Heineken 0.0 Review

Name	Heineken 0.0
ABV	0.3%
Brewery	Heineken N.V.
Country Of Production	USA
Style	Lager
Ingredients
Water, Malted Barley, Hop Extract, Natural Flavourings
Nutritional Information
Energy	89kj per 100ml.
Carbohydrates	4.8g per 100ml.
Protein	0.4g per 100ml.
Fat	0.1g per 100ml.
Salt	0.1g per 100ml.
Can We Be Friends?
Vegan Friendly	Yes.
Gluten Free	No.

Heineken 0.0 is coming from one of the world’s leading beer brands, and it has been met with a lot of hype. Mostly down to marketing, but let’s face it, it’s going to be everywhere, it might even be the only zero choice in many places, and you might have to give it a go at some point. 

The alcohol-free lager promises to provide all the taste you’d expect from a Heineken but at a 0.0 abv.

But how does it actually stack up in terms of flavor?

Is choosing a Heineken 0.0 over the many other non-alcoholic beers out there worth your while?

I’ll take an in-depth look at Heineken 0.0 and give you all the info you need, so you can decide whether or not it’s worth giving a try.

How Is Heineken 0.0 Made?

Heineken 0.0 is brewed with the same ingredients used in regular Heineken lager, including barley, hops and water. The alcohol is removed using the vacuum distillation method.

Vacuum distillation works by boiling off the alcohol at a very low temperature so that only non-alcoholic components remain in the beer.

The final beer then comes in with an abv of 0.03%.

Aroma

The aroma of Heineken 0.0 is nothing amazing but still quite recognizable if you’ve ever drunk Heineken, or even a typical lager. 

It has a classic skunk smell along with a bit of sweetness, which gives it its unique character.

For me, the aroma is quite floral, but this scent could be described as “floral” or “fruity” depending on your palette.

There are definitely some subtle notes that you may not pick up at first sniff but are still present if you want to take the time to really appreciate it.

Appearance 

Heineken 0.0  emits a clear, sunny golden-yellow colour when poured into a glass. It creates less than a finger of sudsy white head which dissipates quickly within just a couple of minutes. A thin and bubbly collar with some filmy wisps are the only remnants left on its surface; though it does produce some lace as the level drops in the glass.

Flavor

For me, when it comes to flavor, Heineken 0.0 doesn’t quite hit the mark. It has a very faint hint of sweetness, but not much else in terms of taste. The grain husks come through more than anything else, giving it an off-putting earthy quality.

In comparison to other non-alcoholic beers out there, Heineken 0.0 just isn’t up to par – especially if you’re looking for something flavorful and refreshing. Its lack of complexity makes drinking it somewhat dull and unenjoyable; so while it may be palatable enough, there are just so many more options out there, especially for the price. 

However, if you are a fan of the regular Heineken, and want to go zero for whatever reason, this is definitely going to scratch that itch.

Mouthfeel

It’s light and bubbly with a crisp, clean finish with no real distinctive aftertaste.

Heineken 0.0 has less body than regular Heineken, which can make it feel somewhat watery at times but does not diminish its flavor profile in any way.

I actually found this lightness preferable to a regular Heineken, and for me it made it much easier to drink.

How Does Heineken 0.0 Compare To Regular Heineken

This is probably the biggest question most people will have before trying this. I’m pretty certain if you’re going for a Heineken 0.0, it’s because there is literally nothing else available, or you do quite enjoy Heineken and want to go non-alcoholic.

So does it stand up to regular Heineken?

As I mentioned in the review, the taste is very similar, almost indistinguishable to a regular Heineken, and aroma is distinctively Heineken, and the appearance is exactly the same on first pour, however the head dissipates much faster.

The biggest difference for me between Heineken 0.0 and a regular Heineken was the “watery” mouthfeel, which, funnily enough, I actually quite enjoyed. The lighter watery finish made it easier to drink and actually more refreshing. Although it will come across as quite flat to regular drinkers, and the head does also let it down. 

If you’re looking for a zero beer Heineken replacement you’re not going to go wrong. It stands up very well to its alcoholic counterpart.

Heineken 0.0 Faqs