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100 of the Best Non-Alcoholic Beers

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The best options from Canada, the US, UK and beyond!

Before I knew about Sober October, Dry January, Dry February and all the other no-alcohol challenges out there, I embarked on my own taste test of curiosity to find the best non-alcoholic beers.

I figured I would be lucky to get my hands on 50 different options. I’ve tried more than 200 now.

For your convenience, here is a ranking of 100 of the best near-beers.

Athletic Brewing Non-Alcoholic Beers
Athletic Brewing Non-Alcoholic Beers are often great! Their options are expanding, but still a bit limited in Canada

Between grocery stores, The Beer Store, bottle shops, our trusty LCBO, cocktail shops, local bars, and online specialty shops, and breweries selling direct, it has become quite easy now to find some decent , NA beers, or AF beers.

So, now after spending a lot of time (and money) on these beers (and receiving a handful of complimentary brews from kind breweries and online shops) I will soon reach 300 different beers all brewed with 0.5% of less alcohol.

It’s been a lot of fun so far, and not nearly as taxing as doing some of my other crazy beer challenges, like a 12-year vertical of Fuller’s Vintage Ale!

Kayaking with Non-Alcoholic Beer
Enjoying a Non-Alcoholic Beer while Kayaking

Here are the current rankings of the 100 best non-alcoholic beers.

Pretty much anything listed from #1 to #60 is worth a try, but depending on your preferences, you may enjoy some other lower-ranked beers too.

There has been a great increase in options recently, with a number of local Ontario breweries stepping into the NA beer game. Great to see Bellwoods, Collective Arts and Blood Brothers (among others) finally joining the party. I’m sure more will be joining soon. I even saw a post not long ago about a brewery planning 20 new non-alcoholic beers!

Am I missing your favourite? Let me know in the comments if you have any questions.

A Selection of NA Beers
Some of the NA Beers from this Taste Test

Note: I have realized a lot of the non-alcoholic beers differ in quality from batch to batch. Ones that may be terrible the first time, are great the second time. Whether it is recipe tweaks, quality control issues, stale product, or a mix of all of those reasons, even some of the lower-ranked options may deserve a second chance.

The best example I have of this is Bazaar Alyss. The first time I had it, it was off, and terrible. The second time I had it, is was extremely delicious, and exactly as expected. I’ve had it enough to put it near the top, but just be warned – sometimes beers from Bazaar turn bad, and they’re also make the only NA beer that I had explode on me, so drink at your own risk! No risk, no reward, right?

The 100 Best Non-Alcoholic Beers available in Canada

Here are my current rankings. This list will evolve and change as I try and rate new non-alcoholic beers. There are a lot of new non-alcoholic beers out there, so come back soon!

If you have a favourite brew not listed here, let me know in the comments and I’ll try to find it.

Tip: Skip over beers #61-100. The decent stuff doesn’t really start until you get to #50.

#61-100 – The Bad Non-Alcoholic Beers

  • #100 – Selection Blonde Lager by Metro Brands
  • #99 – Blonde Ale by Brasserie Vrooden
  • #98 – O’Douls Amber by Labatt Brewing Company
  • #97 – Sagres 0.0% Puro Malte by SCC Portugal
  • #96 – Grolsch Lemon Radler by Grolsch
  • #95 – Exel by Molson Coors Canada
  • #94 – Hoegaarden 0.0 by Inbev Belgium SPRL
  • #93 – So-Beer Light Lager by The Naked Collective
  • #92 – La Vie de Chateau Amber Rum by Microbrasserie le Grimoire
  • #91 – Coors Edge by Molson Coors Canada
  • #90 – Sagres 0.0% Radler Limão by SCC Portugal
  • #89 – Lemonade Radler by President’s Choice / Loblaws Inc.
  • #88 – Red Racer Street Legal Pilsner by Central City Brewers + Distillers
  • #87 – Brown Ale Non-Alcoholic Organic by Svaneke Bryghus
  • #86 – Paulaner Weissbier 0.0 by Paulaner Brauerei
  • #85 – 1664 Blanc Sans Alcool by Kronenbourg Brewery
  • #84 – O’Douls Premium by Labatt Brewing Company
  • #83 – Gerstel Alkoholfrei Klassisch Mild by Privatbrauerei Eichbaum
  • #82 – Heineken 0.0 by Heineken
  • #81 – Pale Ale Non-Alcoholic Organic by Svaneke Bryghus
  • #80 – Wow DDH Amarillo NEIPA by Le Bazaar
  • #79 – DDH IPA by C.O.A.S.T. (Now “Lust For Life DDH IPA” by BRULO)
  • #78 – Blue 0.5% by Labatt Brewing Company
  • #77 – Verne by Bazaar
  • #76 – Ace of Tart Sharp Blueberry Full House AF by Brewdog
  • #75 – IPA Zero by Drink Zero
  • #74 – Erdinger Weissbrau Alkoholfrei by Erdinger
  • #73 – Neal Bros Grapefruit Lager by Neal Brothers
  • #72 – Krombacher Weizen Alkoholfrei by Krombacher Gruppe
  • #71 – Going Places by Wellbeing Brewing
  • #70 – Bitburger Drive 0.0% by Bitburger Brauerei
  • #69 – Découverte (IPA) by Le BockAle
  • #68 – Equilibrium by Katalyst Brewing Company
  • #67 – Stout by Partake
  • #66 – Ghost Ship 0.5 by Adnams
  • #65 – Hazy AF by Brewdog
  • #64 – Lunchbox Lagered Ale by Harmon’s Craft Brewing
  • #63 – Red Racer Street Legal IPA by Central City Brewers + Distillers
  • #62 – Peroni Libera 0.0 by Birra Peroni
  • #61 – Punk IPA Alcohol Free by Brewdog
Pouring Beer down the Drain
Pouring some NA Beers down the Drain. Sometimes I could only buy a beer in a 6-pack or 12-pack. Sometimes that was 5 or 11 too many.

