties and gatherings, many start the New Year by cutting back on alcohol consumption. The usual moderate intake of alcohol (8-12 drinks a week, not all at once) can be undone during the Holidays. In order to reduce alcohol consumption, but still enjoy a refreshing malt beverage, a non-alcoholic beer can fill the bill. If one’s goal is to cease all alcohol intake, NA beers may not be the way to go, as they do contain up to half a percent (0.5%) alcohol, but there are some tasty NA brews which can satisfy the taste buds while keeping reduced drinking resolutions intact.
Recent studies show that moderate alcohol intake is healthier than both over consumption and total abstinence. There are many NA choices, but basically it breaks down to lighter, easier drinking NAs made by some of the larger American breweries, and slightly heavier, fuller tasting NAs made by European breweries. Some good choices from the U.S. include Sharp’s and Coors NA, made by Miller Coors and Odoul’s, brewed by Anheuser Busch. These are brewed like regular beers, but have most of the alcohol removed, either by distillation or centrifuge. The resulting beers are lighter than their European NA cousins, but a nice middle ground is the O’Doul’s Amber, from Anheuser Busch. It’s brewed with some lightly roasted caramel malt, which gives it an attractive color and some malty sweetness.
The European NAs bring more flavor, but are typically higher priced. Some of the most popular are Kaliber, made by the brewers of Guinness (no, it’s not a dark beer), Buckler, from the Heineken brewery, and Clausthaller, from the German Binding Brewery. All of these are made to a European pilsner style, with more hop and malt flavors than the American brewed choices. Clausthaller also makes an NA Amber, made with roasted malt for an amber color and maltier flavor.
The first of the year brings football playoffs and Bowl games, but with a glass or 2 of an NA or near beer, one need not overturn the resolutions for a new you. Moderation after the Holidays is a great way to start the year. Cheers, and wishes for a healthy New Year.
