Athletic Brewing have a new one out. Noble Pils. A non-alcoholic pilsner named after its hops, which is the most beer-nerd thing I've heard all week. And I talk about fermented tea for a living.
I tried it on camera, so you can watch my face do the work. Then we put it on tap at our Otley Taproom. Which tells you how the tasting went.
What is it?
Athletic are the American brewery that only make non-alcoholic beer. No strong stuff on the side. Just beer for people who'd quite like to remember Thursday.
Noble Pils is their take on a classic pilsner. The name comes from the hops: Saaz and Hallertau, the old-school “noble” hops behind proper Czech and German pils. They sit on a pilsner malt base with a touch of sweetness.
It's under 0.5% ABV and 20 IBU. Bitter enough to know it's a pils. Not bitter enough to start an argument.
How does it drink?
I went in braced for the usual: fizzy water that once walked past a hop field. That's not this.
- The nose: floral and herby. Exactly what noble hops should do.
- The body: medium, so it doesn't feel thin. Crisp, with a bit of malt sweetness holding it together.
- The finish: clean and dry, with a measured bitterness that sends you back for another sip.
- Goes with: salty snacks, fish, roast chicken, soft cheese. Or a crossword and a smug sense of tomorrow.
The verdict
It tastes like a pilsner. Not a pilsner-flavoured drink. An actual pils. Same beer, different morning.
Careful, though. Athletic is the official beer of people who've swapped hangovers for five-hour runs. Still out the game. Drink enough of it and you might wake up wanting to jog. You've been warned.
Get it on draught in Otley
Noble Pils is pouring now at Functional Drinks Club, our taproom at 7 Manor Square, Otley, LS21 3AP. Pull up a stool, have a pint and tell me if I'm talking rubbish.
It's on tap next to two kombuchas, with a fridge full of non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirits behind it. Laptop people welcome. We're open Tuesday to Saturday from 10am, and closing times vary, so check our Find us page before you set off. Everything we stock in the shop is on our Otley beer shop page.
Can't get to Otley?
Noble Pils is only on draught at the taproom for now. But we've got four Athletic cans online: Run Wild IPA, Free Wave Hazy IPA, Upside Dawn golden ale and Athletic AF lager. After something lager-shaped? Start with the AF.
The deal bit
Mix any 6 drinks and get 5% off, up to 15% for 24. Or build a beer box and fill the fridge properly.
The serious bit
Noble Pils is under 0.5% ABV, which counts as alcohol-free under UK licensing law, but it isn't 0.0%. If you need zero, check the label. Every drink on our site shows its exact ABV.
