In the past year or so Peroni Nastro Azzuro Italian lager has become one of my go-to lagers. It was only four years ago when I finally reviewed it for the first time and while I didn't mind it, but I didn't know if I would ever buy it again. Fast forward to now: it's a very crisp, floral and grassy lager with a distinctive hop presence that makes it one of my go-tos alongside a very small list of European lagers.
Now Peroni has a 0.0% ABV non-alcoholic version of the Nastro Azzurro and my buddy's dad went to a place that was giving away FREE! servings of the beer. He joking asked for four bottles and the product rep gave him four bottles. He was all excited to tell his son (my buddy) that he just scored four bottles of beer. Open it up and guess what? 0.0% ABV, my buddy and his dad were devastated but with the changing habits of beer drinkers, there's a lot of people out there who I'm sure are happy that Peroni is in a NA version.
From the website: Peroni Nastro Azzurro 0.0% is the new one Premium Italian non-alcoholic beer. It maintains the characteristic taste traits of the original PNA: the presence of Mais Nostrano®, 100% Made in Italy variety grown exclusively for Peroni Nastro Azzurro and the use of fine aromatic hops which help to preserve its dry and refreshing taste that has made it famous around the world. The brand new technology of dealcolization allows us to keep the recipe and the original taste of Peroni Nastro Azzurro, now also with 0.0% alcohol. Water, Barley malt, Ialian maize, Hops, Natural flavours (malt and beer). 80 calories per 330mL bottle.
Appearance: So far, it looks like a regular ol' Peroni to me - a bright, clear and golden straw body. There's very little carbonation but immediately when it gets open you can see the bottle bubble up big time, almost to the point where you almost think it might be a gusher, but nope it's not. For the head - faint with a light amount of snow white bubbles on top. Not much for lacing as it's sampled.
Aroma: Notes of honey, lots of straw, a light "skunkiness" from it being light struck in a green bottle. Lightly toasted barley, a bit of a grassy hop to it. Comparing it to what some would say "the real beer", I'm actually enjoying this more than when I reviewed the beer (note: the "real deal" I reviewed was likely an old batch). Very welcoming lager.
Taste: Like almost any non-alcoholic beer, but that being said.. this is actually GOOD. It's got a bit of a honey sweetness to it, notes of barley, a grassy and tad floral hop presence to it. Slight metallic notes near the end but pretty clean and very straight forward.
Overall Thoughts: It doesn't have a "rawness" that some have that kind of taste like you're drinking dough, it doesn't taste like you're sampling a barley beverage with a bunch of extracts either. Smooth, possibly one of the best NA lagers I've had yet but we all know I have a LONG way to go.
I found this at the Quality Beer Store in Winnipeg but I'm assuming the availability is much larger than that at various grocery stores and beer stores throughout the country.
Aroma: Notes of honey, lots of straw, a light "skunkiness" from it being light struck in a green bottle. Lightly toasted barley, a bit of a grassy hop to it. Comparing it to what some would say "the real beer", I'm actually enjoying this more than when I reviewed the beer (note: the "real deal" I reviewed was likely an old batch). Very welcoming lager.
Taste: Like almost any non-alcoholic beer, but that being said.. this is actually GOOD. It's got a bit of a honey sweetness to it, notes of barley, a grassy and tad floral hop presence to it. Slight metallic notes near the end but pretty clean and very straight forward.
Overall Thoughts: It doesn't have a "rawness" that some have that kind of taste like you're drinking dough, it doesn't taste like you're sampling a barley beverage with a bunch of extracts either. Smooth, possibly one of the best NA lagers I've had yet but we all know I have a LONG way to go.
I found this at the Quality Beer Store in Winnipeg but I'm assuming the availability is much larger than that at various grocery stores and beer stores throughout the country.
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