13 Low-Alcohol Beers That Don't Lack In Flavor

It's been well-documented that the Gen Z demographic — teens to late 20-somethings at this point in time — are drinking less alcohol than previous generations. (Or they're straight-up mangling beer drinking altogether.) As an age group that's more conscious of health and personal wellbeing, they're keen to avoid the detriments of alcohol consumption. And good on them, as the benefits of over-drinking, both short-term and long-term are pretty much non-existent, while the downsides are substantial.

At the same time, imbibing alcohol has been a part of civilization since the very beginning and has been a constant in society ever since — especially beer. One of the earliest written records of any kind was a beer recipe in the form of a poem. Besides its pleasant psychological effects, beer has often been a safe hydration alternative to unclean water throughout history. The days of choleric water and the like are over for most of the world, but the social component of beer is still well entrenched. How to reconcile the bonding human behavior of sharing a cold one with the new-age desire for healthier living? Low- and no-alcohol beer, that's how. 

Coming off the age of craft beer, there's a new wave of well-made brews with negligible ABV on the market. With advice from beer experts Vanessa Wehner, Beverage Director at The Ritz-Carlton in Pentagon City, and Ridvan Asani, Beverage Director at Treadwell Park, NYC, here are 13 flavorful beers that you definitely won't be feeling the next day.

You're going to see Athletic Brewing appear more than once on this list. The brand has not only become one of the most visible N-A labels on shelves, it also seems to be crafting the best product around in this category. "Athletic Brewing has done a strong job in this space," so says Ridvan Asani.

IPAs can be a dicey thing when it comes to no- or low-alcohol, with the complex and robust flavor of hops seen as part and parcel with higher-than-average ABV. But this is where Run Wild IPA proves that wrong, according to Asani. It stands out for its "balance and structure."

Vanessa Wehner agrees that Athletic Brewing has "created low-alcohol IPAs that deliver strong hop aroma and bitterness." This is precisely why Run Wild IPA has one of the highest scores on Beer Advocate in this category, and with a significant number of reviews — showcasing both its popularity and quality.

The big boys have been getting into the no- and low-alcohol game, as expected — and Samuel Adams is certainly one of the big boys. In becoming one of the most recognizable brewers in the country, as well as one of the forerunners of the eventual craft beer movement, Jim Koch's Boston Beer Company has never been afraid to be creative and innovative (even trying to enter the wedding-vow game). But up until a few years ago, one thing it never did was create a non-alcoholic beer – nor did it ever seem like it would.

But the demand for N-A beer has spiked. The challenge of making a really excellent one proved too much for Samuel Adams to resist — and a challenge it is. As per Ridvan Asani: "Alcohol contributes to body, mouthfeel, and the perception of sweetness, so removing it can make the beer feel incomplete if it's not handled properly." This is less vital with lighter fare like lagers and pilsners, but for IPAs, those characteristics are hugely important.

That's where Just the Haze gets its so right, however. Samuel Adams went for a hazy as an inaugural N-A IPA attempt, and nailed it. According to reviews, it does not taste like a non-alcoholic beer. And after a few years of meticulous hop-testing, the folks at Boston Beer created what's being called a holy grail of alcohol-free hazies.

The Upside Dawn Golden Ale offering from Athletic Brewing is indicative of the general N-A movement of the moment: That there's no reason for something to taste like a faux-beer just because almost all the alcohol content has been removed. Indeed, it drinks "like a beer first, not a substitute," according to Ridvan Asani.

Ranked just below Athletic's other offering, Run Wild IPA, on Beer Advocate's ranking of low-alcohol suds, Upside Dawn is a combination of English and American hops, giving it a great balance and a clean, refreshing taste. It also has a flowery, earthy scent that defines many an ale.

Athletic's been doing elite N-A for some time now, and this is just one of a line of exemplar offerings — albeit possibly the best. Athletic was founded in 2017 as the first craft brewery in America completely dedicated to zero-alcohol, after one of the co-founders improved his health by cutting alcohol out of his diet. That in itself is probably no great revelation to most of us. But to be fair, most of us don't start industry-changing businesses as a result.

It's only natural for the world's largest wheat beer brewery to have an entry in the no-alcohol field. Founded back in 1886, Erdinger went from a regional producer of weissbräu — only sold in and around the Bavarian city of Erding — to an international powerhouse. As the company grew in the 1960s, it became the first brewery to sell wheat beer outside its spiritual home of Bavaria. The 1980s really saw the business take off on a global scale.

