Alcohol-Free Adnams Ghost Ship 0.5%

Tasting notes and what to expect

Adnams Ghost Ship 0.5% is the alcohol-free version of one of the UK's best-selling cask pale ales — and one of the most credible heritage-brewer attempts at AF craft. Adnams brew it to track the flavour profile of the full-strength original (4.5% ABV) rather than as a separate recipe, which is why so many Ghost Ship drinkers find it a recognisable substitute.

Appearance and aroma: Bright pale gold, clear, with a moderate white head. Citrus hop aroma leads — Citra grapefruit and lemon — over a clean pale-malt base. There's a noticeable hop character in the nose for an AF beer, which sets Ghost Ship 0.5% apart from softer AF pale ales.

Palate and finish: Light to medium body, a defined hop bitterness more assertive than most AF pale ales (around 35 IBU equivalent), citrus-forward with a touch of biscuit malt underneath. Finishes dry and clean rather than sweet — this is one of the AF pale ales that doesn't lean on residual sugar to compensate for missing alcohol. The closest comparison is to a session-strength American pale ale rather than a soft-bodied hazy.

Food pairings: Strong with fish and chips, pub-style burgers, fish pie, light curries, sharp cheddar. The Citra-led citrus character cuts through richer foods well.

How it compares: Drier and more assertive than soft hazy AF pales like Northern Monk Holy Faith. Cleaner-finishing than BrewDog Punk AF. The AF pale ale most often recommended for drinkers who want a pint-shaped beer rather than a craft-experimental beer. See our alcohol-free pale ale hub for context, or the Adnams brewery page.

Frequently asked questions