Budvar Nealko doesn't do anything unexpected. It's a Czech lager with the alcohol taken out, made with the same Saaz hops, Moravian malt, and soft artesian well water the brewery has used for over a century. If you know Budvar, you know roughly what this will taste like — only quieter. The pour is a pale golden with a small white head that fades quickly. The aroma is cereal malt sweetness with a light grassy Saaz hop note; classic lager territory, no surprises. On the palate the malt comes first — a gentle sweetness that fades into a smooth, balanced body with decent carbonation. The bitterness from the Saaz hops is present but mild, enough to give some structure. The finish is short and slightly dry, which is honest for a lager at this strength. It's not an exciting drink. At 15.5 calories per 100ml it's one of the lower-calorie AF lagers around. Not vegan-friendly and contains gluten. For anyone who specifically wants a recognisable Czech pilsner character in AF form — the clean malt, the Saaz bitterness — Nealko is a solid, unfussy choice.