Clausthaler, from Germany, is leader in non-alcoholic beer. I know, I lost you at “non-alcoholic.” But bear with me, because with Santa Clausthaler’s fantastic Santa headshot on the label, it can’t be all that bad!
On opening a bottle and pouring, there’s a nice head of light foam above a slight rose-colored liquid. On the nose, there’s a pleasant aroma of cinnamon and sweet cranberry. Turning to the back of the bottle, the label describes the drink as: 50% Clausthaler non-alcoholic malt beverage and 50% cranberry-cinnamon drink.
It tastes as it’s labeled: cranberry and cinnamon. It’s not overly sweet like a cranberry juice. It has nice carbonation, a zingy mouthfeel, and a clean finish. Perhaps it’s the 50% malt beverage that provides dry backbone to the mix. There’s just the right amount of cinnamon. It’s 0.5% ABV.
My preference for a Christmas beer is a higher ABV malty dark ale. I couldn’t imagine liking this drink, but I do. As a long as I think of it as a drink and not a beer. Works for me.
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