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No Brainer

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An alcohol-free IPA at 0.5 % ABV, brewed from water, barley malt and hops. Citrus and sweetness lead the flavour of this beer, which the brewery wants to taste like a proper IPA. It is the latest addition to the Brains low and no alcohol range and comes in can and on keg. The Cardiff brewery has been brewing since 1882.

ABV
0.5%
Bitterness
Strongly bitter
Citrus hop bitterness
SRM
golden8
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
citrusyhoppy
citrusy
hoppy
Aroma
The nose opens with pronounced citrus notes—lemon and grapefruit peel dominate—supported by a subtle malty sweetness that grounds the profile.
not found:juicy,caramel,fruity,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for No Brainer

◎ Appearance

No Brainer presents a pale golden hue with good clarity and a fine, persistent white head that leaves consistent lacing on the glass. The carbonation is lively and well-integrated, creating a bright, inviting visual profile typical of a well-crafted IPA despite its low alcohol content.

pale goldenclearpersistent headbright carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with pronounced citrus notes—lemon and grapefruit peel dominate—supported by a subtle malty sweetness that grounds the profile. Noble hop character emerges in the background, contributing herbal and slightly resinous undertones without overwhelming the delicate balance.

citrus-forwardlemon and grapefruitnoble hopssubtle malt

◐ Taste

The palate leads with bright citrus and a mild sweetness that prevents harshness, then transitions into a measured bitterness around 60 IBU that sits comfortably on the tongue. Hop flavors are present but restrained, allowing the citrus and malt sweetness to remain the focal point, while the light body keeps the overall impression crisp and clean.

citrus-drivenrestrained bitternesslight bodyclean finish

◑ Finish

The finish is dry and moderately brief, with a lingering citrus note and gentle hop bite that fade cleanly. The aftertaste is refreshing rather than warming, leaving no alcohol burn despite the elevated IBU for the style.

drycitrus lingerrefreshing
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
80
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
75
Serve at 8–11°C

Serve at 8–11°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Tulip glass

The curved shape concentrates hop aromas and supports a thick head. Essential for aromatic ales and IPAs where the nose is half the experience.

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Food Pairing

What to eat with No Brainer

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About Alcohol-Free IPA

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Alcohol-Free IPA?

IPAs are hop-forward ales with 5.5–7.5% ABV and IBU 40–70+. Bold hop aroma — citrus, tropical, resinous — with firm bitterness and a dry, clean finish.

Finding a similar Alcohol-Free IPA

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same citrusy, sweet, hoppy character as No Brainer will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

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