Beer ReviewNon-Alcoholic LagerBest Non Alcoholic Lager Review

I compared 8 different non-alcoholic lager beers side by side and for aroma, taste and mouthfeel! Below is the table with my ranking, a summary and my main recommendation!

The best Non-Alcoholic Lager on the market for most people is going to be the Weihenstephaner Alcohol-Free Helles due to its balanced and crisp profile of malt, hops and lightly bitter finish. If you want a lager with a little more hops, you may want a different option from the list below.

The Best Traditional Non-Alcoholic Lager available will. for most people, be the Heineken Zero. This is due to it replicating the traditional Heineken taste, body and mouthfeel that makes it a hard one to tell apart from the traditional alcoholic version.

The Best hoppy Non-Alcoholic Lager available on the market for most people is going to be the James Squire Zero as it provides a base of traditional bready malts with floral hops in a way that is all brought by a mid-level body and classic relaxed yet active carbonation

Below are the rankings and rating of each of the lagers, to help guide you through the article and find your favourite one.

Beer Name	Rating
Weihenstephaner Alcohol Free Lager	Amazing
Heineken 0.0	Amazing
Coopers Birell Ultra Light	Amazing
James Squire Zero	Very Good
UpFlow Ultra Pale Lager	Very Good
Big Drop Uptown Craft Lager	Good
Peroni Libera Zero	Okay
Great Northern Zero	Okay
Uwe Pils	Okay

Lager taste is traditionally brewed with a taste profile that is entirely focused on highlighting the specific malts and hops in a clean, simple and smooth way that only cool and low-temperature fermentation can achieve.

I was surprised at how crisp, clean and pointed the flavours were in the overwhelming number of non-alcoholic lagers I tried. I found:

• The Heineken Zero did amazingly at replicating the traditional Heineken feel.
• The Weihenstephaner alcohol-free option was so vibrant and clean.
• They will all need to be enjoyed extremely cold to get the most out of them.

Let’s look at each of the non-alcoholic lagers below.

The Weihenstephaner has a traditional profile that is based around light caramel based malt with soft hops, an overall rich flavour and a vibrant and bright flavour profile.

Overall Rating: 9.5/10	Check the Price: Craft Zero
Read My Full Review: Weihenstephaner Review

The Coopers Birell Ultra Light is one of the most underrated non-alcoholic beer options out there, drink it ultra-cold, and you’ll be greeted to clean and full-bodied malty base, clean and crisp body and a bitter finish that ramps up almost after the mouthful is done.

Notwithstanding the crazy low price a 6-pack goes for, the flavour profile is next level and all the feedback I’ve been gathering is that it is absolutely great – a sentiment I share!

Chapeau Coopers. I’ll leave you to explore the insanely low price below

Overall Rating: 9/10	Check the Price:  Craft Zero
Check out the Review: Coopers Birell Ultra Light Review

If you’re a fan of Heineken Zero non-alcoholic lager you’re almost certain to enjoy the taste of the alcohol free option. Heineken Zero has a balanced aroma and taste profile that is built on a soft malty backbone. You’re able to both smell and taste some malty sweetness and notes of fruity hops that are (in my experience) linked to peach and papaya.

Overall Rating: 9/10	Check the Price:  Craft Zero AU/NZ | Amazon AU | Amazon USA | Dry Drinker UK
Read the full review: Heineken Zero Review

The Peroni Zero has a base of sweet caramel and toffee based malts with fruity and floral hops that sees the flavours come through cleanest when it is taken straight out of the freezer and super cold.

The Peroni 0.0 is crafted to sit separate and distinct in the Peroni range and it has its own flavour profile. I would not expect the traditional Peroni of full-bodied and full weighted round flavour. The more I drink this the more I find it is bright yet increasingly sweet when compared to other options palate.

Update: Much like the Great Northern Zero, with other options coming into the mix, the Peroni comes out a little too sweet and gets a pretty heavy downgrade to 6.5 as of December 2021/January 2022.

Overall Rating: 6.5/10	Check the Price: Craft Zero | Amazon AU | Dry Drinker UK
Read More about Peroni Here: Peroni Review

The Uplfow Ultra Pale Lager brings fruity and tropical notes with hints of wheat that help round the profile. Each glass will give you a balance between vibrant hoppy notes and a malty lager base. While a great tasting beer and not a traditional lager, I still think it deserves a look in as a more flavourful option!

