Amber Waves Of Grain
Written: Feb 18 '02 (Updated Feb 18 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Real beer flavor without the alcohol, Good carbonation, No aftertaste
Cons: Lacks the robust flavor of alcoholic beer
The Bottom Line: Crisp malt flavor without the calories or alcohol
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| skbreese's Full Review: Sharps Non-Alcoholic Beer |
Well, the Lenten season is in full bloom and alcohol is one of the things I have given up as a part of my Lenten journey. Still, certain foods such a barbecued ribs, chili, and grilled steak cry out for that malt beverage complement. I have found a reasonable alternative to beer, in O' Doul's Amber. As with most non-alcoholic beverages, it contains less than 0.5 % alcohol while retaining the rich taste of a malt beverage.
Brewed by the Anheuser Busch brewing company since 1997, the brewing process is the same as for traditional beer. The beverage is fully fermented and aged before the alcohol is removed. The alcohol is removed at the end of the brewing cycle through a process called dialysis. It contains two- row and specialty caramel, Munich malts and is blended with domestic and imported hops.
This malt beverage pours with a slight tawny colored head, and crisp aroma. It has a light amber color and good carbonation. It has a light malty taste, with a slight hint of caramel without the bite of alcoholic beer. The best feature is the total absence of a yeasty aftertaste that I have found in other non-alcoholic brews. However, it does not have the full-bodied, robust flavor of alcoholic beer, which results in a somewhat weak flavor as compared to alcoholic beer.
One of the other nice features of O' Doul's Amber is it's low calories content. It has only 70 calories and no fat or cholesterol. It is recommended for drinking at lunch during the work day, by participants in sporting events or for designated drivers. It is also advertised as the official brew of the Professional Golfer's Association. The O'Doul's family of malt beverages is the number one selling brand in it's category with a 40% market share according to IRI (Information Resources Inc.).
If you are looking for a good substitute for beer, O' Doul's Amber is the best of the non-alcoholic malt beverages I have tasted. It may not have the flavor and bite of Killian's Irish Red, but with St. Patrick's Day just around the corner, at least it has a similar color and malty taste. It is a Lenten treasure for the long journey from Fat Tuesday to Easter. Cheers!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
skbreese
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Member: Sheila Calabrese
Location: Chattanooga, TN USA
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About Me:
To err is human, to purr is feline
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