It wasn’t long ago when nonalcoholic beer options in the U.S. left much to be desired. Fortunately, U.S. craft brewers, and even macro brewers, have since followed the lead of German brewers who were the first to release worthwhile alkoholfrei offerings. In fact, the fast-growing category of nonalcoholic beer now includes NA alternatives in most beer styles. Here are some excellent low-proof brews hailing from around the globe. (Note: If a beer contains less than 0.5 percent ABV, it’s not “alcohol-free” but is defined as “nonalcoholic” by the FDA.)
AL’s Classic Non-Alcoholic Beer
Alban de Pury launched AL’s Drinks Company in 2020 when he realized he felt better after he stopped drinking beer. Still, he missed the flavors and social aspect of drinking, so he created this NA version of a light American lager, taking the beer through full fermentation before carefully removing the alcohol to retain its flavor and texture. The noble hops’ floral notes and herbal bitterness balance the breadiness of the brew, making it all too easy to knock it back. And, it’s less than 0.5 percent ABV. $14.99/6-pack, drinkals.com
Athletic Brewing Co. | Upside Dawn Non-Alcoholic Golden Ale
Stratford, Connecticut’s entirely NA brewery Athletic brews a naturally alcohol-free beer, with its entire lineup undergoing a fermentation process and winding up at a negligible 0.5 percent ABV. The brewery uses organic malts from Germany and the U.S., as well as English and American hops for their clean golden ale, which carries a shining bitterness and is so refreshing the missing alcohol won’t be missed at all. $12.99/6-pack, athleticbrewing.com
This Article was originally published on IMBIBE Magazine
