Non-alcoholic alternatives

Whether it’s brewed to contain only trace amounts of alcohol, or traditionally brewed and de-alcoholized, beer with less than 0.5 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV) is considered a non-alcohol product. Always check the label for the ABV, even for products labelled with terms like “alcohol-free” or “non-alcoholic.”

Big Drop Brewing Co. Paradiso Citra IPA (LCBO 18404,

355 mL, $2.45) is purpose-built to use lactose to create a full mouth feel. The attraction of this brew comes down to the bright Citra hop variety that produces notes of mango, lemon and grapefruit. Adnams Ghost Ship Pale Ale (LCBO 18717, 4 pk, $9.95) is similarly modern but leans heavily into pine bough, fresh clementine and caramel sweetness on the palate, developing some body from the presence of rye.