The Best NA Beers for Every Palette
Updated: Dec. 23, 2023
Want to enjoy the taste of a brew without the buzz? Our team sampled 16 brands to find the best NA beers for every drinker.
Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.
What Are the Best NA Beers on the Market?
Drinking less—or not at all? Still craving the taste of an ice-cold beer? We get it, and so do brewers across the country. There are more nonalcoholic options on the shelves and on menus than ever. But before you add a six-pack to your cart or place your order with the bartender, check out our list of the best NA beers.
How We Sampled NA Beers
There are so many new booze-free drink options out there, including NA wines and NA canned cocktails. Our Test Kitchen knew there would be plenty of brands to choose from. In the end, our crew picked up 16 different types of NA beers.
For this taste test, our team sampled each and scored them in these categories. The identities of each were kept hidden until the test was complete.
- Aroma:Â Just like traditional beers, scent is important. Our team of testers smelled each to detect notes of citrusy hops, barley and more.
- Flavor: Our crew of tasters knows what a good beer tastes like. They applied that know-how to sampling NA varieties. A good beer—NA or otherwise—should be flavorful and balanced with good body. For this test, our team sampled different varieties including IPAs and lagers; they made note of how well they match those typical profiles.
Here’s a sampling of the winners:
- Best NA Pale Ale: Partake Brewing
- Best NA Stout: Guinness
- Best NA Lager:Â Gruvi
- Best NA IPA: Athletic Brewing Co.
- Best NA Classic: Clausthaler
Best NA Pale Ale
Partake Brewing Non-Alcoholic Pale Ale
If light beers are what you’d normally gravitate to, pick up a pack of Partake Brewing Non-Alcoholic Pale Ale.
This balanced NA ale has hints of citrus and is wonderfully flavorful and refreshing. It also has a nice medium body that gives you the feeling of sipping a typical pale ale or light lager. It has less than 0.5% alcohol by volume and just 10 calories.
“This one is pretty close to beer,” says Senior Editor Lara Eucalano. “I’d pick this up to offer an NA drink with flavor to sober friends or folks participating in Dry January or Sober October.”
Best NA Stout
Guinness Non-Alcoholic Draught
Most NA beers veer on the lighter side. If you prefer a darker brew, don’t hesitate to pick up a pack of Guinness Non-Alchoholic Draught.
This alcohol-free version of Ireland’s favorite beer was a hit among our testers. It has that same rich flavor you expect of Guinness with notes of malt and molasses. It has no alcohol whatsoever and a can is only 71 calories.
The NA version isn’t quite as heavy as its traditional counterpart, but that didn’t bother our testers; they still found this brew to be pretty full-bodied.
Got a little of this faux stout leftover? You can use it in these recipes that use Guinness.
Best NA Lager
Grüvi Golden Non-Alcoholic Craft Brew
Not only does Grüvi Golden Non-Alcoholic Craft Brew have our Test Kitchen’s stamp of approval, but it also won the gold medal for NA beer at the 2022 World Beer Cup Awards.
A can of Grüvi lager has 58 calories and less than 0.5% ABV. It has a wonderfully malty aroma and a touch of citrusy hops once you take a sip. This has a light body, but it still gives you the feel of a traditional brew. Our team agreed this one would be best enjoyed on the porch on a warm spring day.
Best NA IPA
Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild Non-Alcoholic IPA
Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild Non-Alchoholic IPA delivers the refreshing flavor hop lovers are looking for but without the burn.
A can of Atheltic Brewing Co.’s NA IPA is just 65 calories and 0.5% alcohol. The flavor here is wonderfully bright and hop-forward with a slight bitterness—all that you’d want from a classic IPA. It also has a nice medium body—a feat when it comes to NA brews.
Best Classic NA Beer
Clausthaler Non-Alcoholic Beer
While our team enjoyed their fair share of niche NA beer brands, they also picked a classic NA option as a favorite:Â Clausthaler Non-Alcoholic Beer.
Clausthaler was the first major NA beer to hit the market back in 1972, and it still tastes great. This light-bodied beer is bright with subtle fruit flavors. “It also has nice hints of toasted barley,” explains Lara.
You can find Clausthaler at most grocery stores and liquor shops. A 12-ounce bottle has 96 calories and less than 0.5% ABV.
Check Out More Test Kitchen-Preferred Products
Our Test Kitchen is constantly testing food, kitchen gadgets and cleaning gear looking for brands that deserve the right to be called Test Kitchen-Preferred.
If you want to fill your pantry and fridge with the best products, check out these tests:
Originally Published: October 19, 2023