Update: While not strictly in the category I love this beer and am resiting my strong urge to bump it up to a 7.5 reflect the vibrant and fresh vibe you get in each glass, but just know that it is a great option! 

Overall Rating: 7/10	Check the Price: Craft Zero | Amazon AU
Read My Full Review Here: Upflow Ultra Pale Lager Review

James Squire Zero is one of the best selling non-alcoholic lagers in Australia and has a flavour profile bready, grainy malt base with a good amount of floral hops to brighten things up. The flavour profile reminds me of Australian beers such as the premium options from Cascade or James Boag.

Overall Rating: 7.75/10	Check the Price:  Craft Zero
Read My Full Review: James Squire Zero Review

Big Drop Lager is a lighter, fruiter and sweeter ‘craft’ styled lager. Talking to Rob Fink, CEO of Big Drop Recently on the Podcast (listen to that here) he mentioned the Big Drop Craft Lager is designed to be a sessionable beer that is light and fresh.

In this lager, you can expect to find a light craft styled lager with a sweet malty base that is balanced by floral hops. Overall a lighter and craft approach to non-alcoholic lager.

Overall Rating: 7/10	Check the Price: Craft Zero | Dry Drinker UK
Read My Full Review Here: Big Drop Craft Lager Review

The Great Northern Zero taste is built upon a base of bready malts with a hint of sweetness and is somewhat balanced with some fruity and floral hops. While the hops go a way to balancing the sweetness, it is still likely to be present unless this is super cold and taken straight from the freezer to your glass.

Update: As more and more great non-alcoholic lager options hit the market, this one gets a slight downgrade to a 6 .

Overall Rating: 6/10	Check the Price: Craft Zero
Read My Full Review: Great Northern Zero Review

The Uwe non-alcoholic Pils is an interesting one, it straddles between being ‘too sweet’ and malty. The more I drink it the more I lean towards it being heavy on sweetness due to its heavy presence of caramel malt notes.

Interestingly, in some bottles I picked up the level of malty sweetness was offset well by the hoppy and herbal notes that then led to a crisp and clean finish.

Update: Due to the variability, in the latest December 2021/January 2022 update this gets a downgrade from me.

Overall Rating: 6.5/10	Check the Price:  Craft Zero
Check out the review: Uwe Pils Review

Weihenstephaner has created a rich and vibrant beer with a mouthfeel that has a light body and active carbonation. This was quite an enjoyable beer to drink from a mouthfeel perspective as it was full of excitable carbonation, however, that is also the only drawback I have with this beer. At times you might find the carbonation rather strong.

Drinkability Rating: Would drink again	Check the Price: Craft Zero
Read My Full Review: Weihenstephaner Review

While the mouthfeel and overall feeling of the Coopers Birell Ultra Light goes straight past the James Squire, it comes close and even draws level with the Weihenstephaner. It gives you a ‘full beer’y beer’ vibe and a mid-weighted body that helps carry the flavour profile right through the mouthful.

Highly recommended.

Drinkability Rating: 100% would drink again	Check the Price: Craft Zero
Read My Full Review: Coopers Birell Ultra Light Review

The alcohol-free Heineken Zero is built to replicate the traditional beer. The mouthfeel is no different with its more round and soft than sharp and hard profile you’re going to find a balanced and full mouthfeel from the Heineken.

If you’re a fan of Heineken Zero you’re likely to enjoy this beer, it has a balanced aroma and taste profile that has a soft malty base with sweetness to both taste and on the nose and fruity hops peach and papaya notes.

Drinkability Rating: Would drink again	Check the Price:  Craft Zero AU/NZ | Amazon AU | Amazon USA | Dry Drinker UK
Read the full review: Heineken Zero Review

Sweeter in flavour when compared to alternatives, the Peroni Libera Zero has a mid-weight body, mouth profile and good level of vibrant carbonation. While good for a non-alcoholic beer it is much lighter than your traditional options from Peroni.

Drinkability Rating: If there were no other options, I guess	Check the Price: Craft Zero | Amazon AU | Dry Drinker UK
Read More about Peroni Here: Peroni Review

With a light and bright flavour profile, I found the Upflow Ultra Pale Lager also held a similar approach to weight and mouthfeel. Although the bright level of carbonation and fizz helped bring the fruity and tropical flavours to life.

