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Introduction to Non-Alcoholic Beer
Over the past few years, one of the most prominent trends in all of culture has been health and wellness. This trend has trickled over to the beverage industry, and non-alcoholic beer has become the fastest-growing category. It’s not just for Dry January, either. Customers are giving up booze, or at least greatly reducing their consumption. Their habits and social calendars haven’t necessarily changed, which provides a unique opportunity to non-alcoholic beverage brands or existing companies looking to retain these customers.
Even craft breweries, known for their boozy Double IPAs and Imperial Stouts, have recognized the need for non-alcoholic versions of their products. That is where this category is changing the most: there’s now an incredible variety of flavors and styles being brewed without alcohol. You’ll want to know a few things before you dive in for Dry January or a lifestyle shift, so we’ve covered the basics along with a few brands worth checking out.
Here’s everything you need to know about non-alcoholic beer:
What to Look for in a Great Non-Alcoholic Beer
When shopping for non-alcoholic beer, consider the following:
- Authentic beer flavor: Craft brewers and legacy breweries are putting more effort into their non-alcoholic options, mirroring the flavors that most drinkers seek out.
- Balanced hops/malt: Unless you’re looking for a hazy IPA or Stout, most nonalcoholic beers will look for smoother drinking experiences.
- Clean mouthfeel: The most commonly produced nonalcoholic beer is lager because of the style’s crisp and refreshing qualities.
- No chemical aftertaste: Before the craft brewing revolution, most non-alcoholic beer had a metallic or unnatural aftertaste. Now, more care and advanced techniques are taken in brewing this product.
- Proper carbonation: In order for the beers to be drinkable, smaller carbonation bubbles are ideal.
- ABV preference: 0.0% or ≤0.5% ABV, depending on preference and what’s available.
Style Matters
It’s important to know that there are certain beer styles that tend to fare better when the alcohol is removed, or fermentation doesn’t happen. IPAs, wheat beers, and dark ales often hold up better than light lagers, despite the latter being incredibly popular. Fortunately, thousands of local craft breweries have started making nonalcoholic versions of their favorite styles. There’s never been more variety available!
Nutrition Matters
For many consumers, cutting out alcohol often comes hand-in-hand with other health considerations like calorie consciousness and gluten reduction. Expect many NA options to list calories, carbs, and whether it’s vegan or gluten-free.
Managing Expectations When Switching from Craft Beer
Lower intensity of hop bitterness is one of the first differences drinkers notice. If you’re looking for the punch of bitterness from a classic West Coast IPA, you may be disappointed because nonalcoholic beers have trouble holding such pronounced flavors. You’ll still get a bit of bitterness and pine, however!
Compared to full-strength IPAs or stouts, the body of nonalcoholic beers will almost always be lighter. Even NA Stout and Porter will be noticeably thinner. This does, however, make them more drinkable. Aroma is also reduced across most styles.
Modern NA beer has improved dramatically. Long gone are the days of NA beer being simply a light, American lager without the booze. Craft breweries are now making non-alcoholic (but full-flavored) versions of their flagship brands. There are also breweries specializing in NA products in a wide variety of styles.
Some styles perform better than others. Traditionally, NA beer meant lager. Now, almost every style has a nonalcoholic version. While the quality is only getting better, most drinkers tend to prefer NA pale ales and IPAs to stouts.
Don’t expect the same experience. NA beer is not designed for the same purpose as normal beer. These beers should be judged as their own category, rather than a like-for-like replacement.
8 Popular Non-Alcoholic Beers to Try
GO Brewing – Sunshine State Tropical IPA
- Style: Non-Alcoholic IPA
- ABV: <0.5%
- Tasting Notes: Modern IPAs don’t always fall wholly into the West Coast or New England styles, and this NA beer doesn’t either. Balanced bitterness plays well with citrus fruit and peach flavors.
- Why It’s Great: GO Brewing has always been on the cutting edge, so it shouldn’t be a surprise that they’ve used high-end BRU-1 and Zamba hops to craft this ultra-flavorful IPA. There’s a reason it won a Silver Medal at the 2023 Best of Craft Beer Awards.
- Best For: Taproom hangouts or bottle shares. This is as close to a full-fledged craft beer as any non-alcoholic beer gets!
Athletic Brewing – LITE Non-Alcoholic Beer
- Style: American Light Lager
- ABV: <0.5%
- Tasting Notes: “Beer-flavored beer.” That’s what LITE brings. Light malt sweetness with a hint of hops. Everything you like about Miller High Life or Budweiser, you’ll get with Athletic’s new go-to.
- Why It’s Great: Athletic Brewing’s popularity is no accident. The beers they come out with tend to perfectly fit an occasion or purpose. And with only 25 calories, 5g carbs, and full flavor, LITE is the perfect NA beer for health-conscious drinkers.
- Best For: Ballgames and barbecues! This light lager is ideal for putting back a few without feeling overly full.
