By Laura Silverman, Founder of Zero Proof Nation and Booze Free in DC
I’ve been sober since 2007, which is a crazy long time of being booze-free—way before there was a plethora of options to choose from, and way before it was cool to drink less (or not at all).
As Founder of Zero Proof Nation and Booze Free in DC, I’ve been focused on highlighting non-alcoholic beverages and the culture driving their growth. I’ve even been a two-time judge at the World Alcohol Free Awards and received the “Leader and Innovator of the Year” award from Sans Bar Academy. When not on the karaoke stage, I love discovering new non-alc options. Here are 12 non-alc brews that I recommend for beer lovers, from mainstream favorites to funky up-and-comers.
1. Athletic Brewing Cerveza Atletica
This beer changed my life. Lots of people flock to Athletic’s Run Wild or Upside Dawn, and those are fine. But the Cerveza Atletica? Back in the early days of non-alc beer (who else remembers when Athletic wasn’t printing on cans yet?), I didn’t have a lot of variety in my beverage fridge. But I did have a lot of Cerveza for summer—and every other season, too. Add some fresh lime if you’re feeling extra beachy. Mexican lagers not your thing? Athletic literally has something for everyone. Some of my other faves are All Out Extra Dark, and any of their limited edition releases.
2. Best Day Brewing Kolsch
What even is a kolsch? Google can answer those questions later, but all you need to know is that this brew from California-based Best Day makes for the best day ever. Malty, light, ultra fizzy—and when their Kolsch is ice cold, it’s earth shattering.
3. Go Brewing Street Cred Nitro Bold
Chicago’s own Go Brewing is one to watch. This dedicated craft non-alc brewery not only nails every single liquid, but the can designs are SO GOOD. My two fave brews are the Street Cred Nitro Bold, because I love anything coffee (and, honestly, I can have a stout any time of year) and the Jab Jab Grapefruit IPA, which is essentially what would happen if Spindrift Grapefruit had an IPA baby. It’s hoppy, it’s grapefruity, and it punches you right in the face, true to its name.
4. Gruvi Juicy IPA
This award-winning brother and sister-founded brand out of Colorado (by way of Canada) is one of the first non-alc brands I remember from the earliest days of non-alc. They’ve always been about their community—which I absolutely LOVE—and pushing the boundaries of innovation. My favorite two brews, the Juicy IPA and Mocha Nitro Stout are part of their discovery series, and they really do get the flavors just right. The Juicy IPA is rumored to have elements of pineapple and fig with just the right balance of hops, but all I can taste is pure sunshine. Plus, that hot pink!
5. Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher
I literally just bought a four-pack at Whole Foods yesterday because no matter how much brands send to me (yes, it’s true), there are still some products I can never have enough of. Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher is one of those. Available in the original bottle or now in cans (I think it tastes better in the bottle—fight me on that!), this hoppy refresher is basically seltzer water, hops, and citric acid. I’m thinking there’s got to be unicorn dust or some other strange magic going on because it’s SO SO SO good. Now that the days are getting longer, this is the perfect sunny beverage to quench your thirst and scratch the beer itch, especially if you’re sensitive to gluten.
6. Eighteen Twenty Brewing All That Razz
Based out of Portland, Maine, this family-owned brand has a gorgeous line-up of non-alcoholic beers that rivals some of the big guys. I’m partial to their raspberry sour (All That Razz) and dark stout (Stand Up & Stout), which I kind of want to mix now because who doesn’t love dark chocolate and raspberry together?! Clocking in at about 80 calories each, these beers are a bit of a splurge but not the highest calorie count out there. Treat yourself.
7. Partake Brewing Hazy IPA
(RIP to Partake’s stout, because that was my fave). The next best thing is their Hazy IPA, which goes down smooth and citrusy while clocking in at a ridiculously low calorie count. Partake is perfect for crushing! Honestly, if you’re looking for a beer that tastes like a beer but basically has the calorie count of a hopped seltzer (10 – 25 cals, at the most), this is the non-alc beer brand for you.
8. Busty Lush She’s Passionate
I absolutely love this brand. I’m a busty sober lush here, so obviously the name speaks to me. The branding and design are out of this world (Chambers Austelle is the illustrator of all the gorgeous Busty Lushes) and I love supporting women-owned brands. From my favorite tropical weisse (She’s Passionate) and blonde ale (She’s Golden) to a stout (She’s Divine) and a lavender margarita (She’s Lavish), their whole line is fantastic.
9. Wellbeing Brewing Victory Citrus Wheat
I heard of Wellbeing Brewing before I ever heard of Athletic, believe it or not. Pre-Zero Proof Nation, I had an alternative sobriety blog called The Sobriety Collective, which introduced me to a whole world of recovery online, including Since Right Now, the podcast that Wellbeing founder Jeff Stevens co-hosted. I love that this brand is recovery-informed; it’s for both the “discoverers” (sober curious) and the “recoverers” (sober serious). I used to take the Victory Wheat Citrus Wheat with me to roller derby practice back in the day because it has electrolytes!
10. Uncool Sparkling Rose Sour
Out of Charlottesville, home of my alma mater the University of Virginia, Uncool makes not drinking alcohol the coolest thing ever. They nail the “uncool is cool” vibe. Not only are all their beers delightful (Sparkling Rose Sour and Citra Wheat are my faves), but they also make some pretty wild limited edition releases.
11. Mash Gang Virgin Kir Royale
This experimental non-alc brewery out of the UK is wild, wonderful, and wacky. One of my favorite brews is their Virgin Kir Royale, but I love everything about Mash Gang: the liquids, the tall boys, the mad scientist vibe, and the branding. A little reminiscent of Liquid Death, but it’s its own thing. Now that the fellas from Mash Gang set up their US-based operations in Chicago, expect a lot more Mash Gang to come your way.
12. RationAle Brewing Mexican Cerveza
The perfect non-alc beer for moshing (do people still do this?) at a rock concert or crushing post-surf, RationAle is for the maverick in us all. I love their Mexican Cerveza (and their Hazy IPA). Not only are the liquids top notch, with excellent foam retention and mouthfeel, but RationAle’s branding is edgy and makes drinking non-alc beer feel just a little rebellious.
For more from Laura, make sure to check out the ever-evolving global map of alcohol free establishments on Zero Proof Nation and subscribe to her Substack.