In 2001, Erdinger positioned itself as a true visionary in the beer game with Weissbier Alkoholfrei, back when some of the only N-As around were O'Douls and St. Pauli Girl. All these decades later, Weissbier Alkoholfrei is still going strong, part of a new wave of alcohol-free brewing that it first pioneered.

It's a beer that's as pleasing to drinkers new to the label as it is to those who have enjoyed the original version. Described as malty and caramel-y without the bitterness some might expect. It is more on the sweeter side, so that might be the only caveat if that kind of flavor profile isn't right for you. Otherwise, prost!

Coming straight out of Scotland, BrewDog was founded in 2007 with a punk ethos and a thirst for craft beer excellence. Only a year after its birth, it started winning awards for both the business and the brews themselves. You could say the boys from Fraserburgh did well, having stamped their lofty place on the craft beer landscape. The brewery's golden touch has now been placed on the N-A market.

At 0.5%, the Hazy AF is one of the best offerings out there for those eschewing ABV. It's from a beermaker that stands alongside others at the forefront, crafting L-A India pale ales full of hoppiness and a desirable bitterness that "are good enough to stand in for the real thing, especially in casual or daytime drinking occasions," according to Vanessa Wehner.

Granted, Hazy AF may not be the most robust pale ale you'll find in this category, and its Beer Advocate score does lag slightly below some of its higher-rated peers. But to find a close-to-proper IPA this low in alcohol is still something of a rarity. (Just beware the pricey nature of some of BrewDog's offerings.)

Weihenstephaner as a brewery really needs no introduction. At the same time, it absolutely needs an introduction, simply because of the history and breadth of this German icon. Some say it is the ancient home of the modern art of brewing, started by monks (including one legit saint) in Weihenstephan in the mid-eighth century. Although they weren't worried about making anything alcohol-free at the time (different era, you know), that would come more than 1,000 years later.

Ridvan Asani has taken notice: "On the imported side, Weihenstephaner's non-alcoholic offerings are very well executed, with clean malt character and proper finish." This very much extends to the original alcohol-free version. With a high ranking on Beer Advocate, it's a take on a very old brew that has stood the test of time.

It should be said that this brew is technically a low-alcohol beer and not completely devoid of alcoholic content. But the 0.4% ABV is pretty negligible and won't be getting anyone drunk anytime soon. So enjoy it without worry — just as they did in the Middle Ages (albeit under a very different type of beer diet).

According to at least one YouTube reviewer, this might be the perfect N-A IPA. Big words. Big claim. But if any brewery is a match for it, it's Sierra Nevada. The Chico, California brewing stalwart is one of the more recognizable and influential craft beer labels of our time. Never one to avoid due diligence when creating its brews, Sierra Nevada took five years to develop its entry into the world of N-A. The work paid off.

The Trail Pass IPA has a Beer Advocate score that puts it right at the top of the list, especially when the number of reviews are considered. All the elements of a great IPA are there in this 0.5% ABV offering: body, bitterness (35 IBU — nothing to sneeze at), and hop-forward notes (citrus and pine).

Released nationally in 2024, having initially only been available up and down the West Coast, Trail Pass is now just a standard offering on the Sierra Nevada line. And like many of the others, this type of beer makes a great pairing with a tuna steak.

We're back for a third installment of "Athletic Brewing Makes The Best Non-Alcoholic Beers." Okay, not a real show. But if it was, nobody would argue the title. Especially when considering that the N-A specialists are now serving up a Hazy IPA that's giving any of them a run for their money.

With an elite score on Beer Advocate, and rave reviews calling it one of the best non-alcoholic beers around, along with an offering that's right up there in quality with the lauded Run Wild IPA, Free Wave is a true N-A beer that just doesn't feel like one. Which is the whole admirable point of not just this beer, but Athletic Brewing in general.

Subtle yet clear in its citrus notes, it also has a well-calibrated bitterness that doesn't overpower. Unlike many other N-A IPAs out there, it doesn't need to be freezing cold to be palatable. It almost makes you wonder what would happen if Athletic started making beer with alcohol in it. It just might be game over for everyone else.

Talk about a tall order: Taking one of the most admired, recognizable, and iconic beverages on the planet — not just beer, beverage — and making a non-alcoholic version that comes anywhere close to the nectar devotees can pick out with their eyes closed. No envy there. But at this point, if anyone can pull it off, it would be the folks behind the harp.

The N-A version of the legend has even made beer reviewers marvel at how close this version is to the original. Beer Advocate has showcased this as well, as Guinness 0 is one of the top-rated N-As on the site, with a high numbers of ratings to validate the score.

