Athletic Lite

Lite from Athletic is a non-alcoholic beer, and the name points to the light lager style. This listing doesn't give a stated recipe, calorie count or tasting profile, so what follows describes what that style usually delivers. Expect a pale straw colour, a clean grainy-cereal malt note, a faint hop bitterness and a crisp, dry finish. Non-alcoholic light lagers tend to be lean in body, so the flavour is subtle and the carbonation does much of the work. Temperature matters more here than in a fuller beer. Serve it properly cold, around 3 to 5°C. Cold keeps the light malt character tight and masks the slight wort-like sweetness that dealcoholised beers can show as they warm. Don't pour it over ice, which dilutes an already delicate body. If you're drinking straight from the can, a quick pour into a glass will still release more aroma than the can opening does. For glassware, a standard pint glass, a tall pilsner glass or a plain tumbler all work. A tall, narrow glass holds the carbonation and keeps a modest head, which suits a style where fizz and freshness are the main appeal. Tilt the glass and pour down the side, then straighten it to build a small foam cap. In the kitchen, a beer this light suits food that wouldn't overpower it. Fried fish, shrimp tacos, grilled chicken with lime, salted nuts, soft pretzels and mild cheeses are good matches, because the carbonation cuts through oil and salt. It also holds up next to spicy dishes, where a cold, neutral lager cools the palate rather than competing with the heat. If you want to mix with it, treat it like any light lager. Add a squeeze of lime and a pinch of salt for a simple beer-and-lime serve, or use it as the base for a non-alcoholic shandy-style drink with lemonade or ginger beer. Choose a mixer that adds flavour without burying the beer's lightness.