It is essential to know some fundamental principles in terms of tasting and conservation to fully enjoy these drinks. Here are the key tips:
1. Alcohol -free drinking tasting advice in general
Alcohol -free drinks include a wide variety of products: fruit juice, teas, infusions, mocktails, flavored waters, kombucha, etc. Each has specificities for optimal tasting.
a) Service temperature for an alcohol -free drink in general
• Fruit juice and smoothies: serve fresh, generally between 8 ° C and 10 ° C. Fruit aromas are better perceived at this temperature. Avoid serving too cold not to hide the flavors.
• iced teas and cold infusions: serve between 6 ° C and 8 ° C. These drinks reveal their subtle aromas when they are not too cold.
• Mocktails: Follow the same rules as for conventional cocktails. Serve between 5 ° C and 8 ° C. The addition of crushed ice can refresh the drink while providing light dilution.
• Kombucha: Serve between 4 ° C and 8 ° C. This helps keep your natural sparkling while preserving fermented aromas.
b) appropriate glasses For An alcohol -free drink in general
• Fruit juice: a wide glass or a conventional juice glass, which makes it possible to capture the aromas.
• Thresses and infusions: an elongated glass or a glass cup for iced teas.
• Mocktails: Use specific glasses according to the types of alcohol -free cocktails you recreate. For example, a glass in Martini for a sophisticated mocktail, or a tumbler for a juice -based mocktail.
• flavored waters: Serve in transparent glasses to visually enjoy ingredients (mint leaves, citrus, etc.).
c) Discovery of aromas of an alcohol -free drink in general
• Take the time to discover the aromas by humming the drink before drinking it, as for wines or spirits. Many alcohol -free drinks, including teas, infusions or kombucha, offer a palette of complex aromas.
• Some flavored mocktails or waters may contain fresh herbs or fruit that provide additional olfactory interest.
d) accompaniments of an alcohol -free drink in general
• Combine alcohol -free drinks with additional dishes. For example :
• Acid fruit juice (orange, grapefruit): they go well with light dishes such as salads or fish.
• Citrus mocktails: they perfectly accompany spicy dishes or tapas.
• Kombucha: its slight acidity and fermented aromas go with sushi or salads.
2. Alcohol -free drinking conservation tips in general
a) Conditioning in the fridge of an alcohol -free drink in general
• Fresh fruit juice: to consume quickly after opening, ideally within 48 hours, and always keep in the refrigerator. Freshly pressed juices must be bus during the day to maximize nutrients.
• icy teas: keep in the refrigerator, ideally consumed within 24 to 48 hours after their preparation to preserve the aromas.
• Mocktails: if they are prepared in advance, keep them in an airtight bottle in the refrigerator to avoid oxidation of fruit juices.
• Kombucha: Store in the refrigerator. This drink continues to ferment even after traffic jam. It is preferable to consume it in the weeks following the purchase or production to preserve its natural sparkling and its probiotic properties.
b) Conservation duration of an alcohol -free drink in general
• Alcohol -free industrial drinks (fruit juice, iced teas, etc.): they generally have a long storage time as long as they are not open. After opening, respecting the instructions registered on the packaging, generally between 3 and 7 days.
• Fermented drinks (Kombucha, Kéfir): Due to continuous fermentation, it is advisable to drink them within 1 to 2 months after opening, although they can last longer so well kept in the cold.
• Mocktails prepared in advance: they keep 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator, but it is best to prepare them just before serving them to preserve their freshness.
c) Avoid extreme temperatures for an alcohol -free drink in general
• Avoid leaving the alcohol -free drinks exposed to extreme temperatures, whether in the sun or in a very hot environment. This could alter their taste, their freshness, and in some cases, their texture (such as milk -based drinks or smoothies).
🍷 Tasting & conservation advice for alcohol -free wines
Disalcolized wines, which gain popularity, offer a taste experience close to traditional wines, but without the presence of alcohol. Here is a complete guide for tasting and preservation of thirst wines, taking into account their particularities.
1. Tasalcoolized wines tasting advice
Although the thirst wines have aromas and flavors similar to conventional wines, the absence of alcohol slightly modifies the structure and perception in the mouth. Here's how to optimize their tasting:
a) Service temperature of a thirst wine
• Disalcolized red wines: serve between 14 ° C and 16 ° C, slightly fresher than traditional red wines (often between 16 ° C and 18 ° C). This helps to better balance the flavors that can sometimes seem more flat without alcohol.
• Disalcolized white wines: serve at a temperature between 8 ° C and 10 ° C. Too cold white wine could lose in aromatic complexity, while too hot wine could become heavy.
• Disalcolized pink wines: ideally served between 8 ° C and 10 ° C to keep freshness and lightness.
• Disalcolized sparkling wines: serve very fresh, between 6 ° C and 8 ° C, in order to take advantage of their effervescence and their fruity notes.
b) appropriate glasses of a disalcolized wine
• Use the same types of glasses as for conventional wines to optimize the ventilation and perception of aromas:
• Red wines: wide glasses that allow good ventilation.
• White wines: narrower glasses to concentrate delicate aromas.
• Frody wines: champagne flutes to preserve the effervescence.
c) Discovery of aromas and taste of a disalcolized wine
• Olfaction: Take the time to appreciate the aromas of the muscoolized wine by humming it before drinking. The absence of alcohol can make certain aromas more volatile, so it is important to capture them from the service.
• On the palate: the thirst wines can have a slightly different, lighter and less round texture due to the absence of alcohol. Some thirst wines can add residual sugar or aromas to compensate for this lack. Take the time to let the wine develop on your palate.
d) Disalcoolized food and wine agreements
• Disalcolized red wines go well with light dishes such as white meats, toasted poultry or roasted vegetables. Avoid too rich or powerful dishes that could crush the flavors of wine.
