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The 8 Best Non-Alcoholic Beers to Drink All Year Round

We're in a golden age of lower-alcohol alternatives, and beers are no exception.

The 8 Best Non-Alcoholic Beers to Drink All Year Round

Whether you’re looking to cut back on alcohol or cut it out of your diet entirely, we’re in a golden age of satisfying low-ABV drink options. While low-alcohol spirits and cocktails have been particularly trendy of late, non-alcoholic beer has come a long way since the ’90s, when your options were basically O’Douls or Diet Coke. 

For those new to the term, non-alcoholic beer (also known as NA, low-alcohol, or near beer) isn’t actually alcohol free. All beer contains at least a small percentage of alcohol (usually 0.5 percent). The only way to imbibe alcohol-free beer is not to drink beer at all.

Here are some of our favorite NA beer options for when you’re trying to limit your intake. Keep scrolling to see our picks for the very best non-alcoholic beers.

Photo by Athletic Brewing

Athletic Brewing’s Free Wave

Who doesn’t love a hazy IPA? This one from Athletic Brewing is bursting with pine, tangerine, and tropical fruit aromas, thanks to the addition of Amarillo, Citra, and Mosaic hops—without all that pesky alcohol. That’s right, you get all the haze with less than 0.5 percent ABV. Better still, this beer is vegan and made with all non-GMO products.

Buy at Athletic Brewing

Photo by Oskar Blues Brewery

Oskar Blues Designated Dale’s NA Pils

If you enjoy Oskar Blues’ popular Mama’s Little Yella Pils, and you’re looking for an NA version, the folks at the Colorado-based brewery have you covered. Oskar Blues Designated Dale’s NA Pils is an American pilsner that begins with a malt backbone before moving into flavors like lemon peel and pear, with an ABV of less than 0.5 percent.

Buy at Total Wine

 

Untitled Art Non-Alcoholic West Coast IPA

No non-alcoholic beer list would be complete without at least one West Coast IPA. One of the best is Untitled Art Non-Alcoholic West Coast IPA. This NA take on the classic style gets its citrus, pine, and hop aromas and flavors from the liberal use of Cascade, Centennial, and Simcoe hops. All that dank, resinous flavor with less than 0.5 percent ABV.

Buy at Proof No More

Photo by Brooklyn Brewing

Brooklyn Special Effects Hoppy Amber

This non-alcoholic amber ale is made using a special fermentation method that creates the aromas and flavors drinkers expect in a well-made craft beer, without the alcohol. It’s also dry-hopped to add even more piney, floral character. The result is a surprisingly balanced beer with notes of floral hops, citrus peels, and just a hint of bitterness. 

Buy at Total Wine

Photo by Bravus Brewing Co.

Bravus Oatmeal Dark

While you can’t go wrong with Guinness 0, if you’re looking for a non-alcoholic stout to imbibe, opt for Bravus Oatmeal Dark instead. This award-winning beer is made with simple ingredients like malted barley, hops, and yeast. The result is a complex, rich beer loaded with flavors like dark chocolate, toffee, and freshly brewed coffee.

Buy at Total Wine

Photo by Al's Drinks Company

Al’s Classic Non-Alcoholic Lager

With a name like Al’s Classic Non-Alcoholic Lager, you should have a pretty good idea about what you’re in for when cracking open one of these bad boys. Not only is this NA lager only 54 calories, but it also has all the bready, herbal, noble hop, floral aromas and flavors you’d expect from a classic lager. It’s crisp, refreshing, and will make you rethink how you feel about non-alcoholic lagers.

Buy at Proof No More

Photo by Radeberger Gruppe KG

Clausthaler Original

No non-alcoholic beer list is complete without Clausthaler Original. This beer has been brewed the same way since 1979. Made with its own specialized brewing technique, it’s known for its balanced flavor profile of cereal grains, malts, grass, and gentle hops. It’s refreshing, crisp, and always there when you want to imbibe a beer, but can do without the alcohol.

Buy at Total Wine

Photo by Best Day Brewing

Best Day Non-Alcoholic Kölsch

There aren’t many beer styles more refreshing than a classic kölsch. One of the best NA options is Best Day Non-Alcoholic Kölsch. Made with simple ingredients like barley, hops, and yeast, it’s known for its light, crisp, easy-drinking nature featuring notes of sweet malts, citrus peels, and bright hops.

Buy at The New Bar