Vinohradský pivovar

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Beerlager

Vinohradská 12 Non-Alcoholic

A Czech craft non-alcoholic lager dealcoholised by membrane technology, brewed with Saaz and Sládek hops and Jizera river groundwater.

About This Drink

Vinohradský pivovar is a small brewery tucked into the Vinohrady district of Prague, and the Vinohradská 12 is their flagship lager — a 12° premium pale lager brewed the old way. The non-alcoholic version is produced from the same base beer, with alcohol removed using membrane technology (reverse osmosis), which tends to preserve hop character better than heat-based dealcoholisation. The result tastes closely enough like the original that at least one reviewer questioned mid-pint whether it actually was alcohol-free. The beer uses Pilsner and Munich malt, which gives it a genuine bready backbone rather than the watery body that plagues many AF lagers. The Saaz and Sládek hop bill brings the classic Bohemian character: grassy, herbal, with a faint white pepper edge and enough bitterness to balance without being aggressive. Groundwater drawn from Jizera river infiltration adds a mineralness that you notice more by its absence in lesser versions than by any particular character of its own. On Untappd it rates 3.91 from 227 ratings, which is genuinely impressive for an AF beer — many rate well below 3.5 on that platform. If you like proper Czech lager, this is one of the more convincing non-alcoholic versions in the market. Available in the UK through The Alcohol Free Co.

Ingredients

Water (Jizera river groundwater), Pilsner malt, Munich malt, Saaz hops, Sládek hops.

Key Specs

Per 100ml

ABV
0.5%

Serving

Size
500ml
Temp
4-7°C
Glass
Czech-style tulip or pilsner glass

Tasting Notes

Taste

BREADY MALT GRASSY AND HERBAL HOP CHARACTER LIGHT BITTERNESS. BALANCED AND CLEAN CLOSER TO THE ALCOHOLIC ORIGINAL THAN MOST AF LAGERS MANAGE.

Aroma

MILD BREADY GRAIN GRASSY SAAZ HOPS FAINT WHITE PEPPER. CLASSIC BOHEMIAN LAGER NOSE UNDERSTATED AND CLEAN.

Character

Appearance
CLEAR GOLDEN WITH A WHITE HEAD.
Mouthfeel
MEDIUM-BODIED FOR AN AF LAGER WITH DECENT FULLNESS FROM THE MUNICH MALT. NOT THIN OR WATERY.
Finish
DRY AND MODERATELY BITTER WITH A LINGERING HERBAL HOP NOTE. CLEAN AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.

Production

Traditionally brewed Czech premium lager using Pilsner and Munich malt, Saaz and Sládek hops, and Jizera river groundwater. Alcohol removed by membrane technology (reverse osmosis) after fermentation.

More from Vinohradský pivovar

Key Specs

Per 100ml

ABV
0.5%

Serving

Size
500ml
Temp
4-7°C
Glass
Czech-style tulip or pilsner glass

Tasting Notes

Taste

BREADY MALT GRASSY AND HERBAL HOP CHARACTER LIGHT BITTERNESS. BALANCED AND CLEAN CLOSER TO THE ALCOHOLIC ORIGINAL THAN MOST AF LAGERS MANAGE.

Aroma

MILD BREADY GRAIN GRASSY SAAZ HOPS FAINT WHITE PEPPER. CLASSIC BOHEMIAN LAGER NOSE UNDERSTATED AND CLEAN.

Character

Appearance
CLEAR GOLDEN WITH A WHITE HEAD.
Mouthfeel
MEDIUM-BODIED FOR AN AF LAGER WITH DECENT FULLNESS FROM THE MUNICH MALT. NOT THIN OR WATERY.
Finish
DRY AND MODERATELY BITTER WITH A LINGERING HERBAL HOP NOTE. CLEAN AND STRAIGHTFORWARD.

Production

Traditionally brewed Czech premium lager using Pilsner and Munich malt, Saaz and Sládek hops, and Jizera river groundwater. Alcohol removed by membrane technology (reverse osmosis) after fermentation.