Guinness 0.0 Review

Name	Guinness 0.0
ABV	0.5%
Brewery	Diageo
Country Of Production	Ireland
Style	Stout
Ingredients
Barley, Malt, Water, Yeast, Hops, Roasted Barley, Malted Barley, Fructose, Natural Flavourings.
Nutritional Information
Carbohydrates	3.8g Per 100ml.
Energy	71kl Per 100ml
Sugar	0.7g Per 100ml.
Fat	Absolutely 0.
Protein	0.3g Per 100ml.
Can We Be Friends?
Vegan Friendly	Yes.
Gluten Free	No.

Guinness 0.0 Review.

Many have tried to emulate this iconic stout. Now its time for Guinness to emulate itself.

Guinness 0.0% is a non-alcoholic alternative to the popular Irish stout that has become iconic worldwide. 

This new version of the legendary stout offers all the flavor and smoothness of its predecessor without any alcohol content. 

It is made using the same ingredients as regular Guinness, including water, barley, roast malt extract, hops, and yeast. The brewing process is also similar, but the alcohol is removed at the end.

The alcohol removal process is that part that proves difficult for most brewers to emulate their classic beers.

So I will look at the similarities of Guinness 0.0 to regular Guinness rather than treat it as a standalone. Mainly because of how popular Guinness is worldwide, the vast majority who try Guinness 0.0 are looking for the Guinness experience without the alcohol.

So, how does Guinness 0.0 hold up to the original?

Let’s dive in.

How Is Guinness 0.0 Brewed?

According to Diageo, Guinness 0.0 is brewed using the cold filtration method to remove the alcohol.

So you’re getting a full-strength Guinness, with the alcohol removed? Well, not quite.

There’s definitely a slightly changed recipe for Guinness 0.0. Here are the ingredients compared side by side according the the brewery.

Guinness 0.0	Guinness
Water	Water
Hops	Hops
Yeast	Yeast
Roasted Barley	Roasted Barley
Fructose	Malted Barley
Natural Flavourings
Barley

So, to make up for the removal of alcohol, there are a few additional ingredients to Guinness 0.0. Which is to be expected to give it that unique and distinctive flavor.

In the Guinness 0.0 can, there is also the plastic widget, alongside the addition of “nitrogen” which is responsible for creating the beer’s distinctive “surge and settle” effect when poured.

Aroma

Notes of roasted barley, coffee, cocoa, and dark chocolate. Slightly malty.

It certainly smells like Guinness. In fact, it pretty much has the same aroma as a regular Guinness. 

If you stuck Guinness 0.0 and regular Guinness side by side, you’re not going to tell the difference from the aroma.

So, how does it look. Any differences there?

Appearance

The pour is just like the full ABV stuff, but I think it settles a bit quicker. 

The nose is Guinness to a tee, dark roasted grains dominating, with only minimal coffee and dark chocolate notes.

Once settled, it is absolutely identical to a regular Guinness, and has that same unique dark color. 

The first time I decided to try this I was in an Irish bar with a colleague who went and ordered 2 pints from tap. 

It looked so much like Guinness, that on the first sip we had to go back to the bar to confirm we actually got Guinness 0.0.

Flavor

Some people claim that there is a difference between the original and the non-alcoholic version. Where the non-alcoholic has a bit more sweetness to it and lacks some of the complexity and depth of flavor found in the original.

Going into this with an open mind, I did expect it to taste different and I did expect the non-alcoholic version to lack the taste characteristics of a regular Guinness.

As far as flavor goes, non-alcoholic Guinness delivers on all fronts – from its unique roasted malt profile to its full body and creamy mouthfeel. 

The taste is roasted malt forward, with hints of chocolate and coffee, with a good hit of bitterness and a background of sweetness.

Despite being sugar-free and low in calories (just 75 per bottle), there’s still plenty of depth here; notes such as coffee bean, dark chocolate, and bitter orange are present throughout each sip while also lending sweetness at moments too. 

It evokes the same flavors associated with traditional Guinness Stout but with none of the buzz. 

If you are comparing it to regular Guinness, the more you have the better and closer it gets.

Mouthfeel

Guinness 0.0% has that famous smooth and creamy mouthfeel. 

This is most likely due to the use of nitrogen gas during the brewing process, and the nitro surge from the can giving it that thick head when settled. 

Guinness 0.0 is also nicely carbonated, which gives a slight tingling sensation in the tongue and cheeks. 

It also has a slight bitterness that may linger in the aftertaste which could balance the sweetness from the barley malt. 

It’s a unique sensation that is different from other non-alcoholic beers and stours and very similar to the original Guinness.

Guinness 0.0 Overall Impression

Guinness 0.0% is an appealing choice for non-alcoholic beer drinkers looking to enjoy a stout, or for regular Guinness drinkers who want to enjoy a Guinness without the effects of alcoho. Its inviting aroma, attractive appearance, distinctive flavor and creamy mouthfeel make this beer stand out with the added bonus of being alcohol free! 

The calorie difference is massive compared to a regular Guinness. A 440ml can of Guinness 0.0 has 7-80 calories, compared to a 440ml can of regular Guinness, which has 200 calories. 

A 120-calorie reduction is absolutely huge! Which makes you wonder, what is actually in regular Guinness if the 0.0 tastes almost the same. 

Overall, we highly recommend this one, not just for the Guinness drinkers. This one ticks all the boxes for us. And this 4 pack did not last long! Might need to order more to carry out more…testing.

Guinness 0.0 Faqs