As a self-confessed Guinness enthusiast, I once wrote to the brewery suggesting they sponsor me. They declined, but my devotion to the black stuff remains unwavering. So when St James's Gate announced an alcohol-free version, I was sceptical. Alcohol-free beers often disappoint, and removing the alcohol from a balanced stout seemed risky.
Guinness 0.0 was briefly pulled from shelves last year over mould concerns, but it has now returned with the same recipe. I cracked open a can in the office, met with a colleague's raised eyebrow. The pour looked identical to regular Guinness: dark brown settling to black with a ruby glow, though perhaps slightly more opaque. The head formed nicely but settled faster than usual.
Tasting it, the flavour was remarkably similar to canned Guinness, albeit a touch sweeter and with more coffee notes. The main difference was the absence of the warm alcohol kick. Yet, despite knowing it was alcohol-free, I felt a phantom buzz—perhaps Pavlovian conditioning. Strangely, I didn't want to finish the can; it felt heavier than normal.
I suspect that on draught, Guinness 0.0 could be nearly indistinguishable from the original. For non-drinkers, this offers a proper pint without the alcohol, and for those moderating intake, a chance to skip rounds without feeling left out. The taste is close enough that blind, I'm not sure I'd spot the difference.
