Hoppy Dry January!
Whether you’re planning to lay off the booze in order to detox following indulgent holiday celebrations or you’re just looking to be a little healthier this year, non-alcoholic beer can be a good choice. Sure, you could just drink Coke or flavored seltzers after a big ride instead of beer, but for many of us the taste of hops after a big ride is part tradition, part muscle memory. Fortunately there are plenty of delicious non-alcoholic craft beers to get you through the month — and perhaps the rest of the year as well.
After trying more than two dozen NA beers in 2023, the following is an updated list of my own favorites so far. I’d love to hear your recommendations in the comments so I can add them to my list!
Note to readers: Most U.S. states treat non-alcoholic beer the same as the real deal since it can contain up to 0.5% alcohol by volume. Singletracks does not condone underage drinking, drinking while driving or biking, or alcohol abuse.
Athletic Brewing Free Wave Hazy IPA
For me, Athletic Brewing Free Wave Hazy IPA was the non-alcoholic beer that first got me interested in the category. It’s still one of the most convincing of the NA beers I’ve had with a hoppy, piney flavor that’s light and easy to drink. I’ve tried most of the other Athletic varieties at this point, but I keep coming back to Free Wave because it’s among the best. Most folks who try it don’t hate it, and it’s the one that’s generally available in most grocery stores.
Lagunitas IPNA
Lagunitas IPNA is a non-alcoholic IPA that isn’t sweet like some of the other NA beers I’ve tested. It’s crisp and refreshing and if I close my eyes I sometimes forget it’s not the real thing. My only complaint: it comes in bottles instead of cans. Otherwise I’d buy it every time.
Samuel Adams Just the Haze
Sam Adams isn’t a name I associate with craft beer today, though to the brand’s credit they were one of the first to really focus on brewing quality beer for the masses. I picked up a six-pack of Samuel Adams Just the Haze because it was one I hadn’t tried yet and I was very pleasantly surprised. It’s got sweet, hoppy taste which sorta tricks your taste buds into thinking it’s a high gravity brew. If you like hazy IPAs, you’ll probably like this one.
Bravus West Coast IPA and Raspberry Gose
Bravus Brewing Co. is a “low and no” craft brewery based in Anaheim, California. I got a chance to try a few of their brews over the summer, including the West Coast IPA and Raspberry Gose. A lot of people don’t like Goses, and that’s fine. But for me, it’s the perfect style of beer after a hot summer ride, almost like a sour Gatorade with a little bit of alcohol. Bravus Raspberry Gose is fruity and light without being overly sweet like a soda, so much so that I could probably pound a six-pack in the parking lot without even thinking about it.
Athletic Brewing has a Gose too, but I like the Bravus better.
Brewdog Hazy AF
Brewdog has a number of non-alcoholic options in addition to their traditional brews, and Hazy AF is my favorite. Not every beer translates well as a NA beer, but this one stays true enough to Brewdog Hazy Jane for me that it’s become a regular in my rotation.
Clausthaler IPA
Clausthaler is a new non-alcoholic beer to me, and it’s pretty good. The beer is brewed and bottled in Germany using cascade hops and hop extract. It’s hoppy, yes, but is more convincing as a lager than an IPA for me. Sadly my local grocery store only sells this in bottles this one comes in bottles too; otherwise I’d consider packing one to enjoy during an all-day ride. [Edit: A Clausthaler representative says the beer is also available in cans.]
Where I live, Whole Foods tends to have the widest selection of NA beer so check there if you strike out at your usual grocer. Tracking down new non-alcoholic craft beers isn’t always easy so whenever I see a new one, I buy it. I’m really hoping to find more new non-alcoholic beer to try in 2024, particularly from my local craft breweries!
