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Labels describe it as a "malt beverage," but is non-alcoholic beer near-beer or an entirely different animal? We decided to check it out for ourselves, popping the tops of two Milwaukee-made NA brews and one from Europe. Only the Cream City near-beers, however, were eligible to win this Milwaukee Challenge.

Although Miller's Sharp's was the winner, it only edged Pabst NA -- also brewed by Miller - by one vote. Here's what our judges had to say.

Molly Snyder Edler
Staff Writer
Pick: Pabst NA
Although I immediately was turned off by the look of the Pabst NA can - I can't stand the colors red and green together, not even during Christmas -- I still found this non-alcoholic beer to slightly trump the Sharp's.

Both of beers have less than .05 percent alcohol content and both have a mere 58 calories, but the Pabst has a little more taste, although it didn't really taste like beer. It is slightly sweeter with a trace-of-beer aftertaste.

Truth be told, I found both of these beers to taste awful, but if forced to drink one, I would choose the Pabst NA. The only time in my life I drank non-alcoholic beer was during pregnancy, and even then I only drank Clausthaler.

Julie Lawrence
Staff Writer
Pick: Sharp's
I honestly can't believe I "prefer" Sharp's to something else, but if there is anything less palatable than a non-alcoholic can of Sharp's it might just be the N/A version of Pabst. I expected it to be watered down -- even the regular stuff has a fairly mild flavor -- but this can of faux suds tasted more like a fizzy helping of unflavored La Croix Sparkling Water than anything resembling beer.

There simply was nothing to it. The Sharp's pulled ahead by producing a slightly tangy aftertaste, although that might have just been the taste of the can. It was hard to tell.

Drew Olson
Senior Editor
Pick: Sharp's
Let's get the disclaimer out of the way: I am not a beer snob. I like just about anything that is cold, cheap or being purchased by someone else.

I drink Miller products over other domestic brands because I started doing it in my teen years and, well, I like to support the home team in that regard.

That may be a major reason I chose Sharp's. It reminded me of High Life, without the head or body. (Imagine a glass of High Life that had a handful of ice cubes melting in it and you get the picture). Most NA beers are not hoppy or malty, but have a heavy corn flavor, almost like corn-flavored water. But, something about the Sharp's felt normal to me.

The Pabst had a golden color and a surprisingly foamy head, but didn't seem as drinkable to me. It had a bit of a fruity finish and tonic-water texture, which one of my colleagues coined "beer-flavored La Croix."

Bottom line: I wouldn't go out of my way to drink either of these, but if I was on an alcohol fast or unable to imbibe because of painkillers or other circumstances, I could see using them to wash down a hot dog or a slab of pizza.

Given a choice, I'd stick with the Sharp's.

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