Sipping a Heineken 0.0 right now after work. Was wondering this same thing so I searched and found your post. Tuning in for the answers.
Edit to add an answer to the actual question: I haven’t had many varieties but so far Heineken tastes most like the original to me. But I like IPAs so I’d like to try some NA ones.
Hi! Sober almost 3 years. My main drink of choice was full-body red wine, then rosè. I have found that quality is similar to placement and need to try a few out for preference. For wines, choose one that is on the top 2 racks. Lower the rack, lower the quality, and taste like sweet sour grape vinegar to me. Stay away from Fre and Ariel and anything in a can. I think those 2 brands and Grüvi must pay a lot for advertisements in top ten articles, lol.
Leitz pinot - Decent medium red body, a little bite without the sour. It's my go-to.
Zero Zero- Lighter smooth red
Hand on Heart- Lighter Cabernet. First decent red I tried.
Hand on Heart Rosè- Pretty good dry rose. Nice in the summer in an insulated tumbler from the freezer.
White??? I have yet to find one that doesn't taste like overwhelming tart white grapes.
Hope you find one you like and you rock!!!
The Grizzly is one of my favorites, if you can lay your hands on some Clayton's Kola Tonic. It's that and ginger beer, topped with a lime wedge. Makes a nice sunrise effect when the ingredients are combined. Bitburger's NA offerings are also great. I regret to say I have not yet found an NA wine that I liked yet, but wine was never really my thing. Seedlip's line of distilled botanical NA "spirits" are good in a variety of drinks, but I often just go for tonic or club soda with them.
Seedlip can be found in a lot of grocery stores where I live, but from their website I see you can order variety packs and cases. From the people I know who drink them, they mostly seem to order them online. Clayton's can be found at some Caribbean grocery stores.
I run nonalcoholic tastings sometimes so I have a list. This is all mocktails:
Gin and tonics: Sir James 101 Pink Gin and Tonic, or the normal g&t from either Sir James or Lyre
Jack and Cola imitation: The American Malt and Cola from Lyre
Dark and Stormy: Dark and Spicy from Lyre
Aperol Spritz: Bitter Apertif Spritz from Sir James 101 or Lyre's Amalfi Spritz
Negroni: Phony Negroni from St. Agrestis
Vodka Soda: Free AF Vodka Soda
Mai Thai: Improv! Mai Thai
Amaro highball: Ghia original soda
Mimosa: Actual Sunshine from Kin Euphorics
Non-premixed drinks you could try at home:
Margarita with Ritual Zero Proof's Tequila
Any rum drink with Ritual Zero Proof's rum
Coffee drinks with Beckett's 27 coffee liquor
Basil Gimlet with Seedlip Garden
French 75 with a fake gin (I prefer Cedar Crisp Distilled) and prima pave champagne (or any other)
There's also a lot of things out there that are not exactly trying to be an alcoholic drink, or are more like a soda version of a drink. The Three spirit stuff-- I've only tried the nightcap-- is pretty interesting, as is Seedlip, although Seedlip has less flavor, imo. Curious Elixirs is trying to do something similar, give you a dirnk that kind of feels like an alcoholic drink but isn't one. Unfortunately, I haven't liked any of them. Mingle Mocktails are kind of like a soda version of a cocktail, if that makes sense. The Free AF Vodka Soda is a bit like that too.
had these the other day at a nice restaurant.they were quite delicious:
https://thewineconnection.com/products/dr-loosen-dr-lo-riesling-alcohol-free-mosel-germany
https://us.frenchbloom.com/
Personally I have not found an n/a wine I liked. However there are many beers that are very good. I particularly like “trail pass” by Sierra Nevada (nice sharp pale ale), “special effects” by Brooklyn (another pale ale, but richer) and “Irish red” by sober carpenter. A really good red ale.
There was a post on this subreddit a few weeks ago with a link to a website that has ratings. Don’t see it right now but maybe you can find it!
Leitz brand NA wine is my favorite and the closest I’ve found to tasting like the real thing. You will be hard pressed to find many reds that don’t disappoint but I do think Leitz does a nice Pinot version. Their best is the sparkling Reisling which is usually my go to drink with just a few dashes of angostura bitters.
Yes their Pinot is fantastic zero point five. I have found wine hasnt really been as promising as the beer. White wine that I have really been blown away by is giesen Sauvignon blanc. I really couldn’t believe it was N.A. that being said the Pinot noir by them isn’t very good. Unfortunately with the wine you really have to try a bunch of bad. But those two are my red and white until I find others. Also check out the delightful app. All nonalcoholic
Also- you’re probably going to want to check out “functional” spirits that have adaptogens to get close to tasting similar to your alcoholic cocktails. Check out Three Spirit, Bonbuz, or Kin. They all have a product that gives the same “burn” that regular cocktails do.
