Sainsbury’s “Low-Alcohol Czech” review – low-alcohol (0.5%) pilsner lager

Sainsbury’s “Low-Alcohol Czech” is a light-bodied and refreshing pilsner-style lager. Get tasting notes, and find out its ingredients and nutritional content including carbs, sugar and calories.

From the home of pilsner, the Czechs know how to produce a good lager. Hence why major supermarkets like Marks and Spencer and Sainsbury’s source many of their own-label beers in the Czech Republic.

This Sainsbury’s low-alcohol pilsner, simply named “Czech”, is one of those re-branded beers. It’s brewed in Prague by the Molson Coors-owned Staropramen Brewery and bottled in the UK by Marston’s. And its ingredients include hop oil for extra bittering. So it’s no craft beer.

Importantly though, is it any good?

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Czech pours a clear golden colour with a decent head. The froth takes a hit once it settles. But it doesn’t completely disappear before you get stuck in.

On the nose, Czech has a clean, malty aroma. There’s a smidgen of pine in there too. The smell doesn’t give away that it’s low in alcohol.

On tasting, the clean malty theme continues. There’s bitterness balanced with a little sweetness and hint of fruit and grass. It’s fresh-tasting and easy to drink.

There’s a metallic twang to the aftertaste but it’s not too unpleasant and nothing like the metallic or chemical flavour you’d get from a cheap full-strength lager. The finish is medium dry, which leaves you wanting more.

The mouthfeel is OK for a low alcohol lager and it’s well carbonated without producing too many burps.

Verdict

This is a decent low-alcohol pilsner and a great option for if you’re a lager drinker who wants to avoid alcohol.

It’s widely available too.

"Czech" (0.5%) by Sainsbury's

6.7

Aroma

5.5/10

Mouthfeel

9.0/10

Flavour

5.5/10

Pros

• Widely available
• Fresh-tasting

Cons

• Metallic aftertaste

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