Close
Photo: Courtesy of Brand
Nonalcoholic beers are everywhere these days. As more people participate in trends like Dry January (or Damp January) and Sober October, or just look to reduce their alcohol consumption, the selection of alcohol-free brews has steadily increased over the past decade to meet demand in the market. While the number of options may seem overwhelming, that’s where this list for the best nonalcoholic beers and hop seltzers (a beverage made with hops, a part of theHumulus lupulusplant that lends beer its distinctive bitterness, aroma and flavor) comes in handy.
“These drinks can be a great option for someone who does not want to have alcohol, but wants something that feels more celebratory than water or seltzer,” saysJessica Ball, M.S., RD,EatingWell’snutrition editor. “That said, these drinks still contain calories with minimal vitamins and nutrients, so they are better for an occasional refreshment versus daily drinking. And if you’re trying to cut down your alcohol consumption, these drinks could be a helpful tool, especially in social settings.”
To help you find the best nonalcoholic beers and hop seltzers, we conducted a blind taste test with more than 50 products that met our nutrition parameters. We tried each beer or seltzer as is and made notes about the taste, appearance and aroma. One of our favorite brands? Athletic Brewing Co. was a winner in multiple categories. Read on for our full list of the best nonalcoholic beers and hop seltzers.
Our Product Recommendations
01of 10Best Amber Ale: Wellbeing Hellraiser Dark AmberCourtesy of BrandThe color of an amber ale is one of its most defining characteristics, typically ranging in shade from golden to amber. The appealing copper hue of Wellbeing’s Hellraiser Dark Amber caught the eye of our testers. In addition to the color, the flavor of the ale stood out. The beer had a smooth tartness, just like what you would expect in a red ale, according to one tester. In addition to the tart flavor, the nonalcoholic beer also has spicy hops. One tester said they “would actually drink” it on their own, while another said they “love it.“Nutrition for Wellbeing Hellraiser Dark Amber, per 12-oz. can80 calories, 12 g carbohydrates, 2.4 g protein, < 0.5% ABV
01of 10
Best Amber Ale: Wellbeing Hellraiser Dark Amber
Courtesy of Brand
The color of an amber ale is one of its most defining characteristics, typically ranging in shade from golden to amber. The appealing copper hue of Wellbeing’s Hellraiser Dark Amber caught the eye of our testers. In addition to the color, the flavor of the ale stood out. The beer had a smooth tartness, just like what you would expect in a red ale, according to one tester. In addition to the tart flavor, the nonalcoholic beer also has spicy hops. One tester said they “would actually drink” it on their own, while another said they “love it.”
Nutrition for Wellbeing Hellraiser Dark Amber, per 12-oz. can
80 calories, 12 g carbohydrates, 2.4 g protein, < 0.5% ABV
02of 10Best Coffee Cream Ale: BrewDog Tornado JoeCourtesy of BrandIf you love coffee, you’ll be a fan of BrewDog’s Tornado Joe, a coffee cream ale. While it was the only one our testers tried in the category, the brew received resounding praise across the board when it came to its aroma and flavor. Made with coarse-ground and whole-bean coffee, the ale has a clear aroma of coffee, which was a highlight in the tasting. The coffee comes from Thunderkiss, a brand out of Columbus, Ohio. BrewDog’s Tornado Joe also delivered on flavor, which was a mix of coffee and vanilla. While one tester thought the nonalcoholic beer was a little on the sweet side, overall, it had a nice flavor that’s sure to satisfy beer and coffee drinkers alike.Nutrition for BrewDog Tornado Joe, per 12-oz. can36 calories, 7 g carbohydrates, < 0.5% ABV
02of 10
Best Coffee Cream Ale: BrewDog Tornado Joe
If you love coffee, you’ll be a fan of BrewDog’s Tornado Joe, a coffee cream ale. While it was the only one our testers tried in the category, the brew received resounding praise across the board when it came to its aroma and flavor. Made with coarse-ground and whole-bean coffee, the ale has a clear aroma of coffee, which was a highlight in the tasting. The coffee comes from Thunderkiss, a brand out of Columbus, Ohio. BrewDog’s Tornado Joe also delivered on flavor, which was a mix of coffee and vanilla. While one tester thought the nonalcoholic beer was a little on the sweet side, overall, it had a nice flavor that’s sure to satisfy beer and coffee drinkers alike.
