We tested alcohol-free beers & ciders for Dry January – the winner tastes just like real thing & has half the calories

AFTER weeks of over-indulgence, Dry January is looking very appealing to many.

And with plenty of booze-free variations of popular alcoholic tipples on supermarket shelves, you’re spoilt for choice if you want to start 2023 with a healthier choice.

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But do these teetotal beers, ales and ciders taste as good as the real thing? 

Hayley Minn tests 11 alcohol-free beverages against their standard versions, rating each out of five for taste and their similarity to the original.

She also lists the calorie content of both types of drinks.

Corona Cero

£3 for 4x330ml, Tesco (with Clubcard)

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CORONA is one of my favourite beers, so I was pleased that its non-alcoholic version didn’t disappoint.

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It tasted so similar I had to check the label to make sure I wasn’t going to get hammered.

All that was missing was a slice of lime.

Taste: 4
Similarity: 5
non-alcoholic: 56kcal
alcoholic: 139kcal

Kopparberg Pear Cider Alcohol-Free

£1.30 for 500ml

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THIS brand is known for its sweet, fruity ciders, but its alcohol-free pear flavour is even sweeter than usual.

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It tastes more like sparkling fruit juice, and there is not much in it when it comes to calories.

As a refreshing drink, however, it’s quite nice.

Taste: 3
Similarity: 2
non-alcoholic: 210kcal
alcoholic: 240kcal

Budweiser Zero

£3 for 4x330ml, Tesco

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THIS felt like I was drinking sparkling water rather than a beer.

Despite this, the non-alcoholic version of Budweiser contains fewer than half the calories as the original, so maybe it’s a good replacement if you’re trying to lose weight.

Taste: 3
Similarity: 2
non-alcoholic: 46kcal
alcoholic: 116kcal

Brewdog Lost AF

£4.50 for 4x330ml, Brewdog.com

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DESPITE being one of the more expensive brands, Brewdog has been a major driver in the success of non-alcoholic brews.

Its alcohol-free alternative to Lost is more fruity than the 4.7% lager. The grapefruit and passion fruit flavours are delicious.

Taste: 5
Similarity: 4
non-alcoholic: 33kcal
alcoholic: 129kcal

Stella Artois Alcohol-Free

£3 for 4x330ml, Tesco (with Clubcard)

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HARDLY a Stella performance from the Belgian brewers.

I’M not a big fan of their lager, but for those who do enjoy it, this alcohol-free version sadly tastes completely different.

It’s pretty bad – I’d go as far to say undrinkable.

Don’t bother.

Taste: 1
Similarity: 1
non-alcoholic: 60kcal
alcoholic: 153kcal

Heineken Zero

£8 for 12x330ml, Tesco (with Clubcard)

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THE usual version has a fruity, malty flavour, and its alcohol-free option almost perfectly mimics the taste.

The only thing missing was a hint of the bitterness you get in a normal beer.

If you enjoy Heineken, this is an excellent alternative.

Taste: 4
Similarity: 4
non-alcoholic: 69kcal
alcoholic: 137kcal

Brewdog Punk AF

£4.50 for 4x330ml, Brewdog.com

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WHILE Brewdog’s alcohol-free lager was one of my favourites, the craft beer brand’s IPA wasn’t nearly as pleasant.

Unfortunately Punk AF was extremely flavourless and watery.

It tasted nothing like the IPA, which is actually very fruity.

Taste: 1
Similarity: 2
non-alcoholic: 50kcal
alcoholic: 158kcal

Birra Moretti Zero

£4.80 for 4x330ml, Sainsbury's

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I REALLY enjoy Birra Moretti, so I was looking forward to its alcohol-free incarnation.

While it’s not that similar to the original, the Zero is really good.

It tastes more of lemon rather than the bitterness of lager.

But as a stand-alone alcohol-free drink, this is one of my favourites.

Taste: 4
Similarity: 3
non-alcoholic: 66kcal
alcoholic: 123kcal

Leffe Blonde 0.0%

£4 for 6x250ml, Tesco (with Clubcard)

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I’M not the biggest ale drinker, but Leffe Blonde is one of the better-tasting ones, in my opinion.

However, the same cannot be said for the alcohol-free version.

The taste was so bad and sickly syrup-like, I almost gagged on my first sip!

Taste: 1
Similarity: 3
non-alcoholic: 100kcal
alcoholic: 142kcal

San Miguel 0.0%

£3 for 4x330ml, Asda

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THERE’S nothing remarkable to say about San Miguel’s alcohol-free beer.

It’s definitely drinkable, but doesn’t really have much flavour, with little to no bitterness.

If you like San Miguel usually, and are looking for an alternative, this is a solid option.

Taste: 3
Similarity: 3
non-alcoholic: 79kcal
alcoholic: 137kcal

Guinness 0.0% Alcohol Free Draught Stout

£4 for 4x440ml, Tesco (with Clubcard)

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GUINNESS has pulled off a masterstroke in creating a 0.0% version of the iconic stout which tastes delicious and remarkably similar to the real thing.

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There’s a satisfying creamy head when poured from the can and although the taste is slightly lighter than the alcoholic original, it’s the only noticeable difference.

Taste: 5
Similarity: 4
non-alcoholic: 70kcal
alcoholic: 154kcal