Back in my drinking days, Heineken was one my go-to lagers when I wanted something cheap and fun. With the introduction of Heineken 0.0, I’m now able to enjoy my Heineken again – this time sans alcohol.
Will the taste remind me of the classic Heineken? Read on for my full Heineken 0.0 review!
Heineken 0.0 Review
Looks & Aroma
The Heineken 0.0 pours a nice clear golden amber, just like the Heineken Original. It has a thick white foamy head that is just beautiful to look at.
Honestly, I can’t tell the difference between the Heineken 0.0 and the original Heineken if they were placed side by side.
On the nose, the aroma is malty with a trace of fruity notes, which is what you’d expect of a beer from Heineken.
It isn’t a complex aroma profile, and you wouldn’t expect it to be anyway.
Taste
Right off the bat, the taste reminded me of the Heineken Original. It tastes just like what you would expect from a Heineken beer.
The taste feels sharp at first, but it gets lighter and more balanced the more you drink. The hop bitterness is medium and lingering.
It has a light carbonation that adds a nice bubbly taste on the tongue, and it doesn’t feel as thin as you might expect from a mass-market non-alcoholic beer.
Flavor-wise, there is a mix of malt and fruitiness, as well as some cereal flavor. There is some bitterness but it doesn’t feel overwhelming because of the tinge of sweetness.
Heineken 0.0 Customer Reviews
Besides sharing my own experience, I also went on Walmart to see what other customers are saying about Heineken 0.0. Overall, Heineken 0.0 has a 4.5-out-of-5-star rating on Walmart. About 66% of all the reviews gave it a 5-star rating with only 3% of those being 1-star reviews.
Overall, I enjoyed the lightness and taste profile of the Heineken 0.0. I wasn’t able to tell a huge difference between the Heineken 0.0 and the original Heineken, and the taste and aroma was pleasantly nice.
It is a great option if you’re searching for Heineken’s hallmark flavor profile but without the alcohol.
Great For:
- If you are a Heineken drinker and want the taste of something very similar
- If you are looking for a low-cost non-alcoholic beer
Not Recommend For:
- Those looking for a hoppy “craft” beer experience
- If you are trying to avoid “natural flavoring”
Where To Buy Heineken 0.0
You can find it in many supermarkets, or if you can order online from Proof No More if you live in the United States.
Order online from Dry Drinker if you’re in the UK.
Heineken 0.0 Ingredients
Heineken 0.0 is brewed using the same ingredients as the Heineken Original, which are water, malted barley, hop and A-yeast. Natural flavorings are added after the removal of alcohol.
Like I mentioned in my review of the Carlsberg 0.0, I don’t like the addition of “natural flavorings” because it’s hard to know what that means exactly. The term is vague and I like knowing what I’m consuming.
Heineken 0.0 Calories And Sugar Content
If you’re looking for a low-calorie non-alcoholic beer, then Heineken 0.0 is a good option. It has only 21 kcal per 100ml, so a 33cl bottle has 69 calories.
The Heineken original has 42 kcal per 100ml, so Heineken 0.0 has half the calories of the original.
In terms of sugar content, a bottle of Heineken 0.0 contains 4.29 grams of sugar. It is not the non-alcoholic beer with the lowest amount of sugar, but it is on the lower end.
| Avg Quantity Per Serving (330ml) | Avg Quantity Per 100ml | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 69.3 kcal | 21 kcal |
| Fat | 0g | 0g |
| – Saturated Fat | 0g | 0g |
| Carbs | 15.84g | 4.8g |
| – Sugar | 4.29g | 1.3g |
| Protein | 0g | 0g |
| Salt | <0.01g | <0.01g |
Other Heineken 0.0 FAQs:
Is Heineken 0.0 free of alcohol?
Heineken states that the Heineken 0.0 contains less than 0.03% alcohol – which is a lot less than a glass of orange juice or a ripe banana.
Here’s a comparison chart comparing the alcohol found in different food items:
| Item | ABV (%) |
|---|---|
| Heineken 0.0 | < 0.03% |
| Apple Juice | 0.2% |
| Orange Juice | 0.5% |
| Soy Sauce | 2% |
Is Heineken 0.0 gluten free?
No, Heineken 0.0 is not gluten free. In fact, it contains levels of gluten just over 20 mg/kg and is not safe for coeliac patients to drink.
Is Heineken 0.0 safe for pregnancy?
According to Heineken, the Heineken 0.0 is safe for pregnancy because it contains less than 0.03% alcohol.
However, there isn’t enough scientific research done yet on non-alcoholic beers and pregnancy, so we recommend you checking with your doctor before consuming any non-alcoholic beers, including Heineken 0.0.
If you’re interested in learning more, we’ve written another article about drinking non-alcoholic beers while being pregnant.
Will Heineken 0.0 show on a SCRAM bracelet?
No, drinking Heineken 0.0 will not show on a SCRAM bracelet. With only 0.03% alcohol per can, you won’t be at risk of a positive test result.
Will Heineken 0.0 show on a breathalyzer?
Heineken 0.0 is unlikely to show up on a breathalyzer, since it only contains 0.03% of alcohol.
Timing matters most when it comes to taking a breathalyzer test, hence the first 10 minutes after drinking is the most critical as the alcohol is significantly higher on your breath.
Anything with traces of alcohol, including breath fresheners and even food with alcohol, can show up on a breathalyzer test if you take a breathalyzer test right after consuming.
Will Heineken 0.0 show up on a urine test?
No, drinking Heineken 0.0 before taking a urine test is safe. Since Heineken 0.0 only contains 0.03% alcohol (which is a tenth of alcohol in an orange juice), it won’t show up on a urine test.
To be extra safe, we don’t recommend drinking right before taking a urine test. The night before is perfectly fine, however. You would also want to avoid finishing a 6 pack before taking a test.
How Is Heineken 0.0 Made?
According to Heineken, Heineken 0.0 is double brewed, then alcohol is removed using vacuum distillation, and finally blended with natural flavors to enhance the taste of the beer once the alcohol is removed.
This leaves a trace amount of 0.03% alcohol, which is so much less than what you would get naturally from foods like a banana. This is why it is technically considered alcohol-free even though it has trace amounts of alcohol.
Did you enjoy the Heineken 0.0 review? Then check out our other non-alcoholic beer reviews:
Tastes very similar to the Heineken Original. A nice lager with balanced taste of malt and fruit.
Quit drinking 5 yrs ago this june, but loved beer/ Heineken 00 great beer,can't tell the difference.Dont think I'll ever drink regular beer again,but tire of softdrinks,etc…Heineken 00 nr 1
Agree! Heineken 0.0 is surprisingly good for a mass-market NA beer