Everybody knows you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. Or a beer by its artwork. But I find this is easier said than done.
Up until ~2010, beer bottle and can designs were very typical and characteristic. Just think at how similar the artwork on Stella Artois, Fosters and Heineken is, for example. But when the craft and independent beer revolution came along, so did much-needed updated artwork and colour schemes.
Today, I feel this has gone a bit too far; abstract cartoons and designs that look like cans of fizzy pop aimed at children. In fact, the Metropolitan Police recently agreed that beer can designs had gone too far, deeming Mikkeller’s Side Eyes Pale Ale reminiscent of Minecraft, thus targeting under-18s drinkers.
However, I tend to like the artwork on this next drink – coincidentally also produced by Mikeller. I feel it stands out amongst busy supermarket shelves, yet not too much so that it looks childish or inappropraite.
With all that being said, in this review, I’m going to be taste testing Mikkeller’s Drink’in in the Sun 0.3% low alcoholic, wheat ale.
Drink’in In The Sun Low Alcohol Initial Review
Although I am sure I have drank a Mikkeller beer in the past – probably a few – I cannot recall what drinks they were. Maybe it’s because they’re not so common in the UK, or because I had too many. Who knows.
But I also don’t recall seeing any Mikkeller non-alcoholic beers of local superamarkets. That is until I saw this 330mL can in my ‘big’ Sainsbury’s.
I’ve already talked enough about the can design in the intro, but below is the picture of the can.
Interestingly, whilst looking for more info on this drink – and finding a source to the artwork issue – I saw another variation of can design. I assume this can is the new version, as I recently picked it up and it is displayed on Mikkeller’s own website at the time of writing.
Also from Mikkeller’s website, there is a bit of info about this drink which I will share ahead of my personal opinion.
They describe it as ‘pale yellow in colour’ with a ‘bright and hop-bursting American style wheat ale’ that is ‘fresh and tasty’. Let’s see if I agree!
Upon opening the can, there is an immediate fruity aroma; mainly citrusy and tropical fruit. There are tell-tale American-style aroma which can be slightly detected behind the sweetness.
Upon pouring into a glass, the colour is straw coloured and produces an incredibly foamy head. Once settled, bubbles linger on the inside of the glass, and it is apparent that there is a slight haziness to the beer, but still clear enough to see through.
The taste profile matches the aroma and appearance of the liquid. The beer is slightly sweet – but not artificially so – with a kick of wheaty bitterness, with a mouthfeel that is light and creamy, cause by the very slightly carbonation.
There is a bitterness and balanced profile that would make you think twice about whether this was fully alcoholic or not – one of the better ones I’ve come across.
In terms of Mikkeller’s description, I would say it is fairly spot on. It is definitely bright, has the American style hop flavour profile about is, and in terms of where to drink it – in the sun would be ideal!
Where Can I Buy Mikkeller Drink’In The Sun?
As far as I can tell, this non-alcoholic beer is less common to find for sale, both in store and online.
As I mentioned, I purchased this from a Sainsbury’s, but at the time of writing cannot find any other large supermarkets that stock it online, and haven’t seen it on their shelves either.
If you want to purchase online – probably the best bet – you can buy directly from Mikkeller, or find it at one of the following retailers:
Drink’In The Sun Ingredients, Nutritional Information and Calories
The ingredients list for this beer are:
Water, barley malt, wheat malt, hops and mikkellellensis yeast.
| Nutritional Information | Per 100mL |
|---|---|
| ABV | 0.3% |
| Energy (KJ / KCal) | 94 / 22 |
| Fat (g) | <0.5 |
| Of Which Saturates (g) | <0.5 |
| Carbohydrate (g) | 5.3 |
| Of Which Sugars (g) | 3.6 |
| Protein (g) | <1.0 |
| Salt (g) | <0.1 |
If you hadn’t already noticed by the prominent wording on the can, this is a wheat ale, and contains barley and wheat allergens.
Low Alcohol Mikkeller Drink’In The Sun Final Thoughts
This Mikkeller Drink’In the Sun is a very good wheat ale, and one I enjoyed drinking.
It is light, zesty and has all the characterstics of beer that are desirable but with a significantly lower ABV. There are few beers that I would rush to purchase again, but this is one that I will definitely restock – even with all the other non-alcoholic beers waiting for a review!
The only downsides to this beer are its availability. You’ll be lucky to find it in a supermarket, so online is probably best. It is also on the pricy side (£3-4) a can, but it is definitely worth treating yourself to one or two!
