BATTLE BEERS - Doom Bar - Amber ale - 4.3% Vs 0.0% [AF] - Sharps (beer review)

Doom Bar - Amber ale - 4.3% from Sharps

First off I've always enjoyed a Doom bar now and again. I know it's now owned by a multinational Molson Coors but that doesn't take away from its journey from humble cornish ale.

👃Lovely lacing of deep but sweet caramel malts that has a fresh almost spicy element from the hops.

👅Really smooth sweet caramel malts from front to back. At the back end there is a mild fruity sweetness, like a richer biscuity/dried fruit sweetness.
On the finish there is a light carbonated fizz and a  light bitterness to combat the build in sweetness giving it a more balanced feel

🎖️7/10 - As I said before it's always a solid Ale for me, sweet but balanced and smooth delivery of malty flavour.

Doom Bar - ZERO Amber Ale - 0% from Sharps

👃Smell has the same sweet caramel malt in it but it comes across more roasted and richer so altogether less sweet. There is unfortunately a slight sparkling watery note as well but altogether It's quite nice.

👅The taste upfront is enjoyable caramel malt with a deeper roast content until you get to the mid/back end when a slight carbonated watery element takes some (not all) of the flavour profile away. Definitely a touch more carbonated but helps with the body. The finish feels a couple of touches more bitter and drying (slight resin). Quite enjoyable in its own right

🎖️6/10 - Really quite alright as a drink on it's own. Definitely not got the same smooth delivery as the original (more carbonation, a bit WATERY + slightly more bitter). It's also got a darker, less sweet but richer roast character. Altogether though decent flavour for an AF ale.

If you're not a malt beer fan this isn't one for you! Also if you leave it too long that the fizz dies, it is a lot thinner and more watery.

SUM UP
Drinking back to back the differences are reasonably noticeable but not altogether startling or actually bad. The Zero is definitely thinner,  but all AF beers are. They've amped up the malts and a touch of carbonation to make up for it, giving it its own character. Drank separately I think I'd enjoy both in their own right. Quite a decent accomplishment I feel