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Beerlager

Zeus Lager

An alcohol-free lager that blends Pilsner and Munich malt with Saaz and a hit of Riwaka, so there's more going on than the standard fridge-filler.

About This Drink

Zeus sits in the "full-tasting lager" category that most AF breweries claim but few actually achieve. The malt bill here is a step up from the usual — Pilsner base plus Munich gives it a slightly fuller, breadier character that alcohol-free beers often lack — and the decision to dry-hop with Riwaka on top of a Saaz backbone is interesting. Saaz is the workhorse hop of Central European lagers; Riwaka is a New Zealand variety that brings citrus and a tropical edge. It shouldn't work as well as it does. The result is a lager with a familiar biscuity backbone that then delivers a flash of citrus and something almost passionfruit-adjacent before a clean finish. It won't confuse anyone who came in expecting a lager, but it's more considered than most of its competition in the AF aisle. Brewed in England by We Can Be Friends, a brand that does nothing but alcohol-free. Around £3.65 a can from AF retailers.

Key Specs

Per 100ml

ABV
0.5%

Tasting Notes

Taste

BREADY LIGHTLY SWEET MALT UPFRONT — PILSNER AND MUNICH CHARACTER — THEN A MID-PALATE CITRUS LIFT FROM THE RIWAKA BEFORE SAAZ BITTERNESS PULLS IT INTO A CLEAN DRY FINISH.

Aroma

FRESHLY BAKED BREAD AND LIGHT SPICE FROM THE SAAZ WITH A LIFT OF CITRUS PEEL AND A FAINT TROPICAL NOTE FROM RIWAKA.

Character

Appearance
CLEAR PALE GOLD. WHITE HEAD.
Mouthfeel
MEDIUM-LIGHT BODY WITH SMOOTH WELL-INTEGRATED CARBONATION. ROUNDER THAN A TYPICAL PILSNER.
Finish
CLEAN AND DRY WITH A GENTLE LASTING BITTERNESS AND A CITRUS ECHO.

Production

Brewed in England using Pilsner and Munich malt with Saaz hops and Riwaka. 0.5% ABV.

More from We Can Be Friends

Key Specs

Per 100ml

ABV
0.5%

Tasting Notes

Taste

BREADY LIGHTLY SWEET MALT UPFRONT — PILSNER AND MUNICH CHARACTER — THEN A MID-PALATE CITRUS LIFT FROM THE RIWAKA BEFORE SAAZ BITTERNESS PULLS IT INTO A CLEAN DRY FINISH.

Aroma

FRESHLY BAKED BREAD AND LIGHT SPICE FROM THE SAAZ WITH A LIFT OF CITRUS PEEL AND A FAINT TROPICAL NOTE FROM RIWAKA.

Character

Appearance
CLEAR PALE GOLD. WHITE HEAD.
Mouthfeel
MEDIUM-LIGHT BODY WITH SMOOTH WELL-INTEGRATED CARBONATION. ROUNDER THAN A TYPICAL PILSNER.
Finish
CLEAN AND DRY WITH A GENTLE LASTING BITTERNESS AND A CITRUS ECHO.

Production

Brewed in England using Pilsner and Munich malt with Saaz hops and Riwaka. 0.5% ABV.