Grolsch Pilsner 0.0% Review
The Dutch pilsner that has been getting the crisp, hoppy lager right for generations, now at a true 0.0%.
Fresh, hoppy, and fuller-bodied than you expect from zero-proof, poured from a generous 500mL can.
This is the everyday lager I reach for when I want a real beer moment with nothing to slow me down!
First Impressions
The first time you crack a can of Grolsch Pilsner 0.0%, there is an easy familiarity to it. Grolsch has been brewing pilsner in the Netherlands for a very long time, and this alcohol-free version carries that same no-drama confidence. I poured it expecting a classic Dutch lager, and a classic Dutch lager is exactly what landed in the glass.
The can is tall and clean, that clean Grolsch blue and white doing the talking before you read a single word. In the glass it pours a bright, clear straw gold under a crisp white head that settles into a fine lace. It looks like the lager you would order at a sidewalk table on a warm afternoon.
The nose is classic pilsner. Fresh grainy malt, a green herbal hop lift over the top, and a clean bready base underneath. Nothing sweet, nothing heavy, just that crisp lager invitation that tells you to take the first sip.
How it actually tastes
The first sip is crisp and surprisingly full, and that is the Grolsch move. Where a lot of alcohol-free lagers go thin and disappear, this one keeps a real malt backbone, with fresh cereal grain up front, a firm hop bitterness through the middle, and that dry, snappy pilsner finish to close. It drinks like an actual beer, not a substitute!
The balance is the whole story here. The carbonation is bright and fine, the bitterness stays honest without ever turning harsh, and the flavour holds its shape from the first mouthful to the last. Served ice-cold on a hot afternoon, it does exactly what a good pilsner is built to do.
A Small Ritual I Like
Serve it very cold in a tall pilsner glass, pour it with a bit of confidence to raise a clean white head, and drink it while it is bright and lively. This is a mow-the-lawn beer, a first-one-out-of-the-cooler beer, a Tuesday-night-with-pizza beer. It loves salty snacks, grilled chicken, fish and chips, or a sharp aged cheddar.
At 2.79 CAD for a full 500mL can, the value is honestly hard to beat. You are getting a genuine Dutch pilsner name, a generous pour, and a true 0.0% for about the price of a small coffee. For an everyday fridge staple, that is a very easy yes.
Crisp. Hoppy. Properly refreshing. Keep a few in the cold spot for the nights you just want a good, honest lager!
Things we like
A genuine Dutch pilsner brewed to a true 0.0%, not just under 0.5%.
Fuller-bodied than most alcohol-free lagers, with a real malt backbone instead of a thin, watery middle.
A fresh, hoppy aroma and a clean, snappy pilsner finish that stays crisp to the last sip.
A generous 500mL can, a proper full-size pour rather than a short one.
Outstanding value at 2.79 CAD, an effortless everyday fridge staple.
Frequently asked questions
Is Grolsch Pilsner 0.0% really alcohol-free?
Yes. It is brewed to a true 0.0% ABV, not the under 0.5% you see on many non-alcoholic beers. That makes it a solid pick if you are steering clear of even trace amounts of alcohol. As always, if you avoid alcohol for medical reasons, check the label and your own comfort level first.
Is it gluten-free?
No. It is a traditional pilsner brewed with malted barley, so it contains gluten. If you need gluten-free, reach for a beer built without barley or wheat instead, like the Alchimiste Gluten Free Blonde.
What does it taste like and what pairs with it?
It is a crisp, fresh, fuller-bodied pilsner with grainy malt, a green herbal hop character, fine bubbles, and a dry, snappy finish. It pairs well with salty snacks, grilled chicken, fish and chips, and sharp aged cheeses.