As of 2022, the non-alcoholic beer market is already valued at $22 billion worldwide. Experts believe this will only continue to grow with a projected compound annual growth of 5.9% from 2023 to 2032.
These statistics may not mean a lot to avid fans with no issues drinking alcoholic beer. But for those in AUD therapy, it offers a glimpse of a potential alternative to help minimize alcohol intake.
Beer Types 101
With global popularity comes higher demand, and the beer industry has delivered. Our non-alcoholic beer brands fall in some of these types.
IPAs (Indian Pale Ale)
IPA is considered one of the strongest beer types. More hops are added to the mix, contributing to their signature bitter taste. Brewers have learned to add herbal and citrus tones to the ingredients to balance this out.
Ales
Ales have sub-variants, including pale, brown, and sour. They are bitter but often have lower alcohol content than IPAs.
- Pale: Easy to drink, malty with a bitter aftertaste.
- Brown: Features citrus, caramel, nut, or chocolate notes.
- Sour: Brewed using wild yeast and bacteria to up the acidity and give it just the right amount of sourness.
Stouts
Stouts are recognizable for their dark color and thick, creamy head. Flavor varies depending on where they’re brewed.
Brands from Ireland and England favor sweet over bitter taste; think of sweetened espresso. On the other hand, U.S. beers have stronger, highly roasted flavor, typical of American beers.
Porters
Porters look similar to stouts but have a crisper taste. They have a toasty aroma and feature chocolate, caramel, or coffee flavors. They’re perfect alongside smoked foods and barbeque.
Pilsner
Pilsner is a type of lager with a pale gold color. It’s more bitter than the other drinks in its category and has a distinct crisp flavor. Its low alcohol content, paired with the hoppy taste, makes it a favorite pick during the summer season.
Wheat
Wheat beers are known for their citrusy and tangy flavors. It uses malted wheat as an ingredient. It has a smooth texture, with minimal hops added to the mix, making it a perfect company for a chill day.
Wheat beers pair well with delicate flavors, like seafood, fruit tarts, and salads.
7 NA Beer Brands to Consider
Many non-alcoholic brew varieties are in the market, and most promote minimal to zero alcohol, intended for drinkers who want the familiar beer taste minus the effect of alcohol.
Here are some favorite brands you can try:
1. Suntory All-Free
Suntory All-Free is a Japanese beer-like drink that features a light, crispy, and refreshing taste many people love.
It’s alcohol-free with zero calories and sugar, perfect for health-conscious drinkers. It’s made of malt, crisp citrus, barley, mineral water, and aroma hops, which gives its hybrid beer and sparkling water taste.
Suntory fits any time of the day. You can pair it with a breakfast or lunchtime sandwich or put it on cocktail dinners.
2. BrewDog Hazy AF
BrewDog Hazy AF is a non-alcoholic IPA from a brewing company in Scotland, leaning towards a tropical, juicy taste with grassy hints.
This Hazy IPA features decent carbonation and tastes like a combination of grapefruit, lemon, citrus, peach, and distinct floral hops. It’s a delightful company if you fancy subtle fruit-flavored drinks on your beer.
With a 0.5% ABV, BrewDog Hazy is a safe choice for beer lovers who want minimal alcohol, sporting the classic hoppy taste.
3. Ceria Grainwave Belgian-Style White
Ceria Grainwave is a 100% alcohol-free craft beer brewed from plant-based ingredients like blood orange peel, Hallertau hops, and coriander, giving it a refreshing, almost herbal flavor.
It has 77 calories per can, which is half the alcohol content of a regular alcoholic beer. Ceria Grainwave pairs well with spicy foods, fried chicken, and carbs.
4. Guinness Zero
Hailed as the gold standard for NA beer types, Guinness Zero brings all the best features of the classic Irish Guinness stout without alcohol. It has that striking, bittersweet flavor with hints of chocolate and roasted coffee.
Guinness Zero has 3.8g of carbs, 17kcal of calories, and 0g of fat per 100 ml. This alcohol-free beer is a fancy standalone but is great with stew, sandwiches, and other comfort food.
5. Heineken Zero
This drink is the non-alcoholic twin to the popular Heineken lager with a 0.03% maximum ABV. It retains the brand’s trademark fruity notes but with a softer malt body. This drink uses the same high-quality ingredients as their classic beer, guaranteeing a premium taste and less punch.
