While on holiday in Malta and at the supermarket searching for Maltese beer Cisk 0.0, I chanced upon this German non-alcoholic lager. Gerstel non-alcoholic beer was Germany’s first non-alcoholic beer when it launched in 1977, and today it is being sold as a Euro lager, a.k.a a cheap non-alcoholic beer option in Europe.
Read on to learn more about my tasting notes in this Gerstel non-alcoholic beer review, and find out if I enjoyed Germany’s first alcohol-free beer!
What is Gerstel Alkoholfrei?
Gerstel Alkoholfrei bier is a German Pilsner brewed in Mannheim, Germany. The brewery is owned by Privatbrauerei Eichbaum, which brews different beers under the Eichbaum brand name.
There’s not a lot public information about Gerstel that I could find, except that it was the first non-alcoholic beer in Germany.
Gerstel Non-Alcoholic Beer Ingredients
Gerstel non-alcoholic beer is made from water, barley malt, carbon dioxide, and hop extract.
Gerstel Non-Alcoholic Beer Calories
A 500 mL can of Gerstel Alkoholfrei contains 95 calories, approximately 21g of carbohydrates, 12g of sugar, and <2.5g of protein.
| Avg Quantity Per 100ml | |
|---|---|
| Calories | 19 kcal |
| Carbohydrates | 4.2g |
| Fat | <0.1g |
| Protein | <0.5g |
Gerstel Non-Alcoholic Beer Review
Looks & Aroma
The Gerstel Alkoholfrei pours a clear straw color with medium carbonation. The foam head is about a finger wide and is white, fluffy, and has moderate retention.
On the nose, it smells mostly of light malted grains and a touch of sweetness from the malts. The aroma profile is weak and lacks complexity, which was disappointing as I love a strong-smelling beer with more than just grainy malts for aroma.
Taste
The disappointing aroma carries on to its flavor profile. First thoughts: the malt sweetness and grainy malts make up the flavor.
The cloying malt sweetness dominates the barely-detectable hop bitterness, although there is some lingering of hop bitterness at the back of my throat as I swallow. The lingering bitterness has an unpleasant artificial taste.
This alcohol-free beer has a thin mouthfeel and feels a little watery. The palate carbonation is also quite light, so the beer felt quite flat in my mouth.
Verdict – Is Gerstel Non-Alcoholic Beer Worth It?
Can I get my Euro back? Unfortunately not, so I’ve just wasted a good Euro on this German non-alcoholic lager. This beer tastes bland and too sweet and has an unpleasant bitter aftertaste.
Like many cheap mass-market beers, Gerstel Alkoholfrei does not have a complex taste profile, and the lack of carbonation causes this beer to taste flat.
There are better mass-market non-alcoholic beers out there to choose from (hello, Heineken 0.0), or even better, craft non-alcoholic beers from Athletic Brewing, BrewDog, and the likes.
Where to Buy Gerstel Non-Alcoholic Beer
I got mine in a supermarket in Europe, but you can find Gerstel beer in selected Trader Joe’s, Walmart, and German specialty stores.
A better place to shop for non-alcoholic beers in the United States would be at my favorite non-alcoholic drinks retailer Proof No More. You’ll find better tasting options and there is even free delivery above $99.
If you’re in the UK, I highly recommend checking out online retailers Wise Bartender or Dry Drinker.
We hope you enjoyed our Gerstel Non-Alcoholic Beer review. If you’re craving even more non-alcoholic beer reviews, click below:
This might be Germany's first non-alcoholic beer, but it is definitely not Germany's best-tasting non-alcoholic beer.
When I opened the bottle, aroma of the beer was pleasant.
Taste – Too much hop malt and bitter tasting.
1.5 stars
Thanks so much for sharing your experience with us, Carolyn! Really appreciate it.