hopIQ
ENDE
Build your DNASign in

Carlton Zero

Tap to rate

Carlton Zero is CUB's alcohol-free lager, introduced in 2018 as the company's first beer without alcohol and declared at 0.0 per cent. It is straw-golden and slightly hoppy, with a clear fruity aroma that is rounded out by malty sweetness; the bitterness is subdued and the finish clean. Roasted barley is part of the recipe alongside malted barley and adds a little colour and a faint toasty note. The maker describes it as full-flavoured for its class.

Bitterness
Lightly bitter18 IBU
Roasted bitterness
SRM
pale gold4
PaceSession
Where this beer sits
Body
lightfull-bodied
Sweetness
drysweet
Bitterness
mildbitter
Texture
crispcreamy
Balance
malt-forwardhop-forward
What makes this beer itself
fruityroastedmalty
fruity
roasted
malty
clean
hoppy
toasty
Aroma
The nose opens with a pronounced fruity character balanced by a clean, herbal hop presence.
not found:juicy,caramel,sour,smoky

Tasting Notes

AI-generated sensory profile for Carlton Zero

◎ Appearance

Pale gold with bright clarity and a clean, luminous quality. The head forms readily and persists as a fine white collar with visible lacing. Brisk carbonation creates a steady stream of small bubbles that sustains the visual liveliness characteristic of a well-made lager.

pale goldbright, clearpersistent headlively carbonation

◌ Aroma

The nose opens with a pronounced fruity character balanced by a clean, herbal hop presence. Grain and subtle bread crust notes provide a grounding base without vegetal or solvent-like qualities often found in the alcohol-free category. The overall impression is balanced and true to the beer's malt foundation rather than dominated by adjunct sweetness.

fruity estersclean hop notebready grainwell-integrated

◐ Taste

The palate enters lean and crisp, with prominent grain and bread crust flavors forming a solid foundation. Bitterness at 18 IBU makes itself known through the mid-palate and toward the finish, providing structure and preventing any cloying sweetness. The body remains light but not thin, supported by the malt backbone and precise carbonation.

grain-forwardmeasured bitternessdry charactercrisp entry

◑ Finish

The finish is short and dry, with the 18 IBU bitterness leaving a clean, slightly astringent edge. No lingering sweetness or thin, watery aftertaste; instead, a refreshing dryness that invites the next sip.

dry finishhoppy biteclean aftertaste
78
hopIQ score
Aroma
77
Taste
78
Appearance
80
Finish
76
+ Sign in to add your tasting note

Serve & Enjoy

How to get the most out of Carlton Zero

Serve at 4–7°C
Refrigerate, then rest 2 min

Serve at 4–7°C for the best flavour balance and aroma expression.

Stein
Recommended for this style

The sturdy German stein maintains temperature and keeps carbonation intact. Built for long, convivial drinking.

Store in a cool, dark place. Check the best-before date on the label for guidance.

Food Pairing

What to eat with Carlton Zero

About Alcohol-Free Lager

Style guide · what to expect · how to find alternatives

What is a Alcohol-Free Lager?

Alcohol-Free Lager is a distinctive beer style with its own characteristic flavour, aroma and colour. Discover what makes it unique and find similar beers on hopIQ.

Finding a similar Alcohol-Free Lager

hopIQ matches by flavor profile — not just style label. A beer with the same fruity, roasted, malty character as Carlton Zero will score highly even if brewed in a different country or under a different sub-style name.

Other Alcohol-Free Lagers in hopIQ

Compare with another beer →