The Collaborative International Dictionary
Near beer \Near beer\ Any of various malt liquors (see Citation below).
Near beer is a term of common currency used to
designate all that class of malt liquors which contain
so little alcohol (usually less than 1/2 per cent) that
they will not produce intoxication, though drunk to
excess, and includes in its meaning all malt liquors
which are not within the purview of the general
prohibition law.
--Cambell v.
City of
Thomasville,
Georgia Appeal
Records, 6
212.
WordNet
n. drink that resembles beer but with less than 1/2 percent alcohol
Usage examples of "near beer".
Eyerack was so primitive in its military culture that they served real beer at the NCO club, instead of the recycled near beer at a real Trooper dive.