There aren’t many lagers with health benefits – even alcohol-free ones – but then there aren’t many made of mushrooms either.
Plenty of us like a drink now and then, but without even really considering it, alcohol can be a quick sure-fire way to put on weight and undo your hard work in the gym or on the trail. However, with every year, more and more non-alcoholic replacements and low-calorie beers emerge on the market to fill the void left by traditional pub beverages. But are they actually any good – and could they actually have genuine health benefits? Well, in the case of Fungtn Shiitake Dark Lager, that’s exactly what we’re here to discuss.
Men’s Fitness verdict
If you want a ‘fun’ drink that does actually have health benefits, then this is a great option. However, if you also want that drink to taste familiar, maybe look elsewhere.- Infused with ‘adaptogenic shiitake mushroom extract’, known for providing many health benefits
- Low in calories and vegan
- Difficult to get past the unusual taste
What are the health benefits of Fungtn Shiitake Dark Lager?
This is an unusual concept for a beer, and the taste is equally curious, but let’s start with the positives. Namely, the ingredients. ‘Adaptogenic mushrooms’ are loosely classified as any mushroom that helps the body adapt to stress. Commonly used in a number of traditional medicines, adaptogenic mushrooms have been shown to provide numerous health benefits, from improved brain function to heart health and anxiety relief.
All of which is relevant, because each 330ml can of Fungtn Shiitake Dark Lager contains 500mg of shiitake mushroom extract. That makes Fungtn ‘the only alcohol-free craft beer brewed with mushrooms’, and undoubtedly a healthier choice than most other alcohol-free beers on the market.
However, those health benefits are only accessible if you can get beyond the taste…
What does it taste Fungtn Shiitake Dark Lager like?
Search for other online reviews of Fungtn’s Shiitake Dark Lager, and you’ll likely stumble across the phrase ‘weird mushroom beer’. Which just about sums it up.
Of course, taste is subjective, and just because I’m not a big fan on the flavor front, doesn’t mean you won’t love it. But if you’re looking for an alcohol-free beer that tastes like, well, beer, this isn’t it.
Sometimes brands which test the resolve of the status quo are held as revolutionaries and therefore benefit from that, or at least do enough to shift the game on somewhat. Unfortunately, it seems as though my own opinions on Shiitake Dark Lager are more in line with the rule, rather than being an exception. Perhaps that’s part of the reason as to why Fungtn closed up for business earlier in 2024. As such, stocks of this lager have all but dried up. If you do nonetheless manage to get your hands on a can, I can certainly attest to the fact that it’ll be an experience unlike any other you’ve had.
Anyway, if you’re in the midst of revamping your diet, why not tackle food as well as what drinks you plan on putting in your fridge? For that, you should probably check out our round-up of the best healthy meal delivery services that are available today. Oh, and if you fancy a snack, go ahead and pick up one of our favorite protein bars.
| Can capacity | 330ml |
| Notable ingredients | 500mg Shiitake mushroom |
