Tsingtao

Originally established as the Germania-Brauerei Tsingtao, the brewery was built on production traditions brought from Germany and has grown into one of the country's dominant beer producers. Tsingtao is a state-owned enterprise, with the Qingdao municipal government holding a controlling stake. The lager is brewed using spring water drawn from the Laoshan mountain range outside Qingdao, an ingredient the brand identifies as central to its flavour character. Tsingtao exports to more than 100 countries and is among the most widely distributed Chinese beers internationally.

The brand entered the AF category in 2021 with a dealcoholised lager, brewed using the same ingredients and process as the standard lager before the alcohol is gently removed. Dealcoholisation means the beer starts life as a fully brewed product, then has the alcohol extracted, rather than being brewed to a low-ABV endpoint from the start.

For sober-curious drinkers already familiar with Tsingtao lager, the AF version offers a recognisable flavour profile without alcohol, from one of the world's most internationally distributed brewing brands.