near-beer

near beer

A beer-like malt beverage that contains less than 0.5% alcohol. I didn't want anyone to know I was pregnant, so I said I could only drink near beer because I was taking antibiotics. I have to drive home later, so I'm sticking to the near beer.
See also: beer, near
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

near-beer

n. beer with less than 1/2 percent alcohol content. (Originally from the Prohibition era.) You can drink a lot of near-beer without getting drunk.
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • near beer
  • beer up
  • pound beer
  • slam beer
  • beer (one)
  • beer me
  • beer
  • small beer/small potatoes
  • hopfest
  • hammer a beer
References in periodicals archive
In addition to the improving financials, Eade expects AB InBev to benefit from the increased demand for premium beers, expanding sales of "near-beer" and nonalcoholic beverages, as well as its current "under-penetration" in emerging markets.
AB InBev upgraded to Buy from Hold at Argus
was distributing for about eight years before becoming incorporated, their legacy in the beer world was brief due to the hammer of Prohibition.<br />"By 1920, with Prohibition, they sort of went into what my grandfather called 'near-beer,' but that didn't really do that well," DiPasquale said.
Pennsylvania Ave Pilsner and a Rochester beer legacy
I got by during Prohibition by making near-beer and by opening an ice cream and dairy plant that remained open until 1985.
Name that company
Flavors are an essential part of our beer and near-beer innovation strategy, and Heineken USA is introducing several new products to the market."
Summer Sales Set to Boom
"During Prohibition, as the story goes, Anheuser-Busch sold yeast, to keep its yeast strain alive, and also other products, including a near-beer called Bevo.
Del Papa Distributing
Nestled into a hillside on the banks of the Cottonwood River, Schell has operated continuously since its founding in 1860, surviving the 1862 Sioux uprising by maintaining friendly relations with the Indians and staying open during Prohibition by brewing near-beer.
August Schell prepares to bring Grain Belt brand in-house
The tax power is needed to turn the Scottish Parliament from a near-beer establishment to full-strength.
Record View; We don't want half measures