Nutrition for BrewDog Tornado Joe, per 12-oz. can
36 calories, 7 g carbohydrates, < 0.5% ABV
03of 10
Best Gose: BrewDog Mostow Lū’au
Nutrition for BrewDog Mostow Lū’au, per 12-oz. can
35 calories, 6.5 g carbohydrates, < 0.5% ABV
04of 10Best Hop Seltzer: Hoplark 0.0 CitraCourtesy of BrandWhen you want a refreshing beverage, but don’t want a nonalcoholic beer, hop seltzers are a great alternative—particularly if you are a fan of India pale ales. Hop seltzers are made with hops, a part of theHumulus lupulusplant that lends beer its distinctive bitterness, aroma and flavor, and the hops shine in Hoplark’s 0.0 Citra. Made with Citra hops, which are known for their citrus flavors, this seltzer is double dry hopped, meaning hops are added twice. The result is a bitter-forward seltzer that our testers drank up. In addition to the bitterness, the aroma of pine was also present. Our testers called this seltzer refreshing, and one tester said “I like this one a lot.” Plus, the seltzer reminded our testers of a strong IPA, so both seltzer and IPA drinkers will be happy with this beverage.Nutrition for Hoplark 0.0 Citra, per 16-oz. can0 calories, 0 carbohydrates, 0 g sugar, 0.0% ABV
04of 10
Best Hop Seltzer: Hoplark 0.0 Citra
When you want a refreshing beverage, but don’t want a nonalcoholic beer, hop seltzers are a great alternative—particularly if you are a fan of India pale ales. Hop seltzers are made with hops, a part of theHumulus lupulusplant that lends beer its distinctive bitterness, aroma and flavor, and the hops shine in Hoplark’s 0.0 Citra. Made with Citra hops, which are known for their citrus flavors, this seltzer is double dry hopped, meaning hops are added twice. The result is a bitter-forward seltzer that our testers drank up. In addition to the bitterness, the aroma of pine was also present. Our testers called this seltzer refreshing, and one tester said “I like this one a lot.” Plus, the seltzer reminded our testers of a strong IPA, so both seltzer and IPA drinkers will be happy with this beverage.
Nutrition for Hoplark 0.0 Citra, per 16-oz. can
0 calories, 0 carbohydrates, 0 g sugar, 0.0% ABV
05of 10Best IPA: Athletic Brewing Co. Run WildCourtesy of BrandOur testers tried 10 India pale ales during the tasting, and Athletic Brewing’s Run Wild was a consistent favorite. Compared to others in the category, this nonalcoholic beer had a nice color, whereas others seemed too light or pale to be deemed an IPA. Run Wild features a blend of five Northwest hops, and our testers picked up the bitterness, both on the nose and on the palate. The flavor was strong, and it reminded our testers of a regular beer—perfect if you’re looking to enjoy a classic IPA minus the alcohol.Nutrition for Athletic Brewing Run Wild, per 12-oz. can65 calories, 14 g carbohydrates, < 1 g protein, 0 g fat, < 0.5% ABV
05of 10
Best IPA: Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild
Our testers tried 10 India pale ales during the tasting, and Athletic Brewing’s Run Wild was a consistent favorite. Compared to others in the category, this nonalcoholic beer had a nice color, whereas others seemed too light or pale to be deemed an IPA. Run Wild features a blend of five Northwest hops, and our testers picked up the bitterness, both on the nose and on the palate. The flavor was strong, and it reminded our testers of a regular beer—perfect if you’re looking to enjoy a classic IPA minus the alcohol.
Nutrition for Athletic Brewing Run Wild, per 12-oz. can
65 calories, 14 g carbohydrates, < 1 g protein, 0 g fat, < 0.5% ABV
06of 10Best Lager (tied): Athletic Brewing Co. Athletic LiteCourtesy of BrandThe nonalcoholic lagers were so good, our testers couldn’t pick just one! One of our top picks was Athletic Brewing’s Lite—an apt moniker for the nonalcoholic beer. While it was clear to testers that they were drinking a nonalcoholic beverage, they found it to be light and refreshing on the palate. Plus, the lager-style brew had a nice pale golden color, which was appealing to the eye.Nutrition for Athletic Brewing Co. Athletic Lite, per 12-oz. can25 calories, 5 g carbohydrates, 0 g protein, 0 g fat, < 0.5% ABV
06of 10
Best Lager (tied): Athletic Brewing Co. Athletic Lite
The nonalcoholic lagers were so good, our testers couldn’t pick just one! One of our top picks was Athletic Brewing’s Lite—an apt moniker for the nonalcoholic beer. While it was clear to testers that they were drinking a nonalcoholic beverage, they found it to be light and refreshing on the palate. Plus, the lager-style brew had a nice pale golden color, which was appealing to the eye.
