Heineken 0.0 Non-Alcoholic Beer Taste Test: Nice Or Not?

In warm and humid Singapore, any time of the day seems perfect for cracking open a cold one, but we can’t all do that because... well, some of us have jobs where we have to stay sober.

Now, you can day-drink to your heart’s content with the Heineken 0.0, an alcohol-free beer that Heineken claims you can drink any time, anywhere. However, can booze without the buzz really be as (if not more) shiok than a regular pint? We get guzzling to find out.

The Heineken 0.0 joins a growing number of LNA (low- and non-alcohol) brews on the market, including Tiger Radler and Asahi Dry Zero. It’s twice-brewed with the same components as a regular Heineken — including its signature A-yeast — except this time, the golden liquid goes through an extra step of alcohol removal and blending to get Heineken’s signature malty and slightly fruity notes with 0.0% alcohol volume.

If calorie-counting is the reason you’ve given up on beer, rejoice! The Heineken 0.0 only contains 69 calories, less than half the calories in a regular bottle of its alcoholic counterpart, and even Coca-Cola, for comparison.

At first pour, the 0.0 looks slightly darker and less bubbly than a regular Heineken. It doesn’t claim to taste the same as the regular version and it doesn’t, though it's close. The refreshing lager slides down the throat as easily as the alcoholic one but is sweeter and maltier while its fruity tones are more subdued. You also don’t taste any of the bitterness you’d get from normal beers, which might be a hit or miss depending on whether you love your hops. In a nutshell, it’s the lighter, slightly flatter cousin of a normal Heineken pint — different but still a good thirst-quencher.

Also, note that the Heineken 0.0 contains less than 0.03% alcohol, so while it’s certifiably a non-alcoholic beer, it’s still not suitable for those who don’t consume alcohol at all for health and religious reasons.

Nice! We imagine this would be great on a warm day while eating piping hot, greasy foods like char kway tiao, and a less calorific alternative to cooling down with a fizzy soda. If you suffer from the Asian Flush, this is a good way to enjoy a beer, minus the unsexy redness and swelling.

Available at major supermarkets, petrol stations and convenience stores, or enjoy it with your meal at selected F&B joints — you can spot it by its blue label (instead of the usual green). Find out where you can find the Heineken 0.0 at Heineken.com.

Photos: Heineken & Gwendolyn Lee