While the brand promotes the distinct taste of this version from the alcohol-based one, drinkers find it hard to tell the difference. Heineken Zero has 4.8g of carbohydrates, 1.3g of sugar, and less than 0.1g of fats per 100ml.
6. Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects IPA
Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects is a go-to NA beer in the U.S. It’s well-carbonated with a nice balance of bitter, citrusy, and hoppy taste. Other drinkers describe the taste as a little citrusy at first sip with a spicy hop finish.
Its ABV is less than 0.5%, with 24 kcal of carbohydrates, 5g of sugar, and 3.6g of calories per can. This beer pairs well with spicy dishes, grilled vegetables, pasta, salad, and chicken.
7. All That Razz Raspberry Sour
1820’s All That Razz Raspberry Sour is a fine mix of sweet and sour taste with a hint of ripe raspberries. It’s a great pick for summer refreshments with almonds, pistachios, walnuts, and other snacks.
This drink is packed with 80 calories, 17g of carbohydrates, and 0g of fat for every 355ml.
If you’re not into beers, try exploring non-alcoholic wine alternatives.
Non-alcoholic Beers Nutritional Facts
Contrary to what most people believe, non-alcoholic beverages don’t mean the total absence of alcohol. The term often signifies ABVs equal to or less than 0.5%.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration mandates this ceiling figure as the determining factor for a beverage to be considered ‘non-alcoholic.’ Any drink with more than 0.5% falls under the ‘alcoholic’ category.
If we look closer at any alcohol-free beer, we’ll often see the following nutritional content:
- Alcohol: Measured in ABV percentages. Several manufacturers promote their products as ‘alcohol-free’ if the ABV is nearly zero.
- Calories: All NA beers have a lower calorie count than regular beer. Many commercial beers have 140 to 170 calories per gram compared to NA’s count, which ranges from zero up to 90 calories. That’s because alcohol has a lot of calories, so removing it significantly drops the count.
- Fats: Typically, beer doesn’t contain fat, but low calories can be promoted as low fat in the world of alcohol. On average, non-alcoholic beers contain 0.1g of fat per 100g drink.
- Carbs: As per USDA historical records, the average carbohydrate count for non-alcoholic drinks is 8.5g per 100g content.
- Protein: Most beers don’t contain protein, and this applies to NA beer, too. The figure varies slightly among brands, but is often less than 1g per 100g of beverage content.
- Sugar: Non-alcoholic drinks, on average, have 1.1g of sugar per 100g serving. This fluctuates depending on the beer variation. Those with added flavors like fruit-based selection may have higher amounts of sugar.
Pros and Cons of Drinking Non-alcoholic Beers
Non-alcoholic beverages have their pros and cons, and the NA beer line is not an exception. Here are some of them so you make an informed decision before you decide to grab a 6-pack:
Pros
- Reduced alcohol consumption
- Lower calorie and sugar intake
- Healthier liver
- No hangovers
- Contributes to weight loss
- Hydrating benefits without getting drunk
- Less worry about drinking too much beyond your alcohol limit
Cons
- Smell and familiar taste can trigger alcohol cravings
- Less variety than its alcohol-packed counterpart
- Can be more expensive
- Many brands still have small traces of alcohol, which might be dangerous for someone with liver damage
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Safe to Drink Non-alcoholic Beers When Recovering From Alcoholism?
It depends on how you want to handle your recovery journey. Even minimal alcohol content can be detrimental to people with AUD, as the idea of drinking can shift their mindset into making it a habit. It can be safe for moderate drinkers, but it’s always recommended to talk it out with your counselor.
Do Alcohol-Free Beers Have Zero Calories?
Not all brands offer zero calories, but they’re usually lower than regular beers. If your treatment plan involves reducing your calorie intake as part of weight management, you should take time to read brand labels for nutritional content.
Parting Thoughts
Non-alcoholic beers are viable alternatives to their alcoholic counterparts and can benefit anyone who’s transitioning into a no-alcohol lifestyle. Some of them are on-par with the real thing in terms of smell, flavor, and mouthfeel.
Talk to your doctor or counselor to see if your recovery plan can accommodate any of the brands on our list.