• Disalcolized white wines lend themselves well to fish, seafood or vegetable -based dishes. Their balanced acidity often fits with fresher dishes.
• Disalcolized sparkling wines are ideal for aperitifs, fresh salads, fruits or light desserts.
2. Conservation tips for quenchoolized wines
The conservation of thirst wines requires special attention, as the absence of alcohol often makes them more fragile than conventional wines.
a) Before opening of a disalcolized wine
• Conservation time: Disalcolized wines can be kept for several months (or even years) before opening, depending on the producer, provided you are stored correctly.
• Storage: as for conventional wine, keep the thirst wines in a cool place (between 10 ° C and 15 ° C), safe from direct light and temperature variations. Avoid too hot areas because it could alter the flavors.
• Position of the bottle: It is preferable to store the lying bottles, especially if they have a cork cap, to prevent it from drying out.
b) After opening of a disalcolized wine
Disalcolized wines are preserved less once open than traditional wines, due to the lack of alcohol, which usually acts as a natural preservative. Here are the recommendations to preserve their quality:
• Refrigeration: After opening, keep the bottle in the refrigerator. The cold slows oxidation, making it possible to preserve aromas longer.
• Conservation time after opening:
• Disalcolized red wines: keep 3 to 5 days after opening, provided you are well closed.
• White wines and thirst -core rosés: can be kept for about 5 days in the refrigerator.
• Disalcolized sparkling wines: consume them within 1 to 2 days depending on the opening, because the effervescence is quickly lost.
• Use of an airtight cap: for sparkling wines, it is recommended to use a special champagne cap to maintain the pressure and keep the bubbles.
• Wine pump: the use of a vacuum pump to remove the air from the bottle is recommended for quiet wines (red, white, rosés), in order to slow down the oxidation process.
c) signs of degradation of a disalcolized wine
Disalcolized wines are more sensitive to oxidation. Here are some signs that a thirsty wine has aged badly or is oxidized:
• Color change: red wines can become brown, and white or pink wines can turn dark or brown yellow.
• Loss of aromas: aromas can become dull or unpleasant, with notes of vinegar or wet cardboard.
• Taste: an oxidized drink wine will have a flat, acidic or unpleasant taste.
In conclusion
The tasting and conservation of thirst wines require specific attention to maximize their potential. Although their structure can be lighter due to the absence of alcohol, a good service temperature and a good choice of culinary accompaniment make it possible to reveal their taste qualities. In terms of conservation, they are more fragile than alcoholic wines and must be carefully handled, especially after opening, to avoid their degradation.
🍺 Tasting and conservation advice for alcohol -free beers
How to have fun with your alcohol -free beer?
At what temperature should you drink alcohol-free beer?
Good alcohol -free beer can never be enjoyed too cold. We avoid serving it frozen for example because the palate will be numb by the cold and you will not perceive aromas or delicate flavors.
If your alcohol -free beer comes out of the fridge, wait 5 to 10 minutes before tasting it so that alcohol -free beer warms slightly.
The choice of ideal temperature depends on your location and the season, but we can recommend the following tasting temperatures, never below 5 ° C:
- Light alcohol -free beer: 5 ° C, including light and summer beer, flavored beer, white beer, etc.
- Craft -free beer: 8 ° C, this temperature is suitable for most so -called artisanal or craft beers.
The wise tasters will enjoy enjoying their alcohol -free beer at different temperatures to compare and decide the temperature.
Which alcohol -free beer glass to choose to serve?
There are many forms of alcohol -free beer glasses. Mugs, glasses on foot, flutes, right pint type glasses, chalices ... Each brewer offers glasses assorted to its creation, in addition to what you find in the trade or at Sanzalc.
We recommend that you use a glass with a rod or a handle like a mug so that alcohol -free beer does not overheat when it comes into contact with your hand holding the glass.
Try different glasses to see if you feel the same with the same alcohol -free beer, the release of aroma in contact with the mouth varies a lot between narrow glasses and wide glasses.
How to optimally keep your alcohol -free beer?
Whether you want to exceed the DLUO (deadline for optimal use) or not, it is necessary to keep your alcohol -free beers in good conditions to preserve or develop the aromas and flavors of the latter. Alcohol -free beer fears light and heat.
Also, there are 3 basic rules to respect:
- Do not expose alcohol -free beers to light, as it directly impacts hops present in the drink, degrading it. Hops having conservative properties, the alteration of it will make alcohol-free beer can be kept for a long time. This can also develop unpleasant tastes.
- Maintaining beer without alcohol at a constant temperature, ideally between 10 and 15 degrees, in a cellar, like wine. Too cold a temperature will alter the aromas. Conversely, too hot a temperature will have the consequence of developing them too quickly.
- Hold on alcohol -free beer vertically to reduce the risk by avoiding contact between the liquid and the cap. This allows the yeast to settle quietly at the bottom of the bottle.
In France, it is legal to sell an alcohol -free beer whose minimum durability date (DDM) is exceeded, provided that the product does not have a danger to the health of consumers. DDM, often indicated by the mention " To consume preferably before ... "Is not a deadline for consumption (DLC). It indicates that the product can lose certain taste or nutritional qualities after this date, but it remains consumable without danger. However, to sell a product with an exceeded DDM, it is compulsory to clearly inform the consumer, for example with a specific display or by indicating it on the packaging.
The merchant must also ensure that the product is still in good condition and that there is no health risks. In summary, the sale is possible, but it must be transparent and respect certain conditions to guarantee consumer safety.
In a word, alcohol -free beer has no shelf life but only an optimal or minimal shelf life. Therefore, the Dluo can easily exceed several weeks/month without being as long as bad.
🩺 And in any case, you must remember that this will not pose a danger to health.