I was very disappointed in the non-alcoholic Hoegaarden offering, as I truly enjoy their regular wit. But there are a lot of better wheat/wit beers out there when it comes to AF (alcohol-free) beers.

The La Vie de Chateau was a weird one, a beer with rum flavouring. It was basically a non-alcoholic rum drink.

Red Racer I had high hopes for, but their non-alcoholic Pilsner just didn’t hit the mark. Wellbeing Brewing similarly didn’t live up to expectations.

Le Bazaar Brasserie Artisanale does some really interesting stuff. If you can try their NA beers, don’t be shy. Verne may not be my favourite, but their creativity with odd flavours is impressive.

#46-60 – The Average Non-Alcoholic Beers

  • #60 – Milkshake IPA Sans Alcool by Brasserie Les 2 Frères
  • #59 – Irresistibles Non Alcoholic IPA by Metro Brands
  • #58 – Hefeweissbier Alkoholfrei by Weihenstephan
  • #57 – Nirvana Traditional Pale Ale by Nirvana Brewery
  • #56 – Emerald Stout (Non-Alcoholic) by Collective Arts Brewing
  • #55 – Sure Tropicale / Tropical Sour by Bière Sans Alcool (BSA)
  • #54 – Adventure India Pale Ale by Free Spirit Brewing Co
  • #53 – Matinée Extra Light by Ras L’Bock
  • #52 – New England IPA Sans Alcool by Brasserie Les 2 Frères
  • #51 – Lady Cori-Ange by Brasserie Vrooden Brewery
  • #50 – Nord Star Douceur Tropicale IPA by Microbrasserie Grande Allée
  • #49 – Blanche Non-Alcoholic by Oshlag Brasserie & Distillerie
  • #48 – Hazy IPA by Rival House
  • #47 – White by Sober Carpenter
  • #46 – Dry Hopped Cascade by Clausthaler
SO.BEER
SO.BEER, some of the worst Alcohol-Free beers I’ve tried

If you like Weihenstephan, you may just like the non-alcoholic version too. It’s better than pretty much all other German weissbier options I’ve tried. Adventure IPA from Free Spirit / Rorschach is actually one of my regular NA beer choices, a great option after softball games in summer.

#31-45 – The Good Non-Alcoholic Beers

  • #45 – Upside Dawn by Athletic Brewing Co
  • #44 – Grainwave by Ceria Brewing Co
  • #43 – Libra Stout by Upstreet Craft Brewing
  • #42 – Classic IPA by Nirvana Brewery
  • #41 – Nord Star Juicy by Microbrasserie Grande Allée
  • #40 – Sagesse by Microbrasserie Le Trèfle Noir
  • #39 – A Non-Alc IPA V3 w/ Citra, Mosaic & Simcoe by Bellwoods
  • #38 – Stripped Craft Lime Infused Ale by Nøgne Ø
  • $37 – Bonfire Stout by Drop Bear Beer Co.
  • #36 – Nord Star Black IPA Sans Alcool by Microbrasserie Grande Allée
  • #35 – Bavarian Helles Lager by Nirvana Brewery
  • #34 – New World Lager by Drop Bear Beer Co.
  • #33 – Pale Ale by Nonny Beer
  • #32 – Hoppy Pale Ale by Nirvana Brewery
  • #31 – Red by Partake Brewing

Quite a mix of styles on this part of the list. For IPAs that are ranking lower like these, it is partly because many non-alcoholic IPAs have a noticeably similar lemon-y taste or generic recipe. Producing one with a unique aroma, hop profile, and taste seems to be a challenge to some breweries.

