The premise is straightforward: an alcohol-free IPA that tries to replicate the loosening-up effect of a drink through plant-based stimulants rather than ethanol. ON Beer's X Blend contains nine botanicals, among them guarana for caffeine, ginseng for energy, rhodiola as an adaptogen, and damiana, which has a long history of use as a mild mood-lifter. Whether you feel any of that is down to individual sensitivity and expectations, but the concept is honest. As a beer, it sits in familiar IPA territory. Citrus and elderflower come through on the nose, with a herbal quality that's partly the hops and partly the botanicals. The body is lively and well-carbonated, the bitterness keeps it from tipping sweet, and the finish is clean. It holds together as a pint in its own right. It's brewed to 0.0% via limited fermentation rather than dealcoholisation, and the botanical extraction happens during the brewing process. Sugar-free, gluten-free, and vegan.