Going to hit 20 different alcohol-free ales this year? Better get fruity then...
Mash Gang Alcohol-Free Journey Juice Fruited Hazy IPA
What's it like? In a word, fruity. I mean, really fruity: mango and lime, predominantly. And it's really nice too. It's just that it's more fruity soft drink than alcohol-free IPA, however much the name might try to convince us otherwise. It's like having a can of Lilt, but with less sugar. Or, if Lilt isn't obsolete enough for you (it's Fanta Pineapple and Grapefruit now, don't you know?), maybe a can of Quatro. Don't get me wrong, this is very drinkable, and I've been hoovering up the four-pack I bought, but I just can't think of it as an ale, however hard I try - it's too fruity. And because it comes in compact 330ml cans, it's easy to drink straight from that, and so you don't even get the visual reinforcement of seeing it in a glass and thinking "this is a beer". Maybe others agree, and that's why it's on offer in the supermarket right now. Having said that, even the offer price doesn't compare favourably to a four-pack of your mass-market soft-drink of choice. And that's a problem for Mash Gang, I would say. All that, and we haven't even covered the terrible name yet.
Would I drink it in a pub? Yes.
Would I drink more than one? Maybe.
Would I drink it all night? No.
Stats: <0.5% ABV. Calories 18 kcal/100ml. Currently on offer at £5.50 for a 4x330ml cans, from Waitrose
Stars: ★★★⯪☆
You'll be relieved to know I'm not going to force Don't Stop Believin' on you for my "journey" connection. Instead, here's some trippy Small Faces: from Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake, this is The Journey, with Ronnie Lane on lead vocals.
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