We're living in the golden age of nonalcoholic beer — it seems like new brands launch every day, and they're brewing drinks that taste impressively like their traditional counterparts. Incredibly, Athletic Brewing, which makes only zero-proof beer, is the 10th largest craft brewer in the country, according to the Brewers Association. We're swimming in options, and with the Super Bowl fast approaching, who has the time to crack open every cold one on the shelf to find the best nonalcoholic beer?
Enter your trusty team of chof360 shopping editors. I'm a former food-magazine editor and put together a panel of staffers that included teetotalers, sober-curious folks and avid drinkers for a blind taste test. We spent days sampling 22 top-rated NA beers, and I have to be honest with you: The results of our totally scientific study (okay, it wasn't that strict, but we did take our job seriously!) surprised us.
We discovered that the best zero-proof beers taste, look and smell just like the real thing. Seriously, some testers didn't believe me when I said the samples were low- or no-ABV! (That stands for alcohol by volume, for those not in the know.) While it was hard to narrow them down to several favorites, certain beers did bubble to the top of the list. I included them below, then to top things off, I also shared some fun beer glasses and can coolers — because every good drink deserves to be served in style.
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(Looking for more NA options? Here's our list of the best nonalcoholic drinks of 2025 — dietician approved! — and a guide to the best nonalcoholic wines.)
Best nonalcoholic beers of 2025
Proof No More
Avid beer drinkers were especially impressed with this well-rounded IPA, which is brewed with a mix of barley, wheat and oat malts. It scored the highest of any drink we tested on flavor and overall enjoyment, receiving 14.4 points out of 20. In fact, at the end of our blind tasting, everyone wanted to know which brand made this brew, and several testers took photos of the can so they could buy it themselves.
"Hoppy like a real beer," wrote one tester. "Like a session IPA without the side effects," commented another.
Untitled Art
Though Good Time Brewing Co.'s classic IPA took top honors, this juicy IPA came in a close second, thanks to its tropical notes and near-perfect level of carbonation. "Good taste, goes down well. Actually tasted okay at room temperature," mentioned one tester. Others pointed out its sweetness: "Fruity, in a good way," wrote a staffer.
(FYI the Run Wild IPA from Athletic Brewing, which is one of the biggest names in NA beers, was also a favorite, with a score just 0.2 points lower than Untitled Art! Read more about it in "Other nonalcoholic beers we tested" below.)
Walmart
Our winners weren't all newfangled craft brews. It took years to develop the recipe for Heineken's entry into the zero-proof world, and the result earned top marks among our testers for how close it tasted to its alcoholic counterpart. "No notes. Great," wrote one fan.
Mash Gang
Based in the UK, Mash Gang has become famous for splashy flavors, and its dark, luscious brew won over our testers, which gave it one of the highest ratings for overall enjoyment. "Made me want chocolate ice cream — would drink by the fire," raved one of our tasters. "A nice Guinness alternative. Love it," commented another.
Even those who didn't like this brew easily identified it as a stout thanks to its rich, creamy taste. (It's brewed with vanilla and oats and spiked with cherry juice.)
Proof No More
Clausthaler Brewery helped jump-start the NA beer industry in the '70s, so it has the process down pat. Though this drink was not part of our blind taste test, the dietician who developed our list of the best nonalcoholic drinks deemed this citrusy pick her favorite zero-proof brew.
"It's a refreshing alternative to traditional beer that most anyone will enjoy," she wrote. Plus, it's readily available at grocery stores and beverage chains and typically sells for around $10 for a six-pack.
Amazon
Let's say you don't typically enjoy beer, but want to crack one open at a party. Give this sweet, nutty stout a try, say some of our testers. It was a favorite among self-proclaimed non-beer drinkers, possibly because it doesn't taste much like a typical brew. "Chocolatey. Pleasant sip — great flavor from start to finish," wrote one self-proclaimed beer hater.
How we tested nonalcoholic beers
We gathered a total of 18 chof360 staffers, all with different drinking preferences, for two blind taste tests. Many folks said they were participating in Dry January, but others were simply curious about the best nonalcoholic drinks on the market. We poured each drink into a cup labeled only with a letter to keep the test blind.
Testing in progress! Here, a taster is scoring some nonalcoholic beers alongside mocktails. (Jessica Dodell-Feder/chof360)
Then came the fun part! Each tester sipped to their heart's content and filled out a rubric rating each drink from a scale of one to five on flavor, carbonation, accuracy (was it a satisfying beer replacement?) and overall enjoyment. We also asked the testers to jot down any thoughts they had about the samples.
Other nonalcoholic beers we tested
Sam Adams Just the Haze IPA: An award-winning beer, this hoppy IPA from the famous brewery fared well in our tasting and was thisclose to making it to our top picks. It scored especially high in accuracy — "tastes like the real thing," wrote one tester.
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Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA: Like I mentioned above, this was another almost-winner! In addition to being only 65 calories, this brew earned high marks for its flavor and carbonation. Though it has a bitter finish classic to an IPA, it still won over some non-beer-drinkers.
Athletic Brewing Free Wave Hazy IPA: While our testers didn't like it quite as much as Run Wild, this citrusy brew had all the hoppiness you'd expect alongside notes of tangerine and grapefruit.