Enjoying a NA Beer while Snowshoeing
Enjoying a NA Beer while Snowshoeing

#16-30 – The Very Good Non-Alcoholic Beers

  • #30 – Fun House Non Alcoholic NEIPA by Vandestreek Bier BV
  • #29 – Saskaberry Blonde Ale by One for the Road Brewing Co.
  • #28 – Sleight of Hand by Tempest Brewing Co
  • #27 – Pine Trail Pale by Big Drop Brewing Co
  • #26 – Nanny State by Brewdog
  • #25 – Fahr Alkoholfrei by Fahr Brewery
  • #24 – Limbo Riesling by Mikkeller
  • #23 – iota Hazy IPA by Phillips Brewing and Malting Co.
  • #22 – Amber Lager by Rival House
  • #21 – Libra Pilsner by Upstreet Craft Brewing
  • #20 – Lamb of God Ghost Walker by Brewdog
  • #19 – Sure Lime Citron / Lime Lemon Sour by Bière Sans Alcool (BSA)
  • #18 – Personal Best by Mikkeller
  • #17 – Organic Session IPA by Sober Carpenter
  • #16 – Svart/Hvit by Nøgne Ø

That Saskaberry beer was nicely different, while the pilsner from Upstreet was really solid. I was actually surprised to enjoy quite a few non-alcoholic pilsners so much during this taste test, as some of the first ones I had were very bad. I thought the offerings from Mikkeller would be better overall, only Personal Best lived up to expectations.

Non-Alcoholic Beers from Alberta
Some good Non-Alcoholic Beers from Alberta

#1-15 – The Best Non-Alcoholic Beers

This was a very pleasing IPA, big aromatics, solidly citrusy, and made me thing of west coast IPAs.

Melon and tropical vibes, soft pleasing aroma with a nicely bright, hoppy taste. Finishes with a good bitterness.

This was floral and fruity. The Yuzu added a nice “woohoo!” to this alcohol-free pale ale!

Quite a nice surprise here. The Grüvi beers were a bit hit and miss for me, but this one over delivered big time. Great hop/malt balance, bold aromas, and plenty of body. Hard to say if I like this or PLAY Lager from Perth more.

Light colour to this one, but it drank very smooth. Almost velvety and quite tropical.

Unique flavour to this one made me really appreciate it. Its an IPA but drinks like a flavourful pale ale.

Crisp, clean, believable. A non-alcoholic lager that puts many regular lagers to shame. Perhaps my favourite NA lager.

Bit of a hop bite on the finish, but an overall very smooth and creamy body overall. Not as “watery” as you may think. May have enjoyed this even more, since I was camping at the time?

Hazy IPAs that Don't make you Feel Hazy
Hazy IPAs that Don’t make you Feel Hazy, this NA option from Libra one is good

All around enjoyable IPA, with some grapefruit hints. This one really hit the spot, and made me forget I wasn’t drinking a real IPA!

Nicely tart, this packed a full wallop of raspberries and tons of flavour. A nicer balance between tart/sweet than some other alcohol-free raspberry sours I’ve tried.

Rough and piney, old school IPA vibes to this Pale Pale. This was big aromas and big flavours, a real winner for a non-alcoholic brew.

A Berliner Weisse with passionfruit that delivers a crazy, delicious, tangy, and aromatic flavour wallop. If you get this fresh, it’s an absolute winner.

Dry, roasty, some coffee aromas and flavours happening with this stout. I have found that a lot of non-alcoholic stouts have trouble finding enough body to contain the potentially big flavours. This one was was nicely bold all around.

Piney, grapefruit, bitterness. This is not a light, fluffy hazy ipa, its a bold tropical ipa that delivers on aroma and flavour. Stands out from the crowd nicely!

Extremely delicious. Checks all the right boxes. Beautiful light red colour, with strong berry aromas, and it drinks tart! Tons of raspberry and blueberry, great from start to finish. better than many full strength sours and fruited beers.

Nirvana Brewery NA Beer Bottles
NA Beer Bottles from Nirvana Brewery. Good stuff. Also the only beer shipment I’ve had a broken bottle on. Need to locate their NA stout!

