Best Non-Alcoholic Beers: 19 Bottles and Cans Put to the Taste Test

Introduction

Non-alcoholic beer is having a moment. Big-name brands and craft breweries alike have joined the game, and the technology behind removing alcohol has advanced enough that the category no longer deserves its old “near beer” reputation from the Prohibition era, when alcohol was simply burned off and the result tasted rough.

To find out which bottles and cans are worth stocking, nineteen non-alcoholic beers were tasted side by side across five styles: lagers, ales, wheats, IPAs, and stouts. The standouts were the ones that could genuinely pass as a regular beer. Here is how each round played out.

The Lager Round

The lager flight delivered the most pleasant surprise of the day. The winner poured a gorgeous honey color with fine bubbles and lovely carbonation, described as a bright, clean, refreshing lawnmower beer. Heineken 0.0 earned top marks in this category, with tasters noting its balanced flavor and yeastiness, and finding it very close to the regular alcoholic version. It was pleasantly full-bodied, though some found it a touch too sweet.

Bitburger, a German-brewed entry, impressed with the right amount of bitterness and yeasty flavor characteristic of German-brewed beers. O’Doul’s, one of the original non-alcoholic beers, had a sweet aftertaste that lingered in an almost cloying way, though it still offered nice effervescence. Budweiser Zero was medium bodied with nice carbonation, but one taster described it as almost like a beer-flavored soda. Asahi Dry 0.0 had a pleasant hoppy taste with slightly yeasty notes, but came across as a bit watery and less carbonated than ideal.

The Ale Round

Ales proved to be one of the strongest categories of the entire test. Ales are top fermented, meaning the yeast works at the top of the tank, and the style covers blonde, amber, pale, and sour variations. All three entries here were so convincing that it was hard to tell they were non-alcoholic at all.

Athletic Brewing Company Upside Dawn Golden was the shared favorite, super refreshing with a little piney note and a hint of pineapple. Partake Brewing’s non-alcoholic blonde was really tasty, bright and strong with a touch of banana. Omission Good to Go Golden was toasty and a little sweet, in a way that grew on the tasters. All three came highly recommended for anyone starting down the ale trail.

The Wheat Round

Wheat was the toughest category. Wheat beers get much of their signature body from the style, and removing the alcohol tends to thin things out in a way that changes the character of the beer.

Weihenstephaner Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage was the most interesting of the three, light and yeasty with a spice reminiscent of cardamom or coriander, though tasters noted chemically fruity notes in the aftertaste. Ceria Brewing Company Grainwave, a Belgian-style white made by the creator of Blue Moon, was called sweet and tropical, one description comparing it to Fruit Loops and Sprite with a malty aftertaste. WellBeing Heavenly Body Golden Wheat was the weakest showing, with tasters finding funky vinegar notes and a flavor that simply floated away. If wheat beer is your style, temper your expectations here.

The IPA Round

The IPA flight was another strong showing, with a fun West Coast versus East Coast split on display. West Coast IPAs lean on piney hops like Cascade and Chinook, while East Coast versions go for citrusy, fruity flavors from hops like Citra.

The category winner was Untitled Art West Coast Non-Alcoholic IPA, a genuinely complex beer with real body, a little tartness, assertive piney hops, and no hint of skunk. Tasters praised its bold bitterness and called it impressively fizzy and bright. On the East Coast side, Samuel Adams Just the Haze won high praise for its fruity hops, rounded feel, and a welcome hint of sweetness. Zero Gravity Rescue Club IPA from Burlington, Vermont was delightful, if not quite as memorable.

One oddball rounded out the flight: Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher is not really a beer at all but a sparkling hop water inspired by IPAs, with a candy-like, seltzer-with-fruit-flavor character. FLVR West Coast-style IPA brought assertive hops and earned real respect. As a category, these were all genuinely good.

The Stout Round

Stouts closed the test on a great note. The style uses barley, some of it toasted quite dark, which brings chocolate malt character, roasty depth, and plenty of body, lightly hopped. Think of it as the pumpernickel of beer.

The favorite here was Guinness 0 Non-Alcoholic Draught. It looks like espresso, with the deep color and creamy nitrogen-assisted head of a proper pub pour, and the can even includes the same widget as the alcoholic version to produce that thick, creamy texture. Flavor-wise it hit the coffee, licorice, rye, and bread notes of its alcoholic counterpart, making it the single most convincing beer of the entire test. Bravus Oatmeal Dark was the interesting one of the group, with a malty scent, molasses and vegetal notes, and a toasty sweetness from the oats, though one taster compared it to a less sweet Coca-Cola. Athletic Brewing Company All Out Extra Dark offered a funkier, fruity twist on the style and was well received, though it felt a little thin with a fleeting finish.

Overall Buying Advice

The clearest takeaway from this test: the best non-alcoholic beers are the ones that could pass as the real thing. Guinness 0 was the standout of the day and an easy first pick for stout fans. For lager, Heineken 0.0 came closest to its alcoholic counterpart. Athletic Brewing Company Upside Dawn Golden was the ale to buy, WellBeing Heavenly Body Golden Wheat took the wheat category by default, and Untitled Art West Coast Non-Alcoholic IPA delivered the boldest hop experience of the flight.

On the flip side, the wheat category as a whole underperformed, and the sweeter macro-brewed options like Budweiser Zero and O’Doul’s leaned toward soda territory. If you are new to non-alcoholic beer, start with a style you already love and pick from the category winners above.

Conclusion

It has never been a better time to drink non-alcoholic beer. Between convincing stouts, refreshing golden ales, and genuinely hoppy IPAs, this lineup proves the category has come a long way from its “near beer” days. Pick the style that suits your occasion, stock a few of the winners, and you may well forget there is no alcohol in the glass.