Nutrition for Athletic Brewing Co. Athletic Lite, per 12-oz. can
25 calories, 5 g carbohydrates, 0 g protein, 0 g fat, < 0.5% ABV
07of 10
Best Lager (tied): Stella Artois Liberté
Nutrition for Stella Artois Liberté, per 11.2-oz. bottle
59 calories, 13.2 g carbohydrates, 1.5 g protein, 0 g fat, 0.0% ABV
08of 10Best Pale Ale: Athletic Brewing Co. Upside DawnCourtesy of BrandIf you’re looking for a more lightly hopped ale, Athletic Brewing’s Upside Dawn is a great choice. While it’s pale in color, our testers were impressed with the aroma and flavor of the nonalcoholic brew. The aroma was mellow, a key descriptor not awarded to others in the category that smelled overly strong. Meanwhile, the citrus flavor in the beer was clear, and one tester said the flavors were “really well balanced.” Upside Dawn is a delicious choice if you’re a fan of pale ales—but even one of our testers who isn’t a fan of this category enjoyed this one.Nutrition for Athletic Brewing Co. Upside Dawn, per 12-oz. can45 calories, 12 g carbohydrates, <1 g protein, 0 g fat, <0.5% ABV
08of 10
Best Pale Ale: Athletic Brewing Co. Upside Dawn
If you’re looking for a more lightly hopped ale, Athletic Brewing’s Upside Dawn is a great choice. While it’s pale in color, our testers were impressed with the aroma and flavor of the nonalcoholic brew. The aroma was mellow, a key descriptor not awarded to others in the category that smelled overly strong. Meanwhile, the citrus flavor in the beer was clear, and one tester said the flavors were “really well balanced.” Upside Dawn is a delicious choice if you’re a fan of pale ales—but even one of our testers who isn’t a fan of this category enjoyed this one.
Nutrition for Athletic Brewing Co. Upside Dawn, per 12-oz. can
45 calories, 12 g carbohydrates, <1 g protein, 0 g fat, <0.5% ABV
09of 10Best Stout: Guinness 0Courtesy of BrandWhen it came to nonalcoholic stouts, Guinness 0 was the unanimous winner for our testers. The nonalcoholic beer shares many similarities with its alcoholic counterpart, including the signature creamy head (and the widget inside the can to make it taste like it’s been poured fresh from the tap). The malt aroma and strong chocolate and coffee flavor profile were also standouts. In fact, despite it being a blind tasting, our testers could recognize the classic brew and said it reminded them of a Guinness. So if you’re looking for a nonalcoholic stout, it doesn’t get any closer to the real thing than a Guinness 0.Nutrition for Guinness 0, per 12-oz. serving60 calories, 13.5 g carbohydrates, 1.1 g protein, 0 g fat, <0.5% ABV
09of 10
Best Stout: Guinness 0
When it came to nonalcoholic stouts, Guinness 0 was the unanimous winner for our testers. The nonalcoholic beer shares many similarities with its alcoholic counterpart, including the signature creamy head (and the widget inside the can to make it taste like it’s been poured fresh from the tap). The malt aroma and strong chocolate and coffee flavor profile were also standouts. In fact, despite it being a blind tasting, our testers could recognize the classic brew and said it reminded them of a Guinness. So if you’re looking for a nonalcoholic stout, it doesn’t get any closer to the real thing than a Guinness 0.
