- Exceptionally smooth and drinkable
- Refreshing bitterness with just the right amount of bubbles
- May stir feelings of counter-culturalism
- Sweet/sugary aftertaste coats the teeth and mouth
The skull is on fire yet the can (heart) is ice cold…At first glance, Pistonhead’s Flat Tire Alcohol Free lager looks like something you would get in a biker bar and perhaps something that would be best enjoyed wearing as much leather as possible. Alas, I don’t own any leather, so I’ll use my imagination.
This beer is a part of the Pistonhead Lager series from Brutal Brewing. In their own words, Brutal Brewing is all about, ‘No Nonsense Beer’ and I think the can’s design captures this well.
Brutal Brewing is based out of Sweden and was established in 2011. They value sustainability, rebellion, creativity and individuality. So it makes sense that their Pistonhead Lager became the go-to beer for patrons of Swedish rock and heavy metal clubs. They also put their money where their mouth is and use a portion of the Pistonhead proceeds to support young artists in need.
Pistonhead lagers all come in cans of 330 ml in keeping with their sustainability goals. The Flat Tire Alcohol Free is the alcohol free version of the popular Flat Tire (duh). It’s a smooth, dry-hopped (hops were added late in the brewing process) lager with a hint of bitterness so it’s right up my alley. Let’s dive in…
Pistonhead Flat Tire Alcohol Free Lager Initial Review
I would rather smell a Pistonhead beer than a rose…
I generally think a good lager’s first smell should be ‘fresh’ and Pistonhead’s Flat Tire Alcohol Free’s first smell certainly is. It smells good and clean and most importantly fresh. There are other subtle smells like tropical fruit but from my experimentation, they require a more trained nose or sticking your nose directly in the glass to detect.
Before tasting this lager, I was expecting it to pack a memorable and bright punch because of the rebellious history of the beer and brewer.
Upon tasting…I enjoyed the smooth body and refreshing initial bitterness of the beer. It made me imagine that I had been driving around all day in leather on a motorcycle and I had nothing to drink and then finally I stopped by my local and my favourite bartender slid an open can across the counter to me and I picked it up and drained it in one fluid motion. So, yes, it is very thirst-quenching.
There is a slight metallic taste to the beer and again slight, slight notes of tropical fruit. The dominant flavour is a bubbly bitterness; however, the aftertaste is a bit sugary and it gave me slight deja vu of sugar hangovers I’ve had in the past from a night of drinking lagers.
Where to buy Pistonhead Flat Tire Alcohol Free
You can find Pistonhead Flat Tire Alcohol Free in Rock and Roll Pubs in Sweden…Or, in specific Tesco supermarkets, particularly if they have a big No and Low Alcohol Free section.
You can also buy cans of Pistonhead Flat Tire Alcohol Free online easily from one of the following sources:
The Pistonhead Flat Tire Alcohol Free price varies depending on where you buy it from and how many cans you buy. I bought 2 cans from Wisebartender for £1.39 per can.
Pistonhead Flat Tire Alcohol Free Nutritional Information, Ingredients and Calories
The ingredients for Pistonhead Flat Tire Alcohol Free are as follows:
Water, Barley Malt and Hops. This beer contains gluten.
Pistonhead Flat Tire Alcohol Free’s Alcohol Content is 0.5%
| Nutritional Information | Per 100mL |
|---|---|
| ABV | 0.5% |
| Energy (KJ / KCal) | 90 / 20 |
| Fat (g) | <0.5 |
| Of Which Saturates (g) | <0.5 |
| Carbohydrate (g) | 4.3 |
| Of Which Sugars (g) | <0.5 |
| Protein (g) | <0.5 |
| Salt (g) | <0.01 |
Final Summary of Pistonhead Flat Tire
Overall, the Pistonhead Flat Tire Alcohol Free is a fun and bright nolo lager that pairs well with activities. If you like going to gigs, hiking, camping, debating vigorously with a loved one and/or generally being outside, this is the perfect beer to match that energy.
