AF drinks review thread

[CardiganOfDoom]

I thought I'd start a thread where I can keep a track of the AF drinks I try. Anyone is welcome to join in.

DA-SH water
Sparkling water with wonky blackcurrants
330ml, £1.30, zero calories

The side panel says, “Water. Bubbles. Wonky fruit.” To be accurate, it should say “Water. Bubbles.” as there are no blackcurrants, wonky or otherwise. When you pour, all you get is a clear, fizzy water with a synthetic taste. Rather than tasting of damp, autumnal fruit, it just tastes of damp.
Score: 0 out of 10. The water from my cold tap tastes better.

Mcguigan 0% sparkling wine is excellent, tastes just like prosecco. Very nice for sunny days when you fancy a glass of cold fizz. Freixenet 0% sparkling rose also good as above.

I also like nanny state and lucky saint alcohol free beers too.

The quality of alcohol free drinks has really moved on since the last time I drank them which was in pregnancy 8 years ago.

McGuigan is my favourite sparkling wine so far too.

Just tried coop af gin and tonic, surprisingly drinkable. Light, not sweet.

LA Brewery Citrus Hops Kombucha
330ml, £2.95, 53 calories

A kombucha that tastes more like a hoppy, lemony beer. Delicious, adult, and perfect for sunny, summer barbecues. If only it were cheaper.
Score 8 out of 10.

Very pleases to find this thread.

I'm really liking Belvoir ginger cordial with fizzy water to make a ginger beer with a good kick.

I also like a Rock shandy which is 50/50 lemonade/ soda water with Angostura bitters.

I haven't ventured into AF tasting alcoholic drinks, not sure I'm keen.

I like Free Damm beer, or Punk AF when you need something with a bit more flavour.

Currently trying out the san pellegrino essenza range, wasn't sure about the cherry flavour but enjoying lemon.

DH likes Punk AF, and Nanny State. For me, and they're too much like proper beer, which I don't like.

Cameo, is that ginger cordial sugar-free? Sounds lovely.

Willy’s Hop and Hemp Kombucha Beer
250ml, £1.99, 27.5 calories

My favourite kombucha-based drink so far. Hoppy, slightly citrussy, sparkling and very refreshing. Another great summer drink, but I wish it were cheaper.
Score 9 out of 10.

@CardiganOfDoom no sadly not sugar free but as it is cordial you have control over its strength therefore could have control over amount of sugar taken.

Can I join in?

I recently bought the Strykk alcohol free vodka. It doesn't really taste like vodka but gives that heat and fullness in the mouth that booze does when mixed with tonic. It's not cheap but I'm enjoying it so far.

Am going to get the LA brewery kombucha, it looks fabulous.

A few years ago, I found Bees Knees in my Home Bargains. Not seen it for ages. I really enjoyed it. What they do have in Home Bargains is Bavaria lager. Lovely chilled with a splash of blackcurrant or lime cordial.
A friend loves Nosecco. I've never tried it. Will try McGuigans though, thanks.

For imitation drinks AF kopparberg mixed fruits is nice in a big glass eith lots of ice. Proper summery drink. My general go to is becks blue though.

Yes, af kopparberg is lovely.

Gordon’s Gin & Tonic flavour drink with a hint of grapefruit.
250ml, £1.25, 67.5 calories

This doesn’t taste particularly ginny - I’d say the slightly chemically grapefruit is more prominent, and it has a nice selection of E numbers too. In writing this review, I’ve noticed how many calories it has, which, however nice it was, would rule it out for me.

Score 4 out of 10

@B1rdinthebush - a friend loves the Strykk gin. Have you tried that?

Hi cardiganofdoom

Found you. Great thread. My favourites are...

AF alternatives...

• Strykk NotRum with coke. (My absolute favourite)
• Pentire Gin and tonic is the best gin i think.
• Sheppys cider
• the raspberry mixed fruit kopperburg
• Nosecco and Fentimans pink lemonade
• My friends homemade non alcohol ginger wine with some AF liquer type thing from M&S at Christmas. (I'm hoping they have it in again next year)

Soft drinks
Bundaburg Ginger Beer
Fizzy water in a wine glass
Apple juice and fizzy water
Flavoured tonic waters

I keep hearing about kombucha but I bought some from Holland and Barrat a few weeks ago and everyone in the house agreed it was like bin juice . I love the idea as I love kimchi so would like to like it.

Does anyone know of an AF beer that's also gluten free? I don't drink it very much but now and again fancy a Heineken 0% as I like one now and again. But I am gluten intolerant and it gives me a sore belly. Nothing ale like or heavy, more like a light bottle. (Much to my husbands disgust who makes his own ales)

Try Lost Lager AF,which I can't tell the between that and Lost Lager!

Oooh. Just to answer my own question, I googled and ordered a taster 3 pack of these...

shop.dropbearbeers.com/

Sadly Becks Blue gives me bad stomach ache. Where can I get the Mcguigan & Frixinet (sp) sparkling wines? They sound fab! I drink a lot so really need to cut down but still enjoy the proper taste.

@pmac62

Try Lost Lager AF,which I can't tell the between that and Lost Lager!

Thanks. I will.

@Breathmiller

Does anyone know of an AF beer that's also gluten free? I don't drink it very much but now and again fancy a Heineken 0% as I like one now and again. But I am gluten intolerant and it gives me a sore belly. Nothing ale like or heavy, more like a light bottle. (Much to my husbands disgust who makes his own ales)

We buy Free Star. It’s lovely.

Really recommend Lyre’s Italian Spritz - like Aperol, and makes a nice Nogroni.

Love Aecorn, in all flavours, especially the Aromatic.

Seedlip Grove 42 is gorgeous with tonic.

This is my pet subject - been AF since last August, and have tried lots of different drinks!

Seedlip: decidedly overrated. I’ve gone through a bottle with my husband over a period of a few months and really tried to like it - but the only similarity with gin is the bitterness. I’m afraid it is not one I would recommend. Curious about others’ views - my sister and sister in law both loved it when pregnant...