That’s the list…for now. I have a lot of great non-alcoholic beers left to sample still, so who knows what the final “best” brews will be. I can give you one hint though: give Guinness 0.0 a try if you can find it!

For those wondering, I am still enjoying plenty of full strength beers as well, I’m just reaching for a good NA beer more often these days, now that I’ve discovered some good ones.

Beer

Sawdust City Brew Camp – I’m Brewing my First Beer!

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This coming Saturday is Brew Camp at Sawdust City Brewery and I’ll be there!

I’m sure our small group of beer campers will be a bunch of passionate beer lovers, so I am quite looking forward to brewing my first beer with them. As someone who has never done any home brewing, this is the perfect opportunity for me to get a bit more hands-on by seeing, and helping with, an actual brewing process. I realize home brewing and brewing on a large commercial scale are different beasts, but I’m kind of more interested in seeing how beer is brewed by one of my favourite Ontario breweries anyways!

Sawdust City Beer Flight
A flight of beers at the Sawdust City Saloon

 

It has been 3+ years since the current Sawdust City Brewery facility opened, and I fondly remember my first visit shortly after they opened. The first beer I tried in their Saloon was Gourd Downie Pumpkin Ale. I tend to hate pumpkin beers (my least favourite style), but I did enjoy that one. I visited a number of times on trips up north and liked that they always had a couple of odd, “fun-off” type of experimental brews on tap in the Brewery Saloon like Pink Pajamas and The Salty Brine. They may not always have experimental beers on tap now, as they are more likely to have a guest tap or two, plus they’ve created too many solid beers the past few years that are often on tap!

Nowadays I have a few Sawdust City beers that are in my regular rotation. Lone Pine IPA still stands up to any other Ontario IPAs out there, which I can enjoy any time of year (and Juicin’ appeals to the soft, fluffy IPA drinkers now). The Blood of Cthulhu is a treat on any cold, winter day, and one of my go-to simple summer softball beers is Little Norway, which I always bring with me when playing a game at Little Norway park in Toronto. The beer name itself is tied to some pretty cool Canadian history too, which is something Sawdust City does with some of their beer names.

It is going to be a fun day on Saturday. I’m not sure what type of beer we’ll be making, nor am I sure how hard they’ll work us! I’m sure I’ll gain a new level of respect for all the brewery workers who spend their days working hard to create delicious drink treats for us beer consumers! I’m looking at this day as an amped up Brewery Tour, with some nice perks that I’ll have to work for!

Sawdust City Brewery
Looking forward to some tasty Sawdust City beers at Brew Camp!

 

We’ll be learning all day long, and enjoying some food and brews along the way. Aside from lunch and a beer, we’ll get our very own Brew Camp shirts. Plus, of course we get to bottle and take home the beer we brew when it is ready in a few weeks! Will our beer turn out to be a winner? Will anyone fall into some tanks? Will I be the only one with zero brewing knowledge? I’ll find out in a few days – wish me luck!

As for Brew Camp, this isn’t the first time Sawdust City has put together the concept, and I’m sure it won’t be the last either. Check their website events list and social media channels for news on any future Brew Camps if it sounds like something you’d like to do!

Beer

12 Years of Beers – Fuller’s Vintage Ale

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One of my longest-standing beer traditions is picking up a Fuller’s Vintage Ale from the LCBO every December. I’ve done this for probably the past 15 years or so.

12 years ago I upped my game and began purchasing more than one bottle each year. I usually would buy three bottles: one to drink right away, one to enjoy after a couple of years, and one to store away until…now.

Fuller's Vintage Ale Vertical
A 12 Year Tasting of Fuller’s Vintage Ales

 

I thought after I had 10 vintages I’d crack them open, but I had a nice box I was storing them in, which had two empty slots still, so I continued on until this year, where I now have 12 years of beers to enjoy for the holidays.

Starting with Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2017 and ending with Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2006, myself and some other beer people will see how things stack up year over year. What vintage do you think will come out on top? Will the 2006 still be holding up? Should I have waited even longer to do this beer vertical?

As the strength of this beer stays the same every year at 8.5%, but the mix of hops used in the recipe change, it will be interesting to see just how much variance there is from year to year. Strangely, the bottles from 2006-2012 each have a best before date of three years after they were produced. Bottles from 2013-2017 have a best before date of 10 years after they were produced. Not sure what brought about that change!

I know from my personal preferences that drinking the Fuller’s Vintage Ales when they first come out is sometimes a bit too early. They are good, but get better with a few years on them. But is 10+ years too long? We shall find out soon! I’ll be taking notes at this tasting and reporting back here soon.

