Yes, you read that right. The best non-alcoholic beers. Once the target of unending jokes, non-alcoholic beers have recently made tremendous strides. Today you can enjoy incredible lagers, stouts, IPAs, and more without the commitment of alcohol content.
It’s long been the case that if you wanted to drink good beer, you wouldn’t go near a non-alcoholic brew. With nearly every type of beer represented and new technical and methodological improvements opening new doors every year, you can now enjoy beer without the tipsiness and hangover.
Whether you’re abstaining from alcohol for sobriety, want to enjoy a beer after a long run that won’t harm your muscles’ recovery, or simply want to be a bit healthier, we’ve laid out the seven best non-alcoholic beers currently on the market. Enjoy!
1. Heavenly Body Golden Wheat Ale — Wellbeing Brewing Co.
While there’s a lot of room for non-alcoholic beers to branch into new territories — that is, to introduce flavors that even standard beer never explored — there’s a lot to be said for 0% brews that taste like their alcoholic brothers.
Heavenly Body is just such a brew. This golden wheat ale is bready, minimally hopped, and soft on the palate, with a more pronounced American style than Belgian. You could easily compare it to craft beers like Widmer Hefe and Blue Moon Belgian White, but without the spice notes of these more Belgian-style beers.
If you’re looking for an alternative to craft beers, this is a solid pick. You can practically taste the dough rising. Try pairing this one with Stardawg strain for a nice partnership of virtue and vice.
2. Non-Alcoholic Oatmeal Dark Stout — Bravus Brewing
A good dark stout should be several things. It should be full-bodied. It absolutely must contain notes of things like coffee, caramel, chocolate, toffee, and/or nuttiness. And it must be smooth.
Bravus’ non-alcoholic Oatmeal Dark Stout nails all of these things on the head. First and most importantly, it’s got a fantastic full-body mouthfeel that’s at once smooth and less roasted than a Sam Smith or a Guinness.
Flavor-wise, the Oatmeal Dark Stout veers towards the sweeter end of the spectrum. Loaded with malty aromas, it hints at notes like roasted coffee, caramel, and chocolate. It goes great with soft cheeses and barbeque, and with <20 ppm of gluten and 99 calories, it’s a great choice for weight watchers.
We recommend pairing with Tangie or Sherblato strains.
3. Hazy AF — Brewdog
If you’re a fan of IPAs, don’t miss Hazy AF. Fruity, juicy and full, Hazy AF is tinged with orange and is fantastically authentic. Part of that is because the makers brew it right up to the point where alcohol starts to form. With only 20 calories per can, it’s also the lightest IPA you’ll find out there.
In terms of flavor, expect that sharp, hoppy taste coupled with grassy aromas and tropical flavors. This is New England beer at its finest, including that unfiltered haziness that you either have already fallen in love with or are about to. Tropicana Cookies strain is a great choice to pair with.
4. Run Wild IPA — Athletic Brewing Company
If you’re a runner, biker, XC skier, or hiker, there’s hardly a better feeling in the world than sucking down a cold Run Wild after a session. The Run Wild IPA is brewed using Citra and Mosaic and three other types of hops, some of the most popular choices in the IPA world, giving it a flavor and smell that’s very close to the real thing.
Because it’s non-alcoholic, you’ll enjoy a bit sweeter malt and a bit lighter body. However, we challenge anyone to be able to tell this apart from a full-alcohol IPA. Its bitterness isn’t so harsh as to turn newcomers off, but it’s certainly enough to provide some counterpoint to that specialty malt body.
With only 70 calories per can, you’ve got space for more beer when you’re done with one. Try it with the Larry Bird strain.
5. Alcohol-Free Premium Lager — Heineken
Okay, listen. Heineken Premium Lager is one of the most popular beers out there, but unlike some other incumbents, it’s actually a damn good beer. And thanks to Heinekin, you can now enjoy the flagship beer in alcohol-free form.
The brand’s 0.0 lager tastes practically identical to their traditional version, and we mean that — you’d have trouble telling the two apart. And with just 21 calories per bottle and a paltry 4 grams of carbs (of which 1.3 grams are sugar), you’re drinking with relatively little cost to your waistline.
Best of all? Because you’re drinking a Heineken bottle, you won’t have to answer any of those annoying questions when people ask you why you’re not drinking. Pair this one with the Key Lime Pie strain for a delicious combo.
6. Indiewave IPA — Ceria Brewing Company
Indiewave IPA offers yet another delicious IPA without the alcohol, and this one delivers a particularly satisfying and unique flavor. The founder of Blue Moon, Keith Villa, came up with the idea for Ceria Brewing Co. In doing so, he brought the quality that’s made Blue Moon such a force to the non-alcoholic arena.
Indiewave has half the calories of its alcoholic counterpart and 0% alcohol. As you’ll realize when you start sipping it, that lack of alcohol doesn’t impact its ability to make a statement and hold its own against alcoholic IPAs. Light caramel malts lend a subtly sweet flavor and balance out the citrusy character of Amarillo, Citra, and Cascade hops.
Try pairing this beer with Middle Eastern cuisine, chocolate, charcuterie, and Papaya Punch.
7. Skippers — Insel Brewery
Hailing from the German brewery Insel, Skippers is an amber craft brew that is bready, aromatic, and delightful.
With a decent amount of haziness and notes of clove — the latter resulting from pilsner malt and hops blending together — this beer develops a slightly corny flavor as it grows warmer. Creamy and soft with a medium body, Skippers is at once grainy and crisp. It’s unique. It’s one of a kind. It’s so, so worth it.
Try pairing with Golden Goat strain for some daytime productivity.
