As I’ve mentioned in my “How Non-Alcoholic Beer Is Made” article, a non-alcoholic beer holiday feature, and in my discussion article with Shan Ferments, I’m a big fan of the non-alcoholic beer trend. I truly think it’s great for craft beer and I think it has legs.
Why do I love non-alcoholic beer? I have a few reasons.
- Some of us legitimately love the flavor of beer but don’t always want to drink alcohol.
- Non alcohol drinkers can enjoy the brewery experience while having something to drink.
- Dry January is an annual thing, and honestly all of us could do with an alcohol break here and there.
Ok, I know that you ended up here because you’re in the same boat as me. Here are my favorite non-alcoholic beers.
Best Non-Alcoholic Beers
Keep in mind that I’ll only list beers I’ve tried. Now, my recommendations.
Athletic Brewing Free Wave Hazy IPA
I’ve tried a few beers from Atheltic, and the Free Wave Hazy IPA takes the cake for me. Not only does it actually have that haze quality, but it tastes good, too!
For those who don’t know about Athletic Brewing, they’re a San Diego brewery that only brews non-alcoholic beer. And everything I’ve had from them is good.
Most people who know Athletic probably think of their Run Wild IPA (great can art btw), which is also very good. You really can’t go wrong.
Clausthaler Non-Alcoholic Grapefruit
The fine folks of Clausthaler sent me a few non-alcoholic beers to try a few years back, and let me tell you…they’re good.
I’m giving the nod to the Clausthaler Non-Alcoholic Grapefruit beer here, thanks to its accessibility. The runner up is the Clausthaler Holiday Brew which tastes akin to a non-alcoholic mulled wine (in a good way).
In any case, Clausthaler makes other non-alcoholic beers, though I haven’t had an opportunity to try all of them. I’d recommend starting with the Grapefruit, then trying other brews by them.
Heineken Zero
Before I go on, I have to admit that I’m a sucker for Heineken. Of the mass-produced import beers, it has to be my favorite…from Europe…not counting Guinness.
But Heineken Zero makes my list for a few reasons. First, it’s drinkable, which is fantastic. Second, I’m sure that anyone reading this article can find Heineken Zero at a local store. It’s easy for me to pick these awesome craft brews for everything, but I’m being realistic and giving everyone a solid non-alcoholic beer they can enjoy, pretty much no matter where they live.
Fremont Brewing Non-Alcoholic IPA
I love Fremont Brewing. It’s hands-down my favorite brewery in Seattle — and that’s no slight to other breweries there, off the top of my head I can list my top 20 favorites. But their Non-Alcoholic IPA is so accessible that I have to recommend it, especially if you live in Seattle or plan on visiting soon. Even if an IPA isn’t to your taste, they regularly carry several non-alcoholic options. I swear that Fremont Brewing is consistently ahead of the beer curve, and I think they’re spot on with putting a new emphasis on non-alcoholic beer.
Hop Water
Ok, this one is sort of not a beer, per se, but an idea. Stay with me.
Hop water is essentially a seltzer that doesn’t have any alcohol. It’s long been a favorite of brewers, and then they realized, “wait, if we like this, will people like this?” The answer is yes, people like it. Hop water often carries the flavor of a hop (over an added flavor like orange or mango), but without the alcohol. This is the perfect drink for hop lovers looking to cut back on alcohol.
Unfortunately, hop water isn’t super mainstream yet, so I would recommend checking local craft breweries to check for availability. It’s worth it, trust me.
- Best Non-Alcoholic Beers - January 27, 2024
- Best Breweries in Ballard, Seattle - December 18, 2023
- Best Breweries In Seattle, WA - December 13, 2023
