I’ve cut my alcohol consumption way down, and the quality of nonalcoholic beer is making it a lot easier. What are some of your favorites? Right now I’m enjoying an Athletic Free Wave, which is close to the top. Deschutes Fresh Squeezed may be a little better, but it’s also way more expensive. I am also fond of Sierra Nevada Trail Pass and Sam Adams Nothing But The Haze. The closest I’ve had to its alcoholic sibling is Guiness; I’m not sure I could tell the difference in a blind taste test.
Athletic has been the best by far in my opinion.
I’m going to suggest NA Chouffe
It is a Belgian blond NA and is very good. Maybe a bit pricey and possibly not easy to find.
My dad tried Heineken Zero last year and liked it so much he’s been been getting some of his friends hooked on it as well.
I think Guinness Zero is the best of the NA beers I’ve tried (just a few so far). To me, the difference in test is that the Zero is just a tiny bit sweet. I love that it comes with the widget and does a great job emulating the regular experiences (bubbles streaming down the inner sides of the glass, long-lasting head on top).
It’s been awhile since I’ve shopped for NA beer, but my Trader Joe’s used to have a good selection and good prices. And they would sell them by the bottle, so you could try them all (3 or 4), for less than a six pack.
My fave is Clausthaler Dry-Hopped. Just a solid, good-tasting beer.
I’ve had lots of people offer me lots of microbrew NAs. Especially wheats. If you like unusual beers, there are plenty to try. But that is not my interest.
I’ve definitely been drinking more Hoppy LaCroix lately, and they’re a lot better than they were ten years ago. Athletic and Sierra are the best I’ve had, but I do have to think of them as hoppy seltzer: real beer has a fullness to it that none of the NAs have had in my experience.
Have you tried Guiness 0.0? Just curious, because it really tastes pretty close to me.
I’m not actually a fan of Guinness, so I haven’t tried it. I like other dark beers a lot more, and my brother gave me a dark NA beer recently that I enjoyed a lot.
Got it. If you’re not a fan of Guinness, don’t bother with the 0 version.
I’ve had one of the Athletics, but I don’t remember which one. I like the Sierra Nevada one, though.