When I first picked up the Budweiser Budvar Nealko, I thought it was the European version of the Bud Zero. I later found out that there are two different breweries called Budweiser. Now, that’s confusing!
One is the famous American brewery owned by AB InBev, while the other is a Czech brewery named Budweiser Budvar Brewery. So how does the Czech non-alcoholic Budweiser taste? Here are my tasting notes in this Budweiser Budvar Nealko review.
A Quick Look At Budweiser Budvar Nealko
Budweiser Budvar Nealko is a non-alcoholic beer by Czech brewery Budweiser Budvar, inspired by the Budweiser Budvar Original beer. Budweiser Budvar is located in the Czech city České Budějovice, and it is famous for its pale lager brewed with Moravian barley and Saaz hops.
If you’re confused about the similarities between Budweiser Budvar and the United State’s Budweiser, you can be forgiven. While the two breweries are separate companies, both breweries use Budweiser in their name and even share similar fonts.
That is because both companies have been in legal disputes since 1907, with more than 100 global court cases suing each other for the right to use the name Budweiser. Today, Budweiser Budvar has the rights to use the name in Europe (and name their beers Czechvar in North America), while AB InBev has the right to use the name in North America (and Bud in Europe).
Recommended Beer Glass: Use a Pilsner glass to serve Budvar Nealko. A Pilsner glass has a tall and slender design that effectively showcases the effervescent qualities of a lager.
Budvar Nealko Review
Looks
Like a typical lager, Budvar Nealko pours a golden amber with a lively dose of carbonation. It has a rather thin white foam head that does not retain well.
Aroma
On the nose, we can smell mostly notes of bready malts and lots of malt sweetness. There is also a light whiff of grass. It reminds us of every other non-alcoholic supermarket lager we’ve tried.
Taste
Just like the aroma, the taste is also mostly bready malts and a hint of grassiness. It has the taste of a typical non-alcoholic lager that you’ll find at the supermarket. To be honest, it reminds me a lot of a Bud Zero.
On the palate, the body is light and thin with lively carbonation.
There is a slight hint of hop bitterness, while the malt sweetness is not obvious. The beer goes down easily, and the finish is dry with slight lingering bitterness.
Budvar Nealko Ingredients
Budvar Nealko is made from water, Moravian barley malt, and hops.
Budvar Nealko Calories
A 330mL bottle of Budvar Nealko contains 51.15 calories and 10.23 grams of carbohydrates, of which 5.28 grams are sugar.
| Avg Quantity Per Serving (330ml) | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 51.15 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 10.23g |
| Protein | 0.66g |
| Fat | 0g |
Final Verdict Of Our Budvar Nealko Review
So is Czech Republic’s Budweiser Budvar Nealko better than the US’ Budweiser Zero? Well, we honestly can’t tell the difference. Both taste like generic supermarket lagers that no one will miss.
The pro of Budvar Nealko is that it feels light and refreshing. The con is that it is nothing special, and you’ll likely drink it if there were no other options.
Best For:
- Those looking for the classic lager taste and a smooth mouthfeel
- If you’re looking for a light sessionable NA beer
Not Recommended For:
- If you’re looking for a more complex tasting NA beer
Where to Buy Budvar Nealko
If you’re in the UK, you can order directly from Amazon UK. For those in the United States, you can find Budvar Nealko’s US version, the good ol’ Bud Zero, from Proof No More.
We hope you enjoyed our Budweiser Budvar Nealko review. If you’re craving even more non-alcoholic beer reviews, click below:
The Czech Budweiser reminds us of the Bud Zero, which is nothing special to shout about.