Click on the Title of any vintage blow to see the Untappd check-in.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2017 (Rated 4/5)

Notes: Malty and not too sweet. Little nutty. Quite smooth for so young.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2016 (Rated 3.75/5)

Notes: A bit bready. Quite dry. Less pleasing aroma than 2017.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2015 (Rated 3.75/5)

Notes: Quite reddish colour. Sweet malts. Slightly fruity finish. Bit too sweet, strong butterscotch as it warms. Most complex so far.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2014 (Rated 4/5)

Notes: Pretty floral and fruity aroma. Quite appealing. Malty sweet with caramel undertones. Best so far.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2013 (Rated 3.25/5)

Notes: Not as good as when fresh. A bit off perhaps? A bit metallic, sweet. Good in the middle. Rough overall. Weird finish. Sugary aroma. Meh.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2012 (Rated 3.5/5)

Notes: Caramel/toffee aroma. Similar on taste. Sweet but not too sweet. Gets better as it warms, but not a winner.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2011 (Rated 4/5)

Notes: Very smooth and well integrated. Starting to get ageing appreciation! Malty, yet complex. A winner, in the top 3 so far.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2010 (Rated 4.25/5)

Notes: Starting to feel the beers now. This is very well balanced. Malt, dark stone fruits & caramel flavours. Favourite so far!

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2009 (Rated 4.75/5)

Notes: Whoa, massive gusher! 1.5ft high. Lost 4/5ths of the beer. Apple! Spice! So nice! Best yet. Cinnamon & more, beauty beer, but likely not what it was meant to be like.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2008 (Rated 4.25/5)

Notes: Smooth, complex…roasted oats and malts flavor. Semi-sweet, well integrated, very pleasing.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2007 (Rated 3.25/5)

Notes: Toffee and malt. Cohesive aromas and flavours but no depth. Odd. Dull. Past prime.

Fuller’s Vintage Ale 2006 (Rated 4.25/5)

Notes: Don’t mean to be biased because this is the oldest of the vertical, but this is fantastically blended. Super smooth, caramel, fruits, wood.

Final verdict is that Fuller’s Vintage Ales hold up for many years. Definitely beyond the “3 years” posted on bottles up to 2012. After having some time to let everything settle and go over my notes, there really wasn’t a ton of variance in these beers. The 2017 was the only one with nutty flavours, and the 2009 anomaly must have turned to become something different. The risk of ageing too long seems to be a potentially “flat” flavour profile that happened in the 2007, but the 2006 escaped this flaw.

It was fun night with good beers.

Beer

Craft Beer Day in Buffalo

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Crossing the border into Buffalo for some US beers is a common thing for craft beer lovers in southern Ontario. Even when our Canadian dollar is dropping, the lure of different beers can be strong.

I’ve hopped over to the Buffalo area for trips as short as a few hours to stock up on supplies, but most people combine a beer day in Buffalo with at least one overnight so you can actually enjoy some beers while you’re there! So, for anyone who hasn’t done a beer day in Buffalo, here are some of my personal tips on where to stay, where to drink and where to buy some bottles to bring home.

Resurgence Brewery in Buffalo
Resurgence Brewery in Buffalo

 

Where to Drink Craft Beer in Buffalo

There are a few places that get top mention by many beer lovers, and a handful of them are in the Mike Shatzel’s empire. He owns Moor Pat, Coles, Blue Monk, Allen Burger Venture and perhaps other places. So, feel free to hit any of them up. Coles gets a lot of love, and while they special events and tap list is impressive, I have to admit I’ve never been a big fan of their food.

Now, if you’re in town for a hockey game or other event, the old school Pearl Street Grill & Brewery is convenient, and stopping at the nearby 716 Sports Bar at Harbor Center will at least yield surprisingly decent food to go along with the massive wall of TVs to catch the game, even if the beer selection isn’t quite as solid as other options.

Pizza Plant gets a nod for people who like beer, but may be heading over with the family, so require a more family-friendly spot. Their location on Transit Road in Clarence (close to the Griffon Gastropub, another worthy beer stop) has always been popular, but they’re just opened a new spot at Canalside, which should be a great addition to that part of the city.

Beer Samples in Buffalo
Beer Samples in Buffalo at Resurgence Brewing Company

 

The Riverside neighborhood is a great area with Flying Bison and Hydraulic Hearth there (the beers at Hydraulic Hearth are brewed on-site by Community Beer Works). Plus, Resurgence Brewing is probably the top spot in town when it comes to breweries, although there are many many others I haven’t mentioned – these are just my personal favourites.

