Author: dpatrickryan

Grupo Modelo (Corona) Sunbrew – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0% ABV (330 ml, packaged on 20-Dec-2024, acquired 7-Apr-2025, reviewed 3-May-2025)

Appearance: clear pale gold with one finger of fine white head diminishing rapidly to nothing, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: honey/corn syrup, grass. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish short duration finish. (3/5)

Almost close enough to the real thing to pass for it, but just slightly darker and with no head retention. I don’t hate this. I’m not sure I actually like it, but I don’t hate it. And at 60 calories with a dose of vitamin D, I’m willing to have it in the fridge as a thirst quencher. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Grupo Modelo (Corona) Corona Extra – American Pale Lager at 4.6% ABV (710 ml, packaged on 13-Jan-2025, acquired 3-May-2025, reviewed 3-May-2025)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a persistent cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: honey/corn syrup, grass. (5/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (6/10) Palate: light body, moderate-lively carbonation, sweetish short duration finish. (3/5)

The classic lawnmower beer that beer snobs love to hate. Maybe I’m mellowing in my old age, but: I don’t actually hate it. It is what it is. Look, if your yardstick is big hoppy aromas and interesting flavours, this is of course going to fail miserably. But many of the same people who denigrate this for needing the standard wedge of lime are perfectly fine with fruit adjuncts in the brew kettle of their favourite craft offerings. Personally, I’ve come out the other side of my craft beer snobbery and am willing to accept this on its own terms. (That being said, the reason I got the big bottle is because that’s the only single my local had. My willingness to accept it on its own terms doesn’t extend to buying a dozen of ‘em.) (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

I did these simultaneously because when I first tried the Sunbrew I figured it was so close to the “real” one that the only way I’d be able to differentiate them was side by side – not least of which because it’s been ages since I had an Extra. I wasn’t wrong. The Extra has a slightly punchier aroma and much better head retention than the Sunbrew, but it’s not enough of a difference to make a measurable difference to the rounded overall score. All things considered, I slightly prefer the Extra – but I’ll still keep the Sunbrew in the drinks cooler as a routine thirst quencher.

Big Rock Brewery River Valley – Session IPA at 5.5% ABV (355 ml, packaged on 4-Mar-2025, acquired 28-Apr-2025, reviewed 30-Apr-2025)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of rocky pale amber head, excellent retention and moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: bready caramel, grass, citrus, pine, earth. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Palate: medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry medium duration finish. (3/5)

A “Session IPA” at above five percent ABV? Big Rock really doesn’t understand the whole “craft beer” thing AT ALL, do they? Hardly surprising, since they were perfectly situated to take full advantage of the craft beer resurgence over the past decade or more, but instead boldly chose to continue to do exactly the same thing they’d been doing for the decade before that. Good job, guys, good job. Anyway, that’s not to say that this is a bad beer, and certainly for the price (I didn’t buy it but my kid tells me it’s cheap) it’s a decent enough, if somewhat old-fashioned, offering. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Minhas Micro Brewery Triple 7 – Strong Pale Lager at 8% ABV (355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 7-Apr-2025, reviewed 30-Apr-2025)

Appearance: slightly hazy gold with one finger of fizzy white short-lived head, no lacing. (3/5) Aroma: boozy apple, sugary malt, overripe fruit. (4/10) Taste: high sweet, moderate bitter. (5/10) Palate: medium-light body, moderate-lively carbonation, slightly sticky warming finish. (3/5)

My elder son gave me this one, telling me it was part of his ongoing quest with some friends to find the shittiest beer in Alberta. I’m not completely sure they succeeded – I’m looking at you, Two Sergeants Passion d’Ale – but dammit, it’s close. This is the kind of thing that hobos might buy as singles, but only if the convenience store is out of Colt 45 and rubbing alcohol. And no, Minhas, I don’t think “Do you like taking chances? Try this beer!” is the swagger you think it is. You know how sometimes these high-ABV ones will grow on you after you’ve had a bit, just because you’re getting a little buzz? That doesn’t happen here – if anything, it gets nastier as the aftertaste builds. Sink poured after trying a few sips FOR SCIENCE. The things I do for this hobby… (8/20)

4/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Partake Brewing IPA – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.5% ABV (C$2.25 at Save-On-Foods Okotoks, 355 ml, best before 7-Dec-2025, acquired 1-Apr-2025, reviewed 9-Apr-2025)

Appearance: clear pale amber with one finger of fine pale ivory head, good retention and moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: caramel, grass, citrus. (6/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-high bitter. (6/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

I sometimes find it difficult to tease out what aspects of a given Non-Alcoholic brew are attributable to its absence of alcohol, or to the more general issues of the ingredient selection and brewing process. Here, for example, my biggest objection probably stems less from it being an NA, and more to do with its being an old-fashioned heavily English-influenced “American” IPA where the malt leads the way and the hops are grassy. Bottom line, I wouldn’t have it again – but not because it’s got no wowee juice in it. (12/20)