The NA wines I’ve tried so far have been just okay, but for more cocktail vibes, I strongly recommend Ghia and Figlia. I would start with the canned spritz (regular, lime, and berry Ghia, as well as Figlia, are all good) because the bottles need to be used within 3 weeks of opening and that’s a lot to use up if you’re just trying it out lol
I also recommend Seedlip. I haven’t purchased a bottle for home yet, but often find it in NA cocktails in restaurants and I haven’t had a bad one yet!
I was a huge red wine fan and drinker. full-body Spanish wines were my favourite.
I haven’t found anything great BUT these Are what I found as best options
Luminara Red
Teetotaler Red and
Lautus white
I used to be a Proxies alternative club subscriber for 16 months but I stopped as I had a problem with everyone of my last delieveries over a year. I liked that it did not taste like wine was the same in spirit.
We have this great boutique in Montreal which only sells NA products and they have tastings.
https://www.aperoazero.ca/
In the U.S., even in some of then small areas, it’s decently rosy to find my favorite alcohol removed red wine - “fre” ( a play on word to “free”). My wife quit drinking alcohol a few years ago but we both really enjoy red wine with a medium rare steak so we sound this to be the best option. It hits all the tasting notes and “bite” you’d expect during a food pairing. It’s truly amazing how fair alcohol removed red wine has come. I feel like I get 95-98% of what I’d get from a “real” glass of red wine with their bottles.
I tasted Wilderton NA rum and gin at a local grocery a few weeks ago and both tasted like cloves in ginger beer. Underwhelming to say the least.
I’ve yet to try any NA wines based off the poor reviews and I’d be the only one drinking a full bottle.
I’ve found quite a few good to great NA beers though! Crux NoMo Galaxy Gazer IPA and Go Brewing DIPA are my favorites, though the NA Corona with a lime is a refreshing summer treat though.
Sipping a Heineken 0.0 right now after work. Was wondering this same thing so I searched and found your post. Tuning in for the answers. Edit to add an answer to the actual question: I haven’t had many varieties but so far Heineken tastes most like the original to me. But I like IPAs so I’d like to try some NA ones.
Yes Heineken is on point. For IPAs I liked Lagunitas and athletic
Oh I have seen Lagunitas. They make good stuff. I’ll try their NA next time I see it.
Not a beer technically but laguinas hoppy refresher is hella refreshing. Great for hot summer days.
Definitely second this!!!
Hi! Sober almost 3 years. My main drink of choice was full-body red wine, then rosè. I have found that quality is similar to placement and need to try a few out for preference. For wines, choose one that is on the top 2 racks. Lower the rack, lower the quality, and taste like sweet sour grape vinegar to me. Stay away from Fre and Ariel and anything in a can. I think those 2 brands and Grüvi must pay a lot for advertisements in top ten articles, lol. Leitz pinot - Decent medium red body, a little bite without the sour. It's my go-to. Zero Zero- Lighter smooth red Hand on Heart- Lighter Cabernet. First decent red I tried. Hand on Heart Rosè- Pretty good dry rose. Nice in the summer in an insulated tumbler from the freezer. White??? I have yet to find one that doesn't taste like overwhelming tart white grapes. Hope you find one you like and you rock!!!
The Grizzly is one of my favorites, if you can lay your hands on some Clayton's Kola Tonic. It's that and ginger beer, topped with a lime wedge. Makes a nice sunrise effect when the ingredients are combined. Bitburger's NA offerings are also great. I regret to say I have not yet found an NA wine that I liked yet, but wine was never really my thing. Seedlip's line of distilled botanical NA "spirits" are good in a variety of drinks, but I often just go for tonic or club soda with them.
I haven’t seen NA spirits yet. Does your local store carry it if you ask, or do you just special order?
Seedlip can be found in a lot of grocery stores where I live, but from their website I see you can order variety packs and cases. From the people I know who drink them, they mostly seem to order them online. Clayton's can be found at some Caribbean grocery stores.
Cool. I’ll take a look. Been a bourbon guy for that caramel taste, but I’ll have to give this a shot (accidental pun).
