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Alcohol-free beers are popping up seemingly everywhere these days, whether it’s as a promotion for Dry January (an entire month where thousands of people pledge not to imbibe) or on the year-round menu of your favorite local bar or restaurant. Gone are the days of O’Doul’s as your only booze-free brew. Ladies and gentlemen, full-flavor nonalcoholic options have arrived.
“As a?culture, we are more wellness-focused than ever before,” Hilary Sheinbaum, Dry January specialist and author of “The Dry Challenge,” says, adding, “so many people have health-centric attitudes and lifestyles, so alcohol is becoming less attractive to these individuals.”
A study in BMJ Open cited that quitting drinking, even for a mere month, has a whole slew of health benefits. Their data show that regular drinkers who abstain for 30 days slept better, shed weight and reported an increase in their day-to-day energy. A published paper in Hypertension also states that decreased alcohol consumption can help lower blood pressure.
In honor of Dry January, we taste-tested the top nonalcoholic beer brands for months to help separate the cream of the crop from the flavorless flops (the things we do for product testing). From hoppy, hazy IPAs, to bright pilsners, to dark, chocolate-forward stouts, here are the nonalcoholic beers we loved most. Below, a comprehensive list of the best alcohol-free beers and brews to help you crush your Dry January goals.
You’ve likely seen the colorful cans of Athletic Brewing in your favorite grocery store or corner shop, and while nearly everything we’ve tried in their lineup is excellent (and we’ve tried a lot), the Free Wave Hazy IPA stands out as one of our favorite hoppy nonalcoholic beers of all time. It’s crisp and citrusy and would pair perfectly with a post-hike pizza on a warm summer day. I have legitimately seen a friend accidentally drink one of these babies and not realize that it was nonalcoholic until the can was empty.
If you prefer a light, easy-drinking beer with plenty of fizzy bubbles to a bitter IPA, check out Best Day Brewing’s K?lsch, which tastes just like the real thing. Slightly toasted malt flavors come through, and an ultra-crisp finish will keep you coming back for more. And did you see those groovy throwback can designs?
I never thought that I’d be recommending an IPA brewed by Samuel Adams, but here we are. The legacy beer brand has created an easy-drinking, flavorful stunner with this concoction, blending white wheat, golden naked oats and a two-row pale malt blend with a mixture of four different hops to make this not-too-hoppy take on a hazy India Pale Ale.
Brooklyn Brewery’s nonalcoholic beers simply rock. From its eye-catching psychedelic can designs to its special fermentation method that allows for complex flavors to emerge without alcohol forming, this craft brewery’s ales are in a league of their own. The brand’s Hoppy Amber is precisely what it sounds like: a malty, amber-tinted beverage with the perfect blend of light hops and a medium body. Check out the company’s Special Effects IPA too, if you’d prefer a more bitter brew.
I’m not entirely sure what dark arts or wizardry Guinness employed to create their 0.0 alcohol-free cans, but I’m here to tell you that it tastes just every bit as good as the original. Take a whiff of your glass and you might notice hints of arabica coffee beans and dark chocolate. Take a sip and you’ll fall down the rabbit hole of sweet, roasted stout flavor that Guinness is beloved for.
While it’s true that Bravus touts a cornucopia of awesome nonalcoholic beers (the Blood Orange IPA is not to be missed), it was their Focus Sparkling Hop Water that truly stood out to me. With bright, zesty notes of ginger and lemon, plus adaptogens, Amarillo and Citra hops, this five-calorie treat is officially replacing my afternoon La Croix.
It took me a long time to find a nonalcoholic dark beer that I actually liked (most of the ones I tried tasted flimsy and thin, compared to their high-ABV counterparts), but Untitled Art totally blew me away with this chocolate dark brew. It’s chocolatey in flavor, of course, but with a rich, smooth texture that kept me wanting more. Loaded with dark malt and cacao nibs, it’s the ultimate alcohol-free dessert drink.
I recently stumbled upon Bitburger’s 0% Premium Pils while enjoying an elk steak at Bird & Jim in Estes Park, Colorado, when my mixologist partner and I were both blown away by how close it tasted to the original. Not only did the light, refreshing pilsner create a perfect pre-dinner sip but it paired perfectly with our evening’s red meat and mountain-town vibes.
All Out is Athletic Brewing’s attempt at a stout-inspired brew, and while I don’t find it to be as full-bodied as a traditional stout, it is a commendable nonalcoholic beer for those seeking richer, darker malt flavors. It’s nutty, complex and offers a hint of toasted coffee flavor.
We couldn’t finish this list of the best nonalcoholic beers without extending a special mention to Beck’s Nonalcoholic Lager, which my partner and I often joke could fool any of our friends into thinking it’s your average, alcoholic beer. Light, refreshing and crisp, Beck’s foray into the nonalcoholic beverage world is an easy-drinking and low-calorie option.
