Zebra striping only works if the in-between drink is good. Warm lemonade won't cut it. Neither will a sad half of shandy you're pretending is “mostly lemonade”.
You want a crisp, cold lager that sits happily next to a pint. Here are my favourites, picked by a man who now gets more excited about hop varieties than football results. Send help.
The crisp one: Below Brew Forgot To Take My Pils
Forgot To Take My Pils is a hoppy keller pilsner. Old-school Saaz and Perle hops meet new-school Hallertau Blanc and Mandarina Bavaria. Yes, I know what those are now. No, I'm not proud of it.
Bright citrus and floral notes over a clean, biscuity base. 0.5%, 440ml can, vegan.
The golden one: Fierce Beer 1983
1983 is a golden lager, cold-conditioned for a crisp finish. Brewed with Aberdeen FC to celebrate their famous 1983 season. 0.5%, 440ml, 75 calories, vegan.
The light one: Athletic Upside Dawn
Upside Dawn is a golden ale that drinks like a lager. 45 calories, gluten free and vegan. Beloved by runners. Obviously. They'll stripe with it for ten minutes, then leave to do a five-hour run. Still out the game.
For when your real pint is a pale
If you're a pale ale person, stripe with Northern Monk Faith. Silky, citrusy, from Leeds, and 26 calories a can. Twenty-six.
How to stripe like a pro
Keep your alcohol-free cans colder than the rest. Humans are lazy. The coldest can wins.
Pour it into a proper glass. A pint glass is a pint glass, whatever's in it. Nobody's checking.
And stripe early. Straight after the first drink. Leave it till your fifth and, let's be honest, you won't.
The deal bit
Browse all our alcohol-free lagers, or build a beer box. Any 6 drinks get 5% off, up to 15% for 24. More in our zebra striping guide.
The serious bit
Every can shows its exact ABV. Zebra striping is about drinking less overall. If you're worried about your drinking, your GP is a great first call.
