Experimenting with non-alcoholic beer: Miller Sharp's

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 by Matt

I recently bought a 12-pack of Miller Sharp's non-alcoholic beer. (I don't get the apostrophe in the name, but that's how it's spelled on the can.)

I've wanted to try non-alcoholic beer for quite some time, and the other day at Meijer felt like as good a day as any, so I pulled the half-case down from the shelves and tossed it in my cart. (I also grabbed some 312 in case my little experiment didn't turn out so well.)

The reason I've wanted to try non-alcoholic beer is because it always seemed so smart - a beverage that tastes and looks like beer, but without the nagging hangovers, headaches, increased allergy symptoms, danger while driving, regretful comments, damaged liver,.... I could go on.

By no means am I giving up alcohol, but let's face it - what good has alcohol ever done anyone? It's bad all around. Nothing good comes of it.

(I realize not everyone has the same reaction to alcohol, but this is what I go through.)

That... and I wanted to space out the days that I enjoy a true libation a little more, and perhaps not drink as much sugary pop.

I'm not an alcoholic or anything - I just like the taste of beer and wine, especially with meals, or while watching sporting events. It's like another aspect that makes things more interesting - the food tastes better, the sporting event seems more exciting - you get what I'm saying. I'm a flavor addict, if anything.

So, as I cracked open my first can of Sharp's the other night, I didn't know what to expect. I anticipated a very bad tasting beverage, but I was pleasantly shocked. It actually tasted like beer. I mean - it wasn't a Sam Adams or a Guinness, but it was right up there with a Miller Light or Bud Light (not to knock those beers, because I do like them from time to time).

No joke - I actually enjoy this stuff!

Now, let me be perfectly clear - a good beer has so many more characteristics than just taste. The pour, the color, and the aroma are just a few things that make a good beer an absolute treat. A good beer is to wine lovers that find that perfect bottle, or coffee lovers who can't live without that wonderful smell of their favorite blend.

So, to say a Sharp's is a "good" beer would be an incomplete statement, mainly because it's not truly a beer. There is a process to making beer (and wine, etc), and alcohol is part of that process. Fermentation is the process of maximizing the quality of your ingredients, to ensure a high alcohol content. Literally - during this process, sugar is transformed into alcohol.

Removing or altering this process to create a non-alcoholic beer is obviously going to have some effects on the end result.

Still, Miller Brewing Company has done a mighty fine job with Sharp's, and I'd definitely call it a "good beverage."

So, if you're looking to kick the alcohol routine, or at least space it out a little more, but you love the taste of beer like I do, I'd recommend trying Sharp's.

Go out there and get your apostrophe on.

(That last line is patented, by the way.)

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