Whether you want to enjoy a party without hangovers or just take a break from alcohol, non-alcoholic options like mocktails and alcohol-free wine and liquor are popular alternatives. There’s no shortage of options on the market to choose from.

Beer brands large and small are also tapping into the alcohol-free trend. Options range from familiar beers from brewing giants like Heineken and Budweiser to specialist offerings from craft brewers.

Aside from skipping the hangover, there are plenty of other benefits to cutting back on alcohol. This includes better sleep and a decreased risk of chronic disease. Alcohol also boosts the calorie content of a drink, so alcohol-free options cut the calories.

The question remains, though: Can you make a nonalcoholic beer that tastes as good as regular beer? We tried a lot of NA beer varieties to be able to answer that question.

What’s the best nonalcoholic beer?

From the beers we tasted, we selected an overall winner and a winner for each beer style.

Best Overall Non-Alcoholic Beer: Athletic Run Wild IPA

Athletic Run Wild IPA stands out with its citrusy hops, subtly sweet malt, and crisp refreshing finish.

In our taste test, Athletic Brewing Run Wild was the standout in our first nonalcoholic beer roundup, and it’s still the best we’ve tried. Its well-rounded flavor makes Run Wild a great choice, even if you’re not an avid IPA fan.

The hops deliver citrus flavors with a hint of pine. The malt sweetness cuts through the hops to deliver a well-balanced beer that will suit a wide range of tastes.

Run Wild IPA has won so many awards, that they’re running out of space to list them on the can. If you’re skeptical about nonalcoholic beers, start here. If this high-quality option doesn’t win you over, nothing will!

Best Non-Alcoholic IPA: Athletic Free Wave Hazy IPA

Athletic Free Wave IPA offers a delightful blend of bold hop flavors, refreshing citrus notes, and a crisp, satisfying finish.

Free Wave is a hoppier, hazier cousin to Athletic’s Run Wild IPA.

This nonalcoholic beer has a powerful hit of fruity hop flavors with an intense citrus and tropical fruit vibe. The bold hops balance nicely with a subtle malty sweetness. In the glass, it has a warm, amber hue and a slight haze that’s popular with IPA fans.

Hop lovers will appreciate the complex flavor of this hoppy amber IPA. It’s a standout choice for IPA fans and nonalcoholic beer enthusiasts alike.

Best Non-Alcoholic Lager: Sober Carpenter Nonalcoholic Irish Red Ale

With its Irish Red Ale, Sober Carpenter has shown that you don’t need alcohol to enjoy the robust flavors of this classic beer style.

Some of the na beers we tried often had a sweet, bland, and bready flavor. In contrast, the Irish Red is a satisfying blend of toasted malts with a caramel sweetness and subtle earthy hops.

The medium body and smooth finish make this Irish Red a great choice for anyone seeking a nonalcoholic ale that doesn’t compromise on flavor.

The best nonalcoholic lager: Gruvi Golden Lager

The Gruvi Golden was a standout among several lagers we tested.

To clarify, lager is a brewing method, not a specific beer type. Still, it’s often shorthand for a pale, golden beer that has a crisp but not intensely hoppy flavor.

Lagers need to hit the right combination of sharp and sweet, and Gruvi Golden aces this balancing act. A hint of floral hops balances the subtle malt to deliver a crisp, refreshing beer.

In IPAs, dominant hop flavors often mask more subtle problems. Without the hops to hide behind, some of the lagers we tested were too sweet, or the malty sweetness came with a musty aftertaste. Gruvi Golden avoids these problems; it’s so good it’s actually tough to tell it apart from a regular craft lager.

The best nonalcoholic fruit beer: Athletic Brewing Tropical Sour

Tropical Sour is a vibrant and tangy escape to a land of pure paradise. This brew is part of our Fruit Stand Series, and filled with bright and pungent aromatics of passion fruit, mango and lush tropical flowers. It features a light-bodied profile that’s crisp and tart. Slightly sweet and beautifully refreshing, it brings sunshine and summertime vibes to every sip.
  
  

The best nonalcoholic beer mix pack: Athletic Brewing Best Sellers

Our all-time greatest hits, all in one box. The Best Sellers Pack brings together our most-loved brews—Run Wild IPA, Upside Dawn Golden, Free Wave Hazy IPA, and crisp Athletic Lite. Whether you’re new to Athletic or already hooked, this mix is a one-way ticket to discovering why fans keep coming back. Perfect for sharing,

stocking up, or just keeping your fridge loaded with variety.]