Guinness has always felt like a rite of passage beer. When you’re young (over 18, honest guv) and start drinking beer, it’s rare that your first taste is Guinness. You work up to it. And you very much acquire the taste for it. I have a mate who used to claim that a pint of Guinness and a lettuce leaf provided you with all your essential nutrients. Now, that’s rubbish, obviously (he was drunk at the time), but it gives a sense of the sheer… heft you get with the stout. The question is whether it is still as satisfying without alcohol. Guinness Draught 0.0 is the iconic brand’s attempt to answer it.
Does the NA version of a drink first brewed back in 1759 stand the test of time?
Appearance
The brewery claim that Guinness Draught 0.0 is crafted using the same ingredients as its alcoholic counterpart – water, barley, hops, and yeast – and undergoes a unique de-alcoholisation process to maintain the beer’s authentic flavour profile. And at first glance, it certainly looks the part. When poured, it boasts the same deep, opaque black body, and even retains the subtle ruby highlights you get when you hold it up to the light. The head is thick and creamy and its foam lasts a long time, clinging to the glass with each sip. It is, frankly, virtually indistinguishable from the original.
Aroma
On the nose Guinness Draught 0.0 is rich and inviting, with roasted malt notes taking centre stage. There’s an immediate impression of dark coffee, cocoa and a faint nuttiness that mirrors the aromatic profile of its alcoholic counterpart. Linger and that biscuitiness emerges as well. If I’m really straining, I’d probably say it is a tad lighter on the nose that the alcoholic stout, but really not by much.
Taste
The first sip of Guinness Draught 0.0 delivers a familiar deep, roasted malt flavour with prominent notes of coffee and dark chocolate. As the beer develops on the palate, subtle hints of toasted bread start to come through, adding depth and complexity. The bitterness is restrained enough to avoid any harshness while still adding a nice balance. For all but the most hardened stout drinkers, it will taste authentic.
Mouthfeel
If you enjoy Guinness, you’ll know that a big part of the pleasure is its creamy mouthfeel, and you know what? Guinness Draught 0.0 delivers admirably in that department. The nitrogen infusion technique they use creates a silky, velvety texture that glides across the palate. Now, while the initial mouthfeel is rich and indulgent, the lack of alcohol becomes more apparent over time. Nevertheless, that’s a very minor criticism, and hardly unexpected for an NA brew.
Finish
The finish is clean and slightly dry. The roasted malt notes linger, without any overly bitter residue. While the finish doesn’t quite have the same lasting intensity as the original Guinness Draught, it’s a commendable effort, and that lack of heaviness makes it eminently drinkable.
Pairing Suggestions
I mean, Guinness is for drinking rather than pairing, right? (Maybe my mate was right and you don’t need any food with it to be satisfied.) Of course, if you did want to chow down, classic pub fare like beef stew, shepherd’s pie, or bangers and mash are natural companions. The umami of mushroom dishes would also serve well alongside it, or a ploughman’s with a sharp cheddar cheese.
Overall Impressions of Guinness Draught 0.0
They’ve only gone and done it. Guinness Draught 0.0 is, simply, a great drink. For a non-alcoholic stout it would be standout enough, but as an approximation of the famous Guinness draught, it delivers incredibly well. From appearance to taste, it’s pretty much identical to the original. I drink it. You should too.