We have tried a bunch of non-alcoholic (n/a) beers lately, looking for something that satisfies the desire for something bubbly and refreshing but doesn’t have the associated buzz, drowsiness, lack of focus, terrible sleep, and other downsides of the high-ABV beverages we’ve come to enjoy.
This is an unordered list of the ones we’ve tried with comments where applicable. All drinks with the same name as alcoholic beers are the non-alcoholic versions.
- Athletic - has a ton of different flavors, most of them very expensive (>$2/drink on their website); we’ve only tried the beers, not the seltzers
- Upside Dawn - a golden ale that has nothing to do with golden ale, but is tasty nonetheless; my wife’s favorite n/a beer
- Cerveza Atletica - my wife’s second-favorite n/a beer
- Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects
- Hoppy Amber - not on the top of my list for n/a beers, but comes in the variety pack, so what are you going to do?
- IPA - a little bit thicker than a real IPA would be, but without the bite of alcohol to balance it out
- Pils - I don’t love alcoholic pils, so I’m not to be trusted, but it’s just as crisp and satisfying after a day in the woods (or the yard)
- Hazy IPA - delicious; as far as I’m concerned, nearly a complete beer substitute—as long as you only like one flavor of IPA, because this is the only one I’ve found that’s this good
- Deschutes Black Butte Porter - different from the real thing, but delicious.
- Sierra Nevada Hop Splash “hop water” - a weird beverage that reminds you of beer but clearly isn’t trying to actually be beer; recommended despite my use of the word “weird”
Drinks that have been suggested to us, but which we haven’t tried yet
- Independence Brewing KAW! Sparkling Hop Water
- Asahi Super Dry 0.0 - recommended by @TheMacPsych
- Erdinger Non-Alcoholic - also recommended by @TheMacPsych
- Guinness 0.0 - recommended by many people
- Heineken 0.0 - recommended by seemingly every ad on every Formula 1 track for the last few years
- crux fermentation project - recommended by @jean, specifically the No-Mo Hazy
We still love great beers and ciders, and I’m sure you’ll see us at The Dooryard this weekend, but this kind of variety is a wonderful change from the previous alcohol-or-nothing regime.