Athletic Brewing Upside Dawn Golden: "Goes down easy," commented one tester on this light ale. It wasn't an overwhelming hit, though, with some of our tasters remarking on its bitter aftertaste. Note: This could be a good choice if you're sensitive to gluten. It's not officially gluten-free, but according to the brand, it was "crafted to remove gluten."
Michelob Ultra Zero: Fans of Michelob Ultra will likely appreciate this 0% ABV take, which has just 29 calories. Though it didn't land in our top picks, our testers noted its light flavor and citrus notes.
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Bravus Brewing Co. Blood Orange IPA: Bravus's lighter offering did nearly as well as its Peanut Butter Dark Stout, which we rated as one of our top picks. Testers thought it was generally refreshing though a bit watery.
Best Day Brewing Hazy IPA: With a score of 10.8 out of 20, this fruity IPA landed in the middle of our samples. Most testers thought it had a pleasant-enough flavor, and one even went so far as to comment, "If Dry July was a thing, this would be my choice."
Best Day Electro Lime Cerca de Cerveza: A low flavor score knocked this Mexican-style lager out of the running. "Bitter lime," said one tester; another described it as "a bit sour."
Best Day Brewing Kolsch Style: This crisp brew did just so-so. Most testers thought it tasted weak, and one called it "generic." That said, one fan rated it a 4 out of 5 for flavor and accuracy, commenting that it tasted like a pilsner.
Yes, we can, can find a delicious nonalcoholic beer! (Jessica Dodell-Feder/chof360)
Mash Gang Chug IPA: Another likable IPA — that also comes in a very fun tie-dyed can — this nonalcoholic drink earned decent scores on flavor and carbonation. Oddly enough, some testers didn't think it tasted like beer, with one saying it reminded them of Gatorade!
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Mash Gang Journey Juice Fruited IPA: Brewed with mango, chile and lime, this IPA is an appealing concept, but in reality, our testers found the flavor too challenging to enjoy.
Shiner Rodeo Citrus Wit, Golden Brew and Red Amber: Texas's oldest independent brewery entered the NA market with a trio of beers (Citrus Wit, Golden Brew and Red Amber), which you can buy as a multipack. Sadly, the three received the lowest scores of any brews we tested — all hovered around an 8.5 out of 20 points. Most testers complained the drinks tasted too light and watered down.
Good Time Brewing Pils: The brand behind our overall favorite NA beer sadly did not impress us with its take on a pilsner. Two reviewers described it as "skunked." 'Nuff said.
Designated Dale's American NA Pils: Unfortunately, the clever brand name did not make up for this zero-proof pilsner's low flavor score. It's a take on the Colorado-based brewery Oskar Blues' famous Dale's Pale Ale, which leads us to believe that maybe it's just difficult to make a successful nonalcoholic pilsner?
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Big Drop Paradiso Citra IPA: Sadly, all our testers felt there was something off about this IPA made with Chinnook, Cascade, Simcoe, Citra and Columbus hops. Some also did not like the aroma, which is reminiscent of pine and citrus.
Nonalcoholic beer FAQs
Is there a true 0% nonalcoholic beer?
Brewers measure the amount of alcohol in beer by volume, and a beer has to have 0.5% or less alcohol to be considered nonalcoholic. That said, you can find some beers that are marked as 0.0% ABV, including Heineken, which is on our list. Just note that there still may be trace amounts of alcohol in a drink marked as 0.0% ABV, so proceed with caution if that's important to you.
Is nonalcoholic beer good for you?
Though it doesn't contain alcohol, NA beer isn't necessarily healthy. Some brands tout that their drinks are low-calorie, vegan and/or low-carbohydrate, but they can still contain high amounts of sugar. Always make sure to look at a drink's ingredients and nutrition facts so you can figure out if it works with your diet and lifestyle.
Editor-approved glasses and can coolers
Amazon
A modern take on the classic tulip beer glass, this pick is designed to enhance the aroma and flavor of your favorite brew. Though you should hand-wash it to prolong its life, in a pinch you can put it in the dishwasher; it's also freezer safe for chilling.
Amazon
Give your brew pride of place with a glass that features an etched map of your hometown. More than three dozen cities are available, from Boston to Seattle.
Amazon
For insulation on a budget, Tahoe Trails can coolers are a good bet. They're vacuum-sealed to keep your drink chilly and are dishwasher safe for when the party's over. "I am amazed by this product. Even the last drop of a 12-ounce drink is still cold. I have bought four more as gifts," wrote one of the 2,200 five-star reviewers.
Libbey
Glass or can? You don't have to choose with these funky tumblers, which are perfect for beer, cocktails, juice or anything in between. No surprise they earn a near-perfect 4.8 stars from more than 4,200 Amazon reviews.
Amazon
Of course Yeti, the insulation experts, make a bestselling koozie. More 6,200 shoppers have given it a five-star review for its durability and effectiveness. "It keeps my drinks cold for hours," raved one fan. "And I swear if you knock it off a table, it lands without tipping over. I thought it was a fluke the first time it happened, but the fouth time I started realizing it was designed that way."
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
