Beer review: Innis & None

beer review south africa

I have very mixed feelings about this beer. Non-alcoholic beers are a tricky business and never quite a substitute for the real thing. As a beverage, I quite enjoyed Innis & None. As a beer, not so much.

I loved the nose – a massive wave of stewed gooseberries (not the Cape kind). I love the smell of gooseberries and it brought back fine childhood memories of baking gooseberry crumble with my grandmother. I’m not entirely sure what’s lending this potent gooseberriness but it must be one of the “beer’s” additives – vitamin C, ginseng (doubtful since ginseng tastes/smells like soil) or guarana (anyone know what guarana smells like??).

The additives do dominate but there is a certain beeriness to Innis & None. It’s surprisingly malt-forward – notes of nicely browned toast lend an initial sweetness but this quickly gives way to a tart finish that attacks you on all sides of your tongue. The aftertaste is pleasant but you do have to enjoy the bitter and the tart to enjoy this beer.

I suppose the additions were a smart idea, making this a cross between a non-alc beer and an energy drink. Designated drivers or general non-drinkers out with their beer-swilling buddies will no doubt appreciate the caffeine kick from the guarana. It’s tough to stay awake and engaged when you’re surrounded by tipsy folk. Pregnant women who fancy a non-alc brew should probably read up on the compatibility of guarana and being up the duff before partaking though.

Overall, it’s more interesting and more flavourful than most non-alcoholic beers I’ve sampled (with the exception of BrewDog’s Nanny State). As a beverage I would give it a solid three, but as a beer it gets a 2.5.

Interested in non-alcoholic beer? Check out this review of six locally available versions.

5 Comments

  1. Apiwe

    Haven’t tried this one yet….being currently pregnant have been on the look-out for as many non-alcoholic /low alcohol beers/beverages. Wasn’t particularly impressed with Brewdog’s Nanny State – maybe because everyone kept telling me its THE BEER to try. I agree with your previous post, ERDINGER Weiss was also a complete let-down. My go to beer at the moment is Beck’s – I find its the closest to your typical lager without trying too much. Also enjoying the Duchess Virgin Gin n Tonic and a few local non-alcoholic ginger beers and craft ice tea. I think there’s definitely a gap within the market when it comes to non-alcoholic beers, but they are not easy to make (have tried )

    Reply
    • Lucy Corne

      I wish Duchess had been around when I was pregnant – I think it’s excellent. Non-alc beers always seem to miss the mark somehow (but the maybe a gin nerd would say the same about Duchess??)

      Not long to go now 😉

      Reply
  2. John Morrow

    With the wife being off alcoholic beers since early last year when we found out that she was pregnant (and now in Month 9 of breastfeeding), we searched high and low for a suitable non-alcoholic beer for a lady that loves her beers. The only two that made the grade are the Erdinger and the Nanny State.
    The Erdinger is better value for money, but that Nanny State has hops up the wazoo!

    Reply
    • Lucy Corne

      And hops are good for breast milk. Probably.

      (Disclaimer: I am not a qualified doctor)

      Reply
      • John Morrow

        Haha! Let’s just say it is and leave it at that ?

        Reply

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