6/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

S.Y.C. Brewing Co. Phantom Buzz Pale Ale – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.5% ABV (C$3.50 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 473 ml, packaged on 17-Dec-2024, acquired 30-Mar-2025, reviewed 30-Mar-2025)

Appearance: hazy deep gold with one fat finger of loose white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, minimal lacing. (3/5) Aroma: citrus, grainy malt, hint of dank resin. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

It’s not blowing me away, but it’s fine – which is to say, it’s pretty good for a non-alcoholic, and it would be fine as “just a beer”. I’ve had better NA’s, but I’ve had worse beers, so yeah – it’s fine. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Stanley Park Brewing Trail Hopper NA IPA – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.3% ABV | 30 IBU (C$2.25 at Save-On-Foods Okotoks, 355 ml, packaged on 20-Jan-2025, best before 1-May-2025, acquired 18-Mar-2025, reviewed 27-Mar-2025)

Appearance: clear straw with one finger of fine white head, good retention and well-defined soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, earthy pine, grainy malt. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate-lively carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

I dunno, maybe having had no alcohol for over a month has changed my palate, but I actually kinda like this. It’s pleasant and refreshing, with no negative characteristics to speak of. I wouldn’t hesitate to have this again. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing IPA – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.4% ABV (C$3.00 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 355 ml, best before 13-Jun-2025, acquired 17-Mar-2025, reviewed 19-Mar-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, tropical fruit, melon, pine, light cereal grains, faint cattiness. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

I often find that there’s little to distinguish between a Pale and an IPA, even when the latter is slightly boozier than the former. Well, when it comes to CA’s near beer offerings, you don’t have that: both are less than half a percent. That’s why I chose to do them both side-by-side – and it’s a good thing I did, because there truly is very little to tell the two apart. This one is hopped with Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic, and I’m  getting just a hint of the Simcoe pine and cattiness on top of citrus, tropical fruits, and melon. It’s a bit hazier than the facsimile Pale, but other than that the only real difference is the slightly different aroma you’d expect from the different hop selection. I just slightly prefer the Pale over this one, but there’s not enough difference between them to show in the scoring – and, really, I’d be quite happy with either under most circumstances. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Collective Arts Brewing Hazy Pale Ale – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.4% ABV (C$3.00 at Safeway Liquor D’Arcy Crossing, 355 ml, best before 19-Aug-2025, acquired 17-Mar-2025, reviewed 19-Mar-2025)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (4/5) Aroma: citrus, red berries, light cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, moderate-low carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

I often find that there’s little to distinguish between a Pale and an IPA, even when the latter is slightly boozier than the former. Well, when it comes to CA’s near beer offerings, you don’t have that: both are less than half a percent. That’s why I chose to do them both side-by-side – and it’s a good thing I did, because there truly is very little to tell the two apart. This one is hopped with Mosaic and Citra, and I’m definitely getting the citrus and berry notes that you’d expect there. It’s not quite as hazy as the facsimile IPA, but other than that the only real difference is the slightly different aroma you’d expect from the different hop selection. I just slightly prefer this one, but there’s not enough difference between them to show in the scoring – and, really, I’d be quite happy with either under most circumstances. (14/20)

7/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Brauerei Fahr Alkoholfrei – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.5% ABV (C$2.00 at Okotoks Co-Op, 355 ml, no packaging date or best before, acquired 1-Mar-2025, reviewed 10-Mar-2025)

Appearance: slightly hazy pale gold with a short loose head diminishing rapidly to a thin cap, spotty lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, grainy malt, light citrus, hint of banana. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium body, moderate-low carbonation, sweetish medium duration finish. (3/5)

My wife says “it tastes like all their other beers”. Well… sort of. Hard to get away from the “kissing your sister” vibe, though. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com

Big Rock Brewery Pacer – Non-Alcoholic Beer at 0.5% ABV (C$2.33 at Okotoks Co-Op, 355 ml, packaged on 5-Oct-2025, acquired 1-Mar-2025, reviewed 10-Mar-2025)

Appearance: hazy pale straw with one finger of fine white head diminishing gradually to a thin cap, moderate soapy lacing. (3/5) Aroma: mild, citrus, tropical fruit, cereal grains. (7/10) Taste: moderate sweet, moderate-low bitter. (7/10) Medium-light body, moderate carbonation, off-dry finish. (3/5)

I mean, I’ve had worse real beers. Fine, it doesn’t do a great job as “a beer”, but it does an OK job of “something other than a beer”. And it tastes enough like beer that it can scratch the itch in a pinch. (13/20)

6.5/10 #ryansbooze ryansbooze.com