Just the sheer fact that it's a non-alcoholic stout, says Vanessa Wehner, makes this Guinness "a great one. Guinness 0 keeps its roasted malt character, mouthfeel, and its signature nitrogenated texture, making it one of the most convincing N-A beers around." Really, should we have expected anything less. There's no reason you can't pair ice cream with this version of Guinness, either.

Claustahler's N-A IPA has gotten big recognition on the likes of Reddit – breaking expectations and offering something new on the ever-crowding alcohol-free IPA market. But this should come as no surprise, as Clausthaler has been a pioneering N-A for a long time now –- really since the original was released way back in 1979. It started then with its golden lager and "extra herb" versions.

Today, it's producing an India Pale Ale bereft of alcohol but filled with acclaim from the likes of Beer Connoisseur (a 90 rating) and the folks on Beer Advocate (lots of reviews, and still maintains a high score). Beer Connoisseur has even called it a "deep golden, unfiltered masterpiece," due to its full body, and no-nonsense hop hit.

When the original Clausthaler first came out, it had to almost deceive bars and customers into thinking it was just another light beer, while subtly disclosing that it was actually non-alcoholic. No need for that anymore. These days N-A can be worn like a badge of pride. Something one of the forefathers of alcohol-free brew should do anyway.

Brooklyn Brewery started back in the 1980s with two guys who wanted to bring the once robust beer production industry back to the borough. They certainly did that. Not only as pioneers in craft brewing themselves, but as a forerunner of so many who have come after. Top-notch Kings County beer-makers like Sixpoint, Other Half, and Strong Rope all owe their existence to Brooklyn Brewery. And the latter's penchant for innovation has landed it in the non-alcoholic game with a big-time entry.

Special Effects Hoppy Amber is something close to magic, and has been since it was released in 2021. Brooklyn Brewery has used the dry hopping method to perfection in this offering, giving it vibrant flavor with a nice finish. It's highly regarded on Beer Advocate, with a solid number of reviews to back it up.

Brooklyn Brewery has also combined this one with other N-A variations in a Special Effects pack, which includes an IPA and a golden ale. You can't go wrong with either of these choices, but the Hoppy Amber is still the most acclaimed one.

You had to know the Dutch giants were going to get in on this. Heineken has always been a light, easily drinkable brew, which lends itself well to a non-alcoholic version — like any lager or pilsner. "This comes from [lagers and pilsners] having a cleaner fermentation profile," according to Vanessa Wehner. "They rely less on the alcohol for structure, and the crispness and carbonation compensate for lighter body."

Heineken 0.0 does have a decent, although maybe not eye-opening, score on Beer Advocate. But when you consider the sheer volume of ratings (due to its mainstream appeal) it actually scores pretty well. And Wehner certainly thinks highly of it. "Heineken 0.0 is one of the best as they are consistent in getting the style right," she told us. "It's clean, crisp, and familiar, making it an easy choice for those today who want a 'beer‑like' experience without alcohol."

This may not be an innovative craft brewer showing off its complex, rigorous processes to create an IPA. Just an instantly recognizable giant brand who's been making beer people like for a very, very long time. You could do much worse.

Born out of its founder's commitment to sobriety (referring to himself as a "non-alcoholic" on the brand's website), WellBeing positioned itself as a craft brewer of N-A from its founding in 2017. The St. Louis-based beermaker has seemingly done its best work with the Intentional IPA.

It's a top-20 N-A beer on Beer Advocate, with a flavor profile that's nicely peppered with pineapple and peach notes, balanced with enough hoppy bitterness to remind you that you're still enjoying a beer. This fits in perfectly with the zeitgeist described by Vanessa Wehner: "Consumers have become more mindful about when and how much they drink. People want moderation without giving up quality, flavor, or the social experience of beer."

WellBeing and others on this list have recognized this, and have moved to capitalize on the present desire for N-A. The last words are with Ridvan Asani: "It's been driven by a broader shift toward wellness and moderation. As the craft beer movement pushed ABVs higher, there was a natural counter-movement toward balance. Now, with better technology and more thoughtful brewing, low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beers are no longer an afterthought — they're a legitimate category."

This list was born out of a combination of expert input from drinks professionals Vanessa Wehner and Ridvan Asani, as well as research on comprehensive ranking sites like Beer Advocate. This gathering of ale-centric intelligence also extended to a variety of blogs, articles, and review sites.

The aggregation of these sources gave a clear picture of which brands and breweries were making top-notch, tasty beer that either had zero alcohol or close to it. And from there, individual beers were able to be singled out as the best of the best.