Flying Bison Brewery
Flying Bison Brewery, Buffalo

 

Where to Buy Bottles of Beer

A big attraction for Canadians heading to Buffalo for beer is picking up bottles of US beers we can’t get here at home. Grab what you like at any of the breweries that you visit, then hit Premier Gourmet. It is easily the bets bottle shop around. Chances are they’ll have the local beer you want. If you’re seeking a special brew, and can’t find it there, then Village Beer Merchant is a possible stop as well. Their selection is smaller, but they do get some beers that you may not find at Premier. For the price conscious, places like Wegmans and Consumers beverages carry good selections as well.

Where to Stay in Buffalo

Extending your beer day in Buffalo to include some actual sampling requires an overnight. The challenge here is that Buffalo is a bit spread out when it comes to hopping around to the best bottle shops, bars and breweries. Your best bet is to do your bottle shopping first, then so sampling over in the Riverside neighborhood.

Downtown Buffalo from Hampton Inn
View of Downtown Buffalo from Hampton Inn & Suites

 

Then stay somewhere close to downtown, where you can hop on the light rail train or be within an easy taxi ride or hearty walk of some of the best beer bars. For location and price, the Hampton Inn and Suites downtown hotel wins for me. It has a really solid breakfast and is close enough to all the bars and pubs. As a bonus, if you’re a meat-eater both Dinosaur BBQ and The Lodge are just minutes away, two good eating spots with decent bottle or draft beer options.

Final tip – if you’re not staying more than 48 hours in the US, then you’ll need to pay duty on any beer you bring back across the border. Sometimes they don’t mind and wave you on through even if you have alcohol any haven’t been in the US long enough to get an exception. But, don’t expect that – be prepared and have your receipts ready and expect to pay a duty surcharge when you’re crossing back into Canada.

Dinosaur BBQ - Buffalo
Local Beer Sampler and Meat at Dinosaur BBQ, Buffalo

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Beers from the Faroe Islands – Okkara and Foroya Bjor

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With only two breweries distributing across the Faroes, I do believe the Faroe Islands probably have the poorest selection of local beers when compared to just about any other European country.

For those that don’t know, these islands are off in the middle of the North Atlantic, between Iceland and Scotland, and they had a long prohibition period, so it really isn’t a surprise that there isn’t a big local beer scene in the islands. Add to that, the fact that the entire country has a population of only 50,000 people, and I guess I should be happy that there actually are two breweries in the Faroes!

Atlantic Airways - Lunch
Flying into the Faroe Islands, free Foroya Bjor Pilsnar beer included!

 

The first, dating back to 1888, is Foroya Bjor. For a long time (when prohibition wasn’t on) this was the only option when it came to Faroese beer. In 2010, Okkara Brewing entered the scene and gives Foroya a bit of competition. One thing that caused me some confusion when in the Faroes was that both breweries have some beers with the same name. So if you order a “Classic” or a “Gull” you’ll need to make sure it is from the brewery you wanted.

The national soccer team is partly sponsored by Foroya Bjor, as are most major events (including the very cool G! Music Festival I went to). Okkara on the other hand has a more adventurous palate with some different styles of beer than Foroya Bjor. It’s also more prevalent at some of the fancier, or higher end hotels and restaurants around the islands, such as KOKS. In general though, expect Foroya Bjor to be the only option at most places you visit.

A pint of Foroya Bjor
Enjoying a pint of Foroya Bjor Classic beer on Suduroy Island

 

Now if you find yourself spending a lot of time in the Faroes you’ll either learn to love the local beer, or you will hit up the Rusdrekkasola state-run liquor stores and splurge on some pricey import beers. Actually some imports are not priced too badly. An example of beer prices in the Faroe Islands for small single bottles at the liquor store is $3.50 for Budweiser, $5 for Chimay or $6.50 for Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast.

Comparatively, at a bar in the Faroes you’ll normally pay around $6-8 for a pint of local beer. It is rare to find imported beer in bars, but the simply named Irish Pub in Torshavn offers Guinness and Kilkenny on tap for about $11 a pint. I was unable to visit either local brewery during my time in the islands, but I was able to sample pretty much all of the beers that the two local breweries were producing at the time. Here is my quick run down and review of Faroese beers.

Okkara Portari
Okkara Portari. The best beer in the Faroe Islands.

 

Beers that I tried in the Faroe Islands:

Pilsnar by Föroya Bjór

Yellow/orange colour with a soapy white layer of head. This was the very first Faroese beer I had, as it was served on the Atlantic Airways flight from Copenhagen to Torshavn. Overall it had a grainy corn aroma and mild sweet taste.

