To drink or not to drink: should I drink non-alcoholic beer while driving?
It would seem that non-alcoholic beer was invented for what else — exactly for those cases when you want to enjoy your favorite drink, but you can't mess with the degrees. But it's not that simple: a small percentage of alcohol is present even in "nullivka". So should you thoughtlessly consume non-alcoholic beer while driving or is it still necessary to adhere to some rules? Let's find out.
What is non-alcoholic beer and what are the consequences?
Non-degree beer is brewed from the same ingredients and in the same way as regular beer. The only difference is that in the final stage the alcohol is removed from it. Usually it is either evaporated or removed with a special filter, or fermentation is suppressed in the process.
But it is impossible to get rid of alcohol completely, and after all the stages of purification there is a small percentage of alcohol in beer. Usually not more than 0.5%, i.e. less than in kvass or kefir. After one can of non-alcoholic beer, the number of ppm in the blood will be about 0.04. The permissible rate of alcohol in the body is 0.35 ppm, which means that you can drink one or even several bottles without the risk of being fined for drunken driving.
However, there is a nuance here. The police officer may smell alcohol, because non-alcoholic beer smells the same as drinks with degrees. And this can lead to other problems — for example, an offer to undergo examination in a medical facility. Under no circumstances refuse, especially if you drank non-alcoholic beer in moderation — for disagreement you can be deprived of the license, and the examination will show that the truth is on your side.
What's the safety net?
To be sure not to get into trouble when drinking non-alcoholic beer, wait 15 minutes — according to research, during this time it is completely out of the body. Of course, this tactic will not work if you drink a lot at once — with a large volume there will be more alcohol. But if you slowly enjoy your favorite drink for 2–3 hours, and then wait a little more — you certainly will not exceed the acceptable norm.
To summarize, it is possible to say that you should not drink beer while driving — if you get carried away, you may miss the moment when the amount of alcohol in blood will go over the limit. But it is possible to relax in good company and after a short period of time to get behind the wheel — so you will be sure that you do not commit anything illegal. And if you also choose a really tasty drink, such as non-alcoholic beer from the best Belgian producers, which are usually offered in a specialized beer restaurant, forced sobriety exactly will not be any disadvantage. Because beer is first of all a pleasure of taste!
Lager Instead of Coffee: Can You Pair Beer with Breakfast and Light Meals?
Contents Can you drink beer in the morning and during the day Which salads pair well with beer Which breakfasts go well with beer It's commonly believed that beer is an evening drink, while breakfast or brunch usually comes with juice, coffee, or sparkling wine. In fact, pairing beer with morning and daytime dishes is a perfectly normal practice. The variety of styles makes it possible to find a match for almost any dish. And when chosen correctly, beer can work like an aperitif, awakening the appetite and gently aiding digestion. Can you drink beer in the morning and during the day Yes, and there are several reasons why. First, an ordinary lager or ale isn't any stronger than champagne, so even a glass of beer won't really get you drunk. Besides, hop bitterness in small doses stimulates gastric juice production, helping food digest better. The main thing is not to overdo the dose and not to pair the drink with greasy fast food. Which salads pair well with beer The main pairing principle is either contrast (something sour balancing something fatty) or harmony (malty sweetness softening salty and spicy flavors). Here are a few examples: — Salads with meat and poultry. Olivier salad with smoked duck pairs best with a light lager: its bready bitterness cleanses the palate. A salad with beef, pumpkin, and mustard dressing calls for a Belgian dubbel – its caramel sweetness will soften the spiciness.— Salads with fish and seafood. Niçoise salad with tuna and anchovies goes perfectly with a pilsner. A salad with shrimp, avocado, and feta cream is best served with a wheat beer (weissbier) – its soft banana and spicy notes will highlight the flavor.— Classic salads. Caesar salad pairs well with a wheat ale: banana and spicy notes will bring out the cheese and dressing. For Caesar salad with shrimp, a seasonal beer works well – its spicy acidity complements the seafood. Which breakfasts go well with beer An excellent beer pairing can be found for almost any popular breakfast dish: — Waffles. A potato waffle with salmon and poached egg pairs well with a sour ale. A waffle with chicken and mushrooms goes with a dry gose. Zucchini waffles with wasabi shrimp pair with a witbier.— Bruschetta. With beef and caramelized onion – pair with an amber lager. With chicken liver and arugula – pair with a milk stout.— Bacon and eggs. The best match is a light lager, which refreshes and cleanses the palate.— Sweet breakfasts. French toast with berries or oatmeal with raspberries pair wonderfully with a fruit lambic. Experiment – and you'll be amazed how many new nuances open up in familiar food. Or better yet, come for breakfast or a business lunch at Lambic: we'll recommend a beer that will win your heart, and tell you which dishes go best with it. See you soon!
17 June 2026
Beer and Cheese: A Pairing You Might Not Have Known About
Contents Why cheese and beer is a classic European pairing Which beer styles suit soft, semi-hard, and aged cheeses What to drink with blue cheese, goat cheese, and camembert Cheese and beer: ready-made set ideas for an evening at home and at Lambic restaurant Wine with cheese is a classic. But few people know that cheeses of various kinds can also be paired with beer. Beer doesn't overpower the flavor of cheese — it enhances it. Thanks to the wide variety of styles, you can find a match for everything from delicate mozzarella to pungent gorgonzola. Let's look at which cheese works best with beer and suggest a few interesting pairings. Why cheese and beer is a classic European pairing In Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands, cheese boards have been served with beer for centuries. The reasons are simple: — carbon dioxide bubbles cleanse the palate of the cheese's richness;— hop bitterness helps balance it;— malty sweetness and fruity esters bring out even the most aged cheeses. Which beer styles suit soft, semi-hard, and aged cheeses Soft cheeses (brie, camembert, mozzarella, burrata) call for gentle styles: weissbier, witbier, bock. They add fruitiness without overwhelming the creaminess.Semi-hard cheeses (gouda, edam, tilsiter, cheddar) pair well with malty lagers, amber ales, and dubbels.Aged and hard cheeses (parmesan, gruyère, mature cheddar) go with IPA, tripel, barley wine, or imperial stout. What to drink with blue cheese, goat cheese, and camembert Blue cheeses (gorgonzola, roquefort, dorblu) pair perfectly with sour beer: fruit lambic or gose. A classic combination is roquefort with raspberry lambic.Goat cheese, with its tangy, earthy character, goes well with witbier, saison, or dry lager.Camembert and brie are best served with milk stout or porter: coffee-chocolate notes harmonize with the creaminess. Cheese and beer: ready-made set ideas for an evening at home and at Lambic restaurant Here are a few tried-and-tested combinations: Light aperitif set:— mozzarella or burrata with a Belgian witbier (such as Hoegaarden);— fresh goat cheese with a seasonal beer. Rich set:— aged gouda with an amber lager (märzen);— cheddar with a medium-bitterness IPA. Experimental set:— gorgonzola with lambic (cherry or raspberry);— camembert with milk stout. A versatile option for home: take four cheeses – brie, gruyère, roquefort, and fresh goat cheese – and serve them with witbier, tripel (such as Tripel Karmeliet), kriek, and gose. Try each pairing, and you'll be amazed how differently both the beer and the cheese reveal themselves. At Lambic, we'll offer you cheese appetizers to match any beer you choose. Come by – we'll find something to surprise you with!
17 June 2026