Everyone has a soft spot for Aldi, right? Whether you’re a fan of their groceries or not, who doesn’t like a browse of the random “central aisle”. What oddities will be there this week? Anyway, before we get into any odd reveries, Aldi also does booze. And now, furthermore, it does non-alcoholic booze (if that’s a thing). Karlskrone Lager is exclusive to Aldi, and part of their growing range of NA beverages. And if the big supermarket chains are getting in on the non-alcoholic drink act, you know something’s afoot.
Karlskrone Lager is crafted by the Karlskrone Brewery, a Swedish brand and is 0.0%. How does this one reflect the clean, crisp style of Scandinavian brewing?
Appearance
Karlskrone Lager presents with the clear, golden hue in the glass. It’s a good-looking pour, that’s for sure. The carbonation is gentle, but a tight, white head forms on top, which dissipates moderately, leaving a light lacing along the sides of the glass. If I had to sum up the appearance in one word, it would be: classic.
Aroma
The aroma of Karlskrone Lager is subtle. However, what is there on the nose is well-balanced. There’s a play-off between malt sweetness and light hop bitterness. If you work hard, you’ll get a whiff of floral and grassy notes in the background. So subtle, but at least nothing is too overwhelming nor are there any off-putting or artificial scents.
Taste
On the palate, the first thing that hits is the light malt sweetness, giving a delicate bready flavour. Again: pretty classic lager fare. The following hop bitterness is mild, providing just enough balance to keep the beer from feeling too sweet (although the lingering note is probably one of sweetness, if I’m honest). However, despite being alcohol-free, Karlskrone Lager retains a satisfying lager taste without feeling too light or artificial. The flavours, while quite light, are balanced, which makes for a refreshing sip.
Mouthfeel
This non-alcoholic beer has a clean, crisp texture that coats the mouth without feeling too heavy. The carbonation gives it a decent fizz, contributing to a refreshing drinking experience, but it doesn’t feel overly effervescent. Put simply, it’s easy to drink, especially on warm days when a more substantial beer might feel too heavy. While it lacks the fuller mouthfeel of a regular, alcoholic, lager with alcohol, the texture is still well-rounded and satisfying. It’s not overly watery, and the carbonation provides just enough liveliness to keep things interesting.
Finish
Two words: dry and crisp. The finish is pretty short. Any lingering notes are the mild bitter ones that come from the hops. I like that it doesn’t leave a sweet or sticky aftertaste, and that the bitterness is far from sharp. The dry finish works well with the overall lightness of the beer. While the finish is not particularly long or complex, it does exactly what it needs to do: it wraps up the drinking experience without leaving any unpleasant aftertastes or heaviness.
Pairing Suggestions
It’s a pretty traditional – even if non-alcoholic – lager, so of course it’s going to do well alongside foods like salted nuts, pretzels or even pizza. The crispness of the beer is perfect for cutting through the saltiness of these foods. If you want to go further into “proper meal” territory, you could do worse than serve it alongside roasted vegetable or white meat dishes.
Overall Impressions of Karlskrone Lager.
Aldi have, it must be said, got a decent non-alcoholic beer game with Karlskrone Lager. It’s not going to blow your socks off, but for a budget-friendly, well-crafted NA brew, you could do a lot worse. It’s refreshing with nice – if subtle – flavours, and has a clean, crisp finish. Job done. Now, what’s in that central aisle?