Var by Okkara

Many of my favourite beers come from Belgium, so discovering what was sold to me as a Belgian blonde ale in the Faroe Islands was a nice surprise! Vår is, indeed, a decent beer. It is not a Belgian blonde ale, but it is a tasty brew. I’d say more of an amber ale, as it is an amber colour with plenty of malts and a bit of sweet spiciness. Nice flavour transition on this one and definitely worth seeking out.

Black Sheep - Faroese Beer
Black Sheep – a solid Faroese Beer

 

Black Sheep by Föroya Bjór

A Euro Dark Lager. Generally when I hear a beer is a “Euro-style” something I cringe a bit, as it means bland and boring. The good stuff doesn’t get continentally generalized. But this was a nice surprise. A good amount of malts with a semi-bitter finish. Not too heavy. Was especially tasty on the beach at the G! Festival.

Traevetur Veorur 1888 Tripple Ram by Föroya Bjór

I found this beauty on a big night out with some locals in Torshavn. During a bit of bar-hopping and chats with drunken Sea Shepherd supporters in town to “save the whales”, we stopped in at Mojo bar, where they had this available. At 8.5% I anticipated this being a sharp, rough alcohol bomb. But it was a pleasant surprise, and one of the better beers from the Faroes. A smooth, amber brew with a malty start and gradually bitter, lingering finish.

Grönur Vedrur - G! Festival Beer
Grönur Vedrur – the special beer brewed for the G! Festival

 

Gronur Vedrur by Föroya Bjór

Festival beer! This brew was created specifically for the 2014 G! Festival in the Faroes. Don’t think it is available any longer. With that said, I think it may have just been a re-branded version of one of the other Foroya Bjor beers. It was a 4.6% pilsner that was similar to Gull and 1888, but a bit milder (i.e. watered down). A safe, enjoyable beer for when you’re in for a long session, I did enjoy it multiple times. Nothing memorable, but nothing bad about it either.

Portari by Okkara

This beer gets my personal “best beer from the Faroe Islands” award. Decent body, without being too thick or heavy. I’d classify this as a smoked porter as it has a good amount of smoke added to the roasty, cocoa flavours. Sadly, it took me until the last day of my trip in the Faroe Islands to track this one down, perhaps a good excuse to return one day?

1888 Special Edition by Föroya Bjór

I had this beer twice in the Faroes. Once while eating a Faroese crepe in Gota and once while listening to live music at Sirkus bar in Torshavn. Oddly, another brew with a slightly soapy head. Seems a bit of a trend in the Faroes. This was a pale lager, sweet and crisp. Smoother than the Sterkur Vedrur and comparable to any “popular” lager you’d find in bars in Canada or the US. Actually, better than the mass-produced generics out there.

Nordic Cider in the Faroes
Nordic Cider is a sweet apple cider from the Faroe Islands

 

Nordic Cider by Föroya Bjór

I’m not a big cider drinker, but when options are as limited as they are in the Faroe Islands, I’ll try what I can! Met up with some girls form the Czech Republic who seemed fond of this cider, and I did actually enjoy it. It was exceptionally sweet, not very acidic. Not something I could drink a lot of, but a nice local alternative to beer if you’re looking for other Faroese alcohol options!

Classic by Föroya Bjór

I’d class this beer close to an Amber lager. Quite malty and slightly one-dimensional. A bit toffee sweet but thoroughly smooth and easy drinking. I found having this on draft was quite a bit better than from cans. It went very well with a hearty lunch while exploring Suðuroy Island.

Klassic by Okkara

Hey look, Okkara has a “Classic” beer just like Foroya Bjor! In the battle of the beers, I give the edge to Okkara as offering up the better Classic/Klassic beer in the Faroe Islands. This beer is another Vienna Lager. You pretty much get pilsners or amber / Vienna lagers in the Faroes most places you go. I’d stick to the Vienna lagers when you can as they are overall more flavourful and enjoyable. This particular beer was a decently malty brew with some bready, caramel flavours. Simplistically nice for the style. Enjoyed this while dining at a surprisingly good Italian restaurant in Torshavn.

Vanliga by Okkara

The beer names from Okkara are definitely kind of fun, with Vanliga being the most entertaining one to say. As with half og the beers in the Faroes, it’s a light looking brew, without a lot of inspiration. Another 3/5 rating type of beer. Some malts, fairly sweet, slight fruit elements, which was nice. A little more rounded than most pilsners and lagers in the Faroes, but not enough to elevate it to what I would call “good beer’ status. Worth trying, as it could appeal to others more than it appealed to me.