Bero Brewing – Noon Wheat Ale
- Style: Non-Alcoholic Wheat Ale
- ABV: <0.5%
- Tasting Notes: With a touch of sweetness from the wheat, Noon Ale offers vibrant notes of orange and lime. It finishes crisp and refreshing like other wheat ales.
- Why It’s Great: Wheat ales are the perfect option for Brewers looking to make a non-alcoholic beer because the subtle notes from the wheat carry pronounced flavors. BERO has absolutely knocked this one out of the park.
- Best For: If you’re sitting on the beach or a sunlit patio on a hot day, there’s simply no better option than Noon Wheat Ale.
Best Day Brewing – Hazy IPA
- Style: Non-Alcoholic New England-Style IPA
- ABV: <0.5%
- Tasting Notes: Soft and pillowy malts provide the perfect backbone for the intense tropical aromas. Even without the alcohol, this hazy IPA provides massive fruit punch flavors.
- Why It’s Great: The buzziest brewery to specialize in non-alcoholic options has returned with its most flavorful offering yet. Fans of New England-style IPA are only now starting to have nonalcoholic options. Best Day Brewing has proven to be one of the best, and with slick branding that looks as good as the beer tastes.
- Best For: Sipping at home or with friends! While most NA options are designed to simply taste “good enough,” at events, this hazy IPA has enough flavor to wow even the most dedicated craft beer aficionados.
Hedlum Brewing Company – Non-Alcoholic Grapefruit Love
- Style: Non-Alcoholic Golden Ale
- ABV: <0.5%
- Tasting Notes: The answer is in the name…. The brewers over at Hedlum had one objective with this one, and that was to infuse this beer with as much grapefruit flavor as humanly possible. Still, there’s a bit of mild sweetness below the burst of citrus.
- Why It’s Great: As far as flavor-to-calories go, Hedlum has really triumphed. This golden ale’s punchy bouquet of grapefruit and citrus peel is somehow packed into only 50 calories.
- Best For: This is a summer sipper, so pack your cooler with a six-pack of this beer for your next beach outing.
Partake Brewing – Pale Ale
- Style: Non-Alcoholic Pale Ale
- ABV: <0.5%
- Tasting Notes: Partake’s brewers have absolutely nailed their NA rendition of the CLASSIC American pale ale. Strong grapefruit and orange flavors mingle with manageable bitterness, hop spice, and a hit of pine aroma.
- Why It’s Great: This Canadian brewery’s method strictly adheres to the ancient German Rheinheitsgebot beer law, so each concoction is cleanly made with pure water, barley, hops, and yeast. No fillers. Only what’s necessary.
- Best For: Post bike ride refreshment or sipping around the campfire. This flavorful ale is ideal for active drinkers who still want flavor.
Woodland Farms Brewery – Ruby Sour
- Style: Non-Alcoholic Sour Lager
- ABV: <0.5%
- Tasting Notes: Modeled after a classic Berliner Weiss, this lager packs in massive raspberry flavors into a modestly sweet and endlessly sour package.
- Why It’s Great: Surprisingly, there are very few non-alcoholic versions of sour ales. Given how vibrant these flavors are and how drinkable sour ales tend to be, it makes sense for someone like Woodland Farms to pack tart citrus into an alcohol-free package. They’ve done exactly that, and it’s already one of the best examples out there.
- Best For: Hanging outside during the summer? Sip a few of these sour brews for maximum flavor and no buzz. Even better, it clocks in at only 90 calories.
Momentum Brewing – Kölsch
- Style: Non-Alcoholic German Kölsch Ale
- ABV: <0.5%
- Tasting Notes: All the hallmarks of a German-style Kölsch are present here. Finishing dry with a cracker sweetness, this ale drinks like a lager.
- Why It’s Great: Clean-drinking and perfectly balanced, Momentum has perfected this curious German style, but withheld the booze.
- Best For: While it’s perfect for patio hangouts, this Kölsch really thrives as an NA option for your visit to the German bierhall. Pair with German favorites Wiener schnitzel or bratwurst and mustard.
Where to Buy Non-Alcoholic Beer
Many online retailers sell non-alcoholic beer for delivery or pickup. All the beers mentioned in this article can be found online at ProofNoMore.com
While it’s easy to find non-alcoholic beer online, some of the best NA beers are produced by local breweries. Check the websites or social media pages of local companies to see if there are any alcoholic options in their bottle shops or taprooms.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best NA Beer for You
Very few drinkers have enjoyed traditional nonalcoholic brands, especially brewers. That’s why it’s so refreshing to find the same vibrant variety that craft brewing has given us in the non-alcoholic beverage world. So whether you’re embarking on Dry January, training for a marathon, or are making a lifestyle shift, you won’t have to cut out flavor in order to cut out booze!
Do you have a favorite Non-Alcoholic Beer? Let us know in the comments!
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