Nutrition for Guinness 0, per 12-oz. serving
60 calories, 13.5 g carbohydrates, 1.1 g protein, 0 g fat, <0.5% ABV
10of 10
Best Wheat Beer: Weihenstephaner Nonalcoholic Wheat Beer
Nutrition for Weihenstephaner Nonalcoholic Wheat Beer, per 11.2-oz. bottle
50 calories, 8.9 g carbohydrates, 2.6 g protein, 0 g fat, <0.5% ABV
ConclusionIf you’re looking for a nonalcoholic beer, Athletic Brewing’s Upside Dawn is flavorful and reminiscent of a traditional pale ale. Or, if you’re looking for a hop seltzer, Hoplark’s 0.0 Citra is cool and refreshing.The TestAlex LohTo narrow the field, we researched and read the labels of more than 90 products, and selected the ones that fit the following nutrition requirements: ≤250 calories, ≤140 mg sodium, ≤15 g carbohydrates. For the nonalcoholic beers, we looked for a range of varieties, including pale ale and stout. For the hop seltzers, we looked for a range of flavors, including blood orange and lime. For the taste test, a blind tasting was set up with five testers. Each beverage was refrigerated and tested as is directly from the can or bottle. We took notes regarding the taste, appearance and aroma of each product.Nutrition ParametersWhen selecting a nonalcoholic beer, there are a few things to consider on a nutrition label: calories, sodium and carbohydrates. For calories and sodium, products had to contain ≤250 calories and ≤140 mg sodium to align with our general nutrition parameters for a drink. For carbohydrates, we set a limit of ≤15 g carbohydrates based on the carbohydrate average found in our research (some nonalcoholic beers contained as much as 28 g carbohydrates). Limiting carbohydrates can help stabilize blood glucose levels. For reference,a typical 1-can serving of alcoholic beer(about 356 g) contains 13 g carbohydrates.Another thing to consider is the alcohol content. Nonalcoholic beers have minimal amounts of alcohol and must have less than 0.5% ABV to be marketed as nonalcoholic. As such, the products tested had to be less than 0.5% ABV.Our ExpertiseAlex Loh is the associate food editor atEatingWell. She is passionate about food and cooking, and has over two years of experience with the brand. She has written more than a dozen product guides and has tested hundreds of products, including salad spinners, protein powders and nonalcoholic spirits. For this article, she consulted with a registered dietitian and nutrition editor atEatingWell, Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, for her insights about nutrition. The testers included registered dietitians and food editors.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a nonalcoholic beer, Athletic Brewing’s Upside Dawn is flavorful and reminiscent of a traditional pale ale. Or, if you’re looking for a hop seltzer, Hoplark’s 0.0 Citra is cool and refreshing.
The Test
Alex Loh
To narrow the field, we researched and read the labels of more than 90 products, and selected the ones that fit the following nutrition requirements: ≤250 calories, ≤140 mg sodium, ≤15 g carbohydrates. For the nonalcoholic beers, we looked for a range of varieties, including pale ale and stout. For the hop seltzers, we looked for a range of flavors, including blood orange and lime. For the taste test, a blind tasting was set up with five testers. Each beverage was refrigerated and tested as is directly from the can or bottle. We took notes regarding the taste, appearance and aroma of each product.
Nutrition Parameters
When selecting a nonalcoholic beer, there are a few things to consider on a nutrition label: calories, sodium and carbohydrates. For calories and sodium, products had to contain ≤250 calories and ≤140 mg sodium to align with our general nutrition parameters for a drink. For carbohydrates, we set a limit of ≤15 g carbohydrates based on the carbohydrate average found in our research (some nonalcoholic beers contained as much as 28 g carbohydrates). Limiting carbohydrates can help stabilize blood glucose levels. For reference,a typical 1-can serving of alcoholic beer(about 356 g) contains 13 g carbohydrates.
Another thing to consider is the alcohol content. Nonalcoholic beers have minimal amounts of alcohol and must have less than 0.5% ABV to be marketed as nonalcoholic. As such, the products tested had to be less than 0.5% ABV.
Our Expertise
Alex Loh is the associate food editor atEatingWell. She is passionate about food and cooking, and has over two years of experience with the brand. She has written more than a dozen product guides and has tested hundreds of products, including salad spinners, protein powders and nonalcoholic spirits. For this article, she consulted with a registered dietitian and nutrition editor atEatingWell, Jessica Ball, M.S., RD, for her insights about nutrition. The testers included registered dietitians and food editors.
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Tell us why!OtherSubmit
Tell us why!