Drinkability Rating: Would drink again	Check the Price: Craft Zero | Amazon AU
Read My Full Review Here: Upflow Ultra Pale Lager Review

James Squire Zero brings a mid-level of body to the non-alcoholic offering from James Squire, however, I have spoken to a few people who do say this misses the mark for them and they feel it is rather watery.

Personally, I have found this does a better job than many others out there and I feel the James Squire Zero has been one of the ‘calibrating’ beers people who drink an alcoholic beer reach for. has a flavour profile that is reminiscent of traditional premium Australian Lagers and has a malty base with lots of floral hops.

Drinkability Rating: Would drink again	Check the Price:  Craft Zero
Read My Full Review: James Squire Zero Review

The Big Drop Lager is one that I felt did bring a level of viscosity to your glass but overall, due to its low level of carbonation it did feel like there was less mouthfeel when compared to the other options.

The lighter body did mean this was a crisper and more quenching option, so something to bear in mind.

Drinkability Rating: Would drink again, if in the mood.	Check the Price: Craft Zero | Dry Drinker UK
Read My Full Review Here: Big Drop Craft Lager Review

The Great Northern Zero beer while it as a good level of carbonation, drinking it alongside other options it felt a little softer and lighter in mouthfeel. If you’re looking to build in the Great Northern into your session, I’d recommend starting or finishing with it due to the short and crisp mouthfeel.

Drinkability Rating: If I was in Queensland, I might drink it.	Check the Price: Craft Zero
Read My Full Review: Great Northern Zero Review

The mouthfeel of the Uwe Pils is solid, it carries with it a good presence in the glass and gives you the feeling of something at that mid-strength around 3%. If you’re keen on something that carries a caramel malt profile and has good body, you’re going to want to try this one.

Drinkability Rating: My tastebuds might give this one a miss.	Check the Price:  Craft Zero
Check Out The Review: Uwe Pils Review

Drinking out of well designed and well crafted Beer Glasses is a non-negotiable if you’re looking to get the most out of a non-alcoholic beer.

If you have been thinking non-alcoholic beer you’ve been drinking has fallen flat, or that you’re just not ‘getting’ what everyone else is saying, well I have good news – it likely isn’t you, but rather it’s your glass.

I picked up the Spiegelau Tasting kit (check the price on Amazon here) back in early 2021 and have been using it ever since I’ve often reviewed beer side by side one in the glass and one in the bottle and it was amazing to me the difference in flavour, profile and texture.

This is especially true for extremely delicate beers or those with high carbonation – you need a place for flavours to open up and develop or for excess Co2 to dissipate and let the beer come back down to earth.

If you’re interested in finding out more, you can find out more about the kit here.

If you’re keen to learn a little more about the origins of where your Non-Alcoholic Lager came from, the beer tasting guide (Check it out on Amazon AU (USA Link) ) from acclaimed beer writer Randy Mosher has some great information about:

• the origins and history of beer;
• all the flavour profiles and ingredients of each different style;
• information on what to pair each beer with; and
• some great information on how to host a beer tasting party!

I’ve spent hours scouring it for hints and tips on flavours I couldn’t track down and it is a great resource to share around when tasting with friends and family to see how one drink can evoke so many different flavour profiles to different people.

Check the price over on Amazon AU (USA Link) and let me know if it comes in handy!

The Winner: Weihenstephaner

As you can see, the clear stand out for most people is winner here is the Weihenstephaner and it takes the cake in both taste and mouthfeel.

The majority of this is owed to the vibrance in the flavour profile and active and bouncy carbonation profile which helps bring things to life while maintaining a crisp and fresh finish.

The Runner Up: Heineken

I chose to put this one ahead of the James Squire as the Heineken nails the taste, body and balance that a Heineken drinker would expect from their glass. For this reason, the soft bodied, malty and fruity Heineken Zero gets the runners up badge.

Overall both beers are a great representation of how non-alcoholic beer has progressed in the right direction after lagging behind for many years.

I hope you have found a new beer to try and find the one to suit your taste profile! Be sure to bookmark this for updates as I’ll keep it updated every other week with more and more non-alcoholic lager options that I try and bring up on tipplezero.com.