Slupp Ol by Foroya Bjor
Slupp Ol by Foroya Bjor in the Faroe Islands

 

Slupp Ol by Föroya Bjór

A Vienna Lager, and it was one of my favourite beers from the Faroes. I think it was the best version of the style found in the islands. It was well-balanced, with a nicely malty aroma and sweet/bitter mix that worked from start to finish. Savouring this during a BBQ dinner was a bit more relaxing than drinking it while trying to decipher Faroese questions during a pub trivia night.

Gull by Föroya Bjór

An “export beer” of the Faroes. That generally means “slightly higher alcohol content”! I had this while eating lunch at the restaurant near where the Vestmanna Bird Cliff boat tours depart. Secretly I had been hoping for a puffin sandwich, but seems eating puffins in the Faroes is not as common as it once was. The beer itself was actually quite smooth. Perhaps one of the best simple lagers you can find in the Faroe Islands. Unlike some Faroese beers that I found to be less enjoyable in cans than from the tap, this tasted solid in both versions.

Van Bryggj - Spring Beer
Van Bryggj is a refreshing, spiced, spring seasonal beer in the Faroe Islands

 

Var Bryggj by Föroya Bjór

Another export beer from the Faroes. This was a seasonal beer, something that Foroya Bjor seems to do quite often. A spiced beer with a sort of herbal and grassy taste. Nicely different from the other pale lagers in the Faroe Islands. I couldn’t pick out any specific spices or herbs, but did find this a good, refreshing beer.  I received this beer as a surprise gift from Tollakkur Hansen who guided me around Vagar Island one day.

Green Islands Stout by Föroya Bjór

My first (and only) stout brewed in the Faroe Islands! It was nothing crazy, but definitely solid enough to hold its own against your average stout. Smooth, mild chocolate sweetness. No real bitterness, a bit simple, but a beer I’d happily drink again. Wasn’t very easy to find this one, but a couple of the popular bars in Torshavn have it.

Rinkusteinur beer by Okkara
Rinkusteinur beer by Okkara at KOKS Restaurant in Torshavn

 

Rinkusteinur by Okkara

A bold, malty amber beer with slightly bitter and sour undertones. Complex and enjoyable. Rinkusteinur became a favourite beer of mine in the Faroe Islands and I’d grab it whenever I was able to find it. While Okkara is gaining in popularity, their beers are not as widely distributed as Foroya Bjor. A funny side note, when I took the picture of this beer, the person who took the photo used for the beer label was sitting beside me at dinner.

Tróndur by Okkara

Had this at the bar in the Hvonn Brasserie restaurant in Torshavn. Ouch, this one was a miss. While most beers in the Faroes slightly exceeded my expectations (of which I did not expect much), this one was a rough one to finish. At 7.6% it’s is a strong pilsner, but unlike other stronger Faroese beers such as Portari or Sterkru Vedrur, this Trondur beer fails to hide the alcohol at all. A bit sour and cider-like on aroma, the taste was a mess. Seemed like the beer was unfinished. Can’t recommend this one.

Gull by Okkara

Another beer I enjoyed at the Irish Pub in Torshavn. Not the best of the bunch, but not the worst. With a fairly strong sweet “corn” aroma and generic lacklustre taste, it reminded me of of pretty much every lager around the world. On the plus side it wasn’t harsh, didn’t have any bitterness or unpleasing elements to it. It was crisp and clean, just not much in terms of flavour. A beer I likely wouldn’t buy again, but if someone else bought it for me, I’d probably drink it. I did kind of find it funny that both Okkara and Foroya Bjor have beers with the same name, when there are only around a dozen beer options to choose from!

Sterkur Vedrur by Föroya Bjór

This was an imperial pilsner, clocking in at 7.2%. It was a surprise find at the airport when I was leaving the country. Clear, crisp, with a somewhat bitter bite to it. Far from terrible for a strong beer, but hardly the best that the Faroes had to offer.

Beers and Crepes in the Faroes
Beers and Crepes by the beach in the Faroe Islands

 

If you are curious about how I decided to visit the Faroe Islands, well it’s been on my list of destination for quite some time. From 2010 to 2013 I ran a “Travel Match” competition on Twitter. It included every single country in the world, and the final match came down to Bhutan & the Faroe Islands. That helped to elevate my interest in the Faroes even more, and thankfully the good people at Nordic Obsession Tours started running tours to the Faroe Islands in 2014, so I joined them for a fun time around the Faroes.