What can I substitute for beer?
Running low on beer? Here are the best verified substitutes, including how to adjust your measurements.
About beer
Beer is a fermented alcoholic beverage brewed from malted barley, hops, yeast, and water. In cooking, it adds depth, bitterness, and a yeasty, malty flavour to batters, stews, breads, and marinades. Its carbonation tenderises meat and creates a light, crispy texture in batters, while its complex flavour compounds enrich slow-cooked dishes.
Best substitute
non-alcoholic beer
Non-alcoholic beer mirrors the malt, hop bitterness, and carbonation of regular beer almost exactly, making it the closest substitute in both flavour and function. It works seamlessly in batters, stews, and bread without altering the result.
Use 1 cup for every 1 cup of beer
battersstewsbreadmarinades
Alternative
ginger ale
Ginger ale provides the carbonation and a subtle sweetness that mimics beer's lightening effect in batters and its tenderising properties in marinades. It lacks the malty bitterness but performs well in recipes where beer is used primarily for its fizz.
Use 1 cup for every 1 cup of beer
battersmarinadesquick breadsNot suitable for: rich stewsNot suitable for: beer bread
Alternative
chicken or beef stock
Stock replaces the liquid volume and adds savoury depth in slow-cooked dishes and stews where beer contributes primarily to flavour rather than carbonation. It lacks bitterness and fizz but produces a rich, well-rounded result in braised meats and soups.
What is beer called in other countries?
| Country | Name |
|---|---|
| Australia | beer |
| Canada | beer |
| New Zealand | beer |
| United Kingdom | beer |
| United States | beer |
Common names for beer
alelagerstoutbrewdraught