13 Low- and No-Alcohol Beers That Actually Taste Good
Cut back on alcohol, not flavor.
No matter whether you're curbing your alcohol intake for health reasons or exploring the sober-curious movement just because, low-ABV beers are worth a try — especially when they actually taste like something you want to drink.
Athletic Brewing strives to create delicious non-alcoholic beers for people who want to enjoy healthy, active lifestyles — and still enjoy great beer, according to its website. Having tried plenty of Athletic's brews, I have to admit the Connecticut-based company is doing just that. Cereveza Atletica is a Mexican lager that is light and refreshing, with a slightly floral flavor that is not overwhelming.
Much to my husband's delight, Athletic’s Free Wave Hazy IPA is now part of its year-round flagship of brews. It's loaded with Amarillo, Citra and Mosaic hops you can really taste. If you love hoppy beers, you will love this NA option.
If you’re as ready for warm weather as I am, get yourself a 24-pack of these perfect-for-summer sips while quantities last. Partake’s delicious gose is sweet yet tart, brewed with coriander, sea salt and natural peach flavoring, and it's perfect for a hot afternoon.
This untiltered masterpiece was recommended to me by the salesman at my fave local liquor store, and I'm glad I took his advice. (He said he has customers who buy it by the case — definitely sounded promising to me.) The German NA sip tastes so much like beer it actually won over my husband, who rolled his eyes at me when I said I wanted to make room in his beer fridge for alcohol-free options. When you mow the lawn on a 90-degree Saturday afternoon and you're craving an ice-cold beer, but you're also a responsible adult and you don't want to start day-drinking at 1 p.m., this hits the spot. Its amber color looks like beer and its malty caramel flavor tastes like beer. It's a total win-win.
Pour one of these hazy non-alcoholic IPAs into a glass and you'll have a hard time telling it apart from the real thing. This sip is filled with fruity notes and really does deliver all the big, juicy flavor you want from an IPA without the buzz.
Wheat beer lovers, unite! This super freshing sip is brewed with real lemon puree, blueberry juice and sea salt, and it meets all your wheat beer expectations. If you're looking for a bright, citrusy beer for summer, this is it.
I'd be remiss not to mention O'Doul's, the first near-beer I was ever aware of (and only as the signature drink of the older guys in my dad's crowd). The red lager shouldn't be reserved for the boomers, though. It has a rich flavor that's bready yet not overly sweet, just as an amber should be.
If IPAs are your thing, this one's for you. Its full-bodied flavor and citrusy notes make it a perfect choice for hot weather, and you won't feel bad, calorie- or hangover-wise, should you choose to pour yourself more than one. I personally love So-Low's big hop flavor that isn't excessively bitter.
I'll be honest: It wasn't easy picking a favorite Sufferfest brew, as they all live up to the brand's "low calories, high standards" motto. But the Repeat, a 95-calorie Kolsch made with bee pollen, definitely earned its spot on this list with its honeyed aroma and flavor.
This lands at the higher-ABV end of the list, but it's a solid choice for the beer lover who's looking to cut carbs. On the market since only 2018, Slightly Mighty is a hazy IPA with tropical notes (think pineapple and citrus) that, IMHO, taste like you're on vacation. You'd never guess you're imbibing only 95 calories and 3.6 grams of carbs per 12-ounce can.
Zero-Alcohol Sips Worth Trying
This sparkling malt and hops beverage comes with the beer flavor you know and love, but you can enjoy it morning, noon or night, no buzz about it!
I have professed my love for HOP WTR before, and I’ll do it again. This zero-alcohol sip starts with just two ingredients, hops and water, but claims to have stress-busting potential, thanks to the addition of adaptogens and nootropics — and I’m a believer. A 12-can variety pack will get you four cans each of Classic, Blood Orange and Mango, all of which are great for when you need to chill without the booze.
What happens when you brew tea like you brew beer? This! Don’t think of HopTea as something your grandma might drink — it’s actually a refreshing, hoppy beverage. Go for the Core Mixed pack to sample different tea varieties brewed with a variety of hops.
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