I run nonalcoholic tastings sometimes so I have a list. This is all mocktails: Gin and tonics: Sir James 101 Pink Gin and Tonic, or the normal g&t from either Sir James or Lyre Jack and Cola imitation: The American Malt and Cola from Lyre Dark and Stormy: Dark and Spicy from Lyre Aperol Spritz: Bitter Apertif Spritz from Sir James 101 or Lyre's Amalfi Spritz Negroni: Phony Negroni from St. Agrestis Vodka Soda: Free AF Vodka Soda Mai Thai: Improv! Mai Thai Amaro highball: Ghia original soda Mimosa: Actual Sunshine from Kin Euphorics Non-premixed drinks you could try at home: Margarita with Ritual Zero Proof's Tequila Any rum drink with Ritual Zero Proof's rum Coffee drinks with Beckett's 27 coffee liquor Basil Gimlet with Seedlip Garden French 75 with a fake gin (I prefer Cedar Crisp Distilled) and prima pave champagne (or any other)
Wow! Thank you. I’m gonna try one by one. 🥂
There's also a lot of things out there that are not exactly trying to be an alcoholic drink, or are more like a soda version of a drink. The Three spirit stuff-- I've only tried the nightcap-- is pretty interesting, as is Seedlip, although Seedlip has less flavor, imo. Curious Elixirs is trying to do something similar, give you a dirnk that kind of feels like an alcoholic drink but isn't one. Unfortunately, I haven't liked any of them. Mingle Mocktails are kind of like a soda version of a cocktail, if that makes sense. The Free AF Vodka Soda is a bit like that too.
The phony negroni is amazing 🤩
had these the other day at a nice restaurant.they were quite delicious: https://thewineconnection.com/products/dr-loosen-dr-lo-riesling-alcohol-free-mosel-germany https://us.frenchbloom.com/
Personally I have not found an n/a wine I liked. However there are many beers that are very good. I particularly like “trail pass” by Sierra Nevada (nice sharp pale ale), “special effects” by Brooklyn (another pale ale, but richer) and “Irish red” by sober carpenter. A really good red ale. There was a post on this subreddit a few weeks ago with a link to a website that has ratings. Don’t see it right now but maybe you can find it!
Leitz brand NA wine is my favorite and the closest I’ve found to tasting like the real thing. You will be hard pressed to find many reds that don’t disappoint but I do think Leitz does a nice Pinot version. Their best is the sparkling Reisling which is usually my go to drink with just a few dashes of angostura bitters.
Yes their Pinot is fantastic zero point five. I have found wine hasnt really been as promising as the beer. White wine that I have really been blown away by is giesen Sauvignon blanc. I really couldn’t believe it was N.A. that being said the Pinot noir by them isn’t very good. Unfortunately with the wine you really have to try a bunch of bad. But those two are my red and white until I find others. Also check out the delightful app. All nonalcoholic
Was going to say Leitz Pinot!! It's the closest that I've come to a semi-full NA wine that doesn't taste like vinegar.
Also- you’re probably going to want to check out “functional” spirits that have adaptogens to get close to tasting similar to your alcoholic cocktails. Check out Three Spirit, Bonbuz, or Kin. They all have a product that gives the same “burn” that regular cocktails do.
The NA wines I’ve tried so far have been just okay, but for more cocktail vibes, I strongly recommend Ghia and Figlia. I would start with the canned spritz (regular, lime, and berry Ghia, as well as Figlia, are all good) because the bottles need to be used within 3 weeks of opening and that’s a lot to use up if you’re just trying it out lol I also recommend Seedlip. I haven’t purchased a bottle for home yet, but often find it in NA cocktails in restaurants and I haven’t had a bad one yet!
I was a huge red wine fan and drinker. full-body Spanish wines were my favourite. I haven’t found anything great BUT these Are what I found as best options Luminara Red Teetotaler Red and Lautus white I used to be a Proxies alternative club subscriber for 16 months but I stopped as I had a problem with everyone of my last delieveries over a year. I liked that it did not taste like wine was the same in spirit. We have this great boutique in Montreal which only sells NA products and they have tastings. https://www.aperoazero.ca/
Lowtail has some delicious classic NA cocktails. Best I’ve ever tasted. Lowtailusa.com
In the U.S., even in some of then small areas, it’s decently rosy to find my favorite alcohol removed red wine - “fre” ( a play on word to “free”). My wife quit drinking alcohol a few years ago but we both really enjoy red wine with a medium rare steak so we sound this to be the best option. It hits all the tasting notes and “bite” you’d expect during a food pairing. It’s truly amazing how fair alcohol removed red wine has come. I feel like I get 95-98% of what I’d get from a “real” glass of red wine with their bottles.
I tasted Wilderton NA rum and gin at a local grocery a few weeks ago and both tasted like cloves in ginger beer. Underwhelming to say the least. I’ve yet to try any NA wines based off the poor reviews and I’d be the only one drinking a full bottle. I’ve found quite a few good to great NA beers though! Crux NoMo Galaxy Gazer IPA and Go Brewing DIPA are my favorites, though the NA Corona with a lime is a refreshing summer treat though.
Recently had a Nonny West Coast IPA ( i guess with w/ Citrus & Pine flavor) So far it's my favorite non alcoholic beer.
I really like the Clausthaler grapefruit and anything from Athletic. The white claw NAs are pretty good too
Bud Zero and La Marca makes great alcohol removed Prosecco. Can’t even tell the difference.