Wheat beers are synonymous with Bavaria in Germany. They are called Weizenbier or Hefeweizen and even just Weißbier which translated to “white beer”.
A large proportion of the malted barley is replaced by malted wheat, usually >50%. They are top fermenting and various special yeasts are used. The Hefeweizen beers can have a significant banana and clove taste and smell delivered by the yeast.
In general, the aren’t ultra low carb and calorie. It is rare to find a German wheat beer with less than 18g of carbs per 12fl oz. What this does create is huge amounts of body, coupled with a lot of carbonation, this can create some impressive heads on the beers.
A lot of the German wheats also stray into “isotonic” ranges -which means the sugar and salts in the beer is in the same concentration as the blood, so they can be absorbed faster. Erdinger has its own triathlon team with the sole purpose of promoting Erdinger Alkoholfrei as an isotonic sports rehydration drink.
If you would like to know more about isotonic beers then you can read my article on them here
The Best Non Alcoholic Wheat Beers To Try Today
Unsurprisingly, this list is dominated by the big Bavarian players. That said, these beers are amazing in their own right and across the wider non alcoholic beer market. If you would like to see where they fit into my overall ranking then you can see my complete list on best non alcoholic beers
1. Schneider Weisse Tap3 AVB 0.5%
| Type | Wheat |
| Calories | 23kcal per 100ml 82kcal per 12fl oz |
| Carbs | 5g per 100ml 17.8g per 12fl oz |
| Sugar | 1.5g per 100ml 5.3g per 12fl oz |
This is quite simply a superb beer. The flavours are huge, the body is massive and the mouthfeel is a creamy as you want. This feels like a meal all in its own right and i can not get enough of it.
I have came back to this a few times and i am still happy this is my #1 best non alcoholic beer
If you would like to see the current prices on Amazon you can click on this link
You can try these at Wise Bartender as well, a brilliant non alcoholic retailer
You can buy this at Sober Sauce and get 5% off with code OPENINGTHEBOTTLE
2. Maisel’s Weisse AVB 0.5%
| Type | Wheat |
| Calories | 25kcal per 100ml 88.8kcal per 12fl oz |
| Carbs | 5.5g per 100ml 19.5g per 12fl oz |
| Sugar | 1.8g per 100ml 6.4g per 12fl oz |
You get told there is banana and cloves taste from a hefe-weisse but until you drink this beer it can’t be believed.
The banana is huge and amazing. Like all good German wheats, the body is big enough to be a meal.
The is top top notch.
You can try these at Wise Bartender as well, a brilliant non alcoholic retailer
For UK readers, Light Drinks has this and others, if you use code OPENINGTHEBOTTLE you get an additional 5% off
3. Paulaner Weissbeir 0.0 AVB 0.0%
| Type | Wheat |
| Calories | 24kcal per 100ml 85.2kcal per 12fl oz |
| Carbs | 5.3g per 100ml 18.8g per 12fl oz |
| Sugar | 3.6g per 100ml 12.8g per 12fl oz |
If in doubt, go for a German wheat beer seems like the best advice in the NA beer world.
They tend to be higher in carbs and sugar, into an isotonic range, but they are usually worth every calorie.
I did find this a touch sweeter than the ones above and hence dropped down the ranking a little
You can try these at Wise Bartender as well, a brilliant non alcoholic retailer
For UK readers, Light Drinks has this and others, if you use code OPENINGTHEBOTTLE you get an additional 5% off
4. Krombacher Weizen ABV 0.5%
| Type | Wheat |
| Calories | 28kcal per 100ml 99.4kcal per 12fl oz |
| Carbs | 6.1g per 100ml 21.7g per 12fl oz |
| Sugar | 2.7g per 100ml 9.6g per 12fl oz |
Just buy nearly any non alcoholic German wheat beer and be amazed. It is a simple strategy
This is up there with the Paulaner and only a smidge below the Schneider Weisse.
It certainly doesn’t lack body
Just buy nearly any non alcoholic German wheat beer and be amazed. It is a simple strategy
This is up there with the Paulaner and only a smidge below the Schneider Weisse.
It certainly doesn’t lack body
Follow this link to buy these from Dry Drinker in the UK
For UK readers, Light Drinks has this and others, if you use code OPENINGTHEBOTTLE you get an additional 5% off
You can buy this at Sober Sauce and get 5% off with code OPENINGTHEBOTTLE
5. Erdinger Alkoholfrei ABV 0.5%
| Type | Wheat |
| Calories | 25kcal per 100ml 88.8kcal per 12fl oz |
| Carbs | 5.3g per 100ml 18.8g per 12fl oz |
| Sugar | 3.6g per 100ml 12.8g per 12fl oz |
This is one of the biggest names and most widely available. It is still a cracking beer despite slipping to 5th.
They have their own triathlon team and are heavily advertising their isotonic sports drink credentials with this beer.
I just think it tastes nice.
Can you check out the live prices on Amazon via this link
For UK readers, Light Drinks has this and others, if you use code OPENINGTHEBOTTLE you get an additional 5% off
You can buy this at Sober Sauce and get 5% off with code OPENINGTHEBOTTLE
You can try these at Wise Bartender as well, a brilliant non alcoholic retailer
6. Drink’in The Sun ABV 0.3%
| Type | Wheat |
| Calories | 16kcal per 100ml 56.8kcal per 12fl oz |
| Carbs | 3.7g per 100ml 13.1g per 12fl oz |
| Sugar | 0.5g per 100ml 17.8g per 12fl oz |
The only non German on the list but here by merit.
As well as having the best nutrition is tastes a bit different from the its famous rivals.
Mikkeller are a big brewery with many non alcoholic beers, this may just be their best.
For UK readers, Light Drinks has this and others, if you use code OPENINGTHEBOTTLE you get an additional 5% off
You can buy this at Sober Sauce and get 5% off with code OPENINGTHEBOTTLE
Follow this link to buy these from Dry Drinker in the UK
