By: Jesse - M.S. Health and Human Performance

So-called “near-beer” or 3:2 beer has an alcohol content of 3.2 percent by weight or ABW. This ABW measurement is different than the standard alcohol by volume or ABV. A given volume of alcohol weighs less than the same volume of water and has a larger molecule.  Alcohol by weight is 80 percent of alcohol by volume, thus 3.2 beer is 4.0 ABV beer.   A 3.2 beer law came into existence after prohibition, which is why 3:2 beer uses the old ABW measurement, instead of the common ABV.

Guinness Draught has an AVB of 4.2 or 4.3 in Ireland, making it slightly stronger than the so-called 3.2 “near-beer”.  Does this make the famed Guinness Draught of Ireland a “nearer beer”?