- Name: Fruit Machine
- Brewery: vandeStreek Brewery
- Style: Non-alcoholic sour
- ABV: 0.5%
- IBU: 20
- Packaging: Bottle
- Released: 2019
- Rating: 29/50
Who doesn’t like their grandmother’s redcurrant juice though?
Introduction
I found this non-alcoholic beer the second time I visited Craftissimo in Hong Kong. I was pretty excited because it was actually the first non alcoholic sour I’ve ever tried. The beer I’m talking about is Fruit Machine from vandeStreek brewery. I was especially excited about this beer because I’ve constantly heard that their Playground IPA is one of the best non-alcoholic IPAs around. The Fruit Machine is brewed with raspberry and blueberry.
Anyways, vandeStreek is a Dutch brewery from Utrecht. They were founded 2013 and in 2017 they released the first non-alcoholic craft beer in the Netherlands, which was their Playground IPA. For the Fruit Machine to end up all around the world in a Hong Kong craft beer bar I thought was pretty cool.
Tasting Notes
There wasn’t much head when I poured this non-alcholic sour. I didn’t really miss it because it’s nothing I particularly associate with sour beers.
So I had my first sip of this NA sour and it was nothing like what I had expected. The carbonation is somewhere in the middle. I thought it would be sourer but it’s not really sour at all. It tasted more like something your grandmother would make from the redcurrants in her backyard. I guess technically there are some similarities, but it was still very confusing.
Who doesn’t like their grandmother’s redcurrant juice though?
vandeStreek – Fruit Machine Calories and Nutrition
There is 99 kcal in a bottle of the Fruit Machine. This is quite high for a non-alcoholic beer but seems to be common with fruit-infused ones. It is definitely from the extra sugars the added fruits have.
The beer is vegan and gluten-free. The ABV is 0.5 percent and the IBU is 20.
vandeStreek – Fruit Machine Rating
I’m not really a big fan of sours in general, because I like the taste of beer. The Fruit Machine beer tasted even less like beer than regular non alcoholic craft beers so my opinion was split. Is this the same as ordering fruit juice in the bar? Because that is what I’m trying to avoid.
I don’t really think the Fruit Machine falls under the juice category though. While it was confusing at first, it definitely feels more beer-like than a fruit juice. it’s not incredibly complex but the first half of the bottle still kept me interested. It doesn’t taste too much like raspberry nor blueberry, but there are some hints of both.
While I liked this beer I need more non alcoholic sour beers to compare it to. I definitely enjoyed it but at times it felt more like I was drinking a healthy morning smoothie than a beer. I hope I got some vitamins from it!
Our Alcohol Free Craft Beer Rating – 29/50
FAQ
What is the ABV of vandeStreek – Fruit Machine?
The ABV is 0.5%.
How many calories in vandeStreek – Fruit Machine?
There are 30 kcal per 100 ml or 99 kcal in a bottle.
Is this non-alcoholic sour vegan?
Yes, it is a vegan non-alcoholic beer.
Is this alcohol-free sour gluten-free?
It’s brewed with malted barley and it does not seem to be gluten-reduced. The beer might not be recommended for gluten-intolerant drinkers.