Stout is the style where non-alcoholic beer wins most convincingly, for a simple reason. Roasted malt does most of the work in a stout. Coffee, chocolate, and a creamy head come from the grain and the nitro pour, not from alcohol. Take the alcohol out of an IPA and you lose body. Take it out of a stout and you lose surprisingly little.
That is why Guinness 0.0 is the closest match to its full-strength version of any NA beer I have tasted. It is also why the rest of this list is short. Few brewers bother making an NA stout, because Guinness set a bar most of them cannot clear.
I tasted the five below side by side, poured hard into a pint glass and left to settle. Here is how they rank.
The quick verdict: Buy Guinness 0.0. If you want a 12-pack of cans for less money, Athletic All Out is the runner-up. Bravus Oatmeal Stout is the craft pick if you order direct. Partake Stout is the low-calorie option. Big Drop Galactic Milk Stout is the sweet, dessert-style outlier.
How I judged them
Roast character first, because a stout without coffee and chocolate is just a brown lager. Texture second, since the creamy mouthfeel is half the appeal of the style. A finish that does not turn thin and watery, which is the usual NA stout failure. And, for anyone who needs it, whether the beer is true 0.0% or under 0.5%.
#1 Guinness 0.0
Best Overall
Why it’s #1: The nitro widget in the can does exactly what it does in regular Guinness. Pour it hard and you get the cascade, the dense tan head, and the creamy body. Underneath is the same roasted barley bitterness and coffee-chocolate finish. The body is a touch lighter and the finish a touch sweeter than the original, and that is the complete list of differences. It is also certified 0.0%, which matters for anyone avoiding alcohol entirely.
- Pack: 6 cans, 14.9 oz
- Price: $32.99 for 6, or $24.99 for a 4-pack
- ABV: 0.0%
- Calories: About 60 per can
- Profile: Roasted barley, coffee, chocolate, creamy nitro texture
Pros: Closest NA match to any full-strength beer, true 0.0%, nitro texture is perfect Cons: Expensive per can, big cans mean you get fewer per pack Best for: Guinness drinkers, St. Patrick’s Day, cold weather, dessert
#2 Athletic Brewing All Out Extra Dark
Best 12-Pack Value
Why it’s #2: All Out is Athletic’s stout, and it follows the Athletic formula of brewing non-alcoholic from the start rather than dealcoholizing. Coffee and dark chocolate up front, a little dried fruit, and a dry finish. Without a nitro widget it drinks lighter than Guinness 0.0, closer to a dry Irish stout on regular carbonation. It is the stout I keep in the fridge because a 12-pack costs less per can and it pairs with almost any dinner.
- Pack: 12 cans, 12 oz
- Price: $29.99
- ABV: Under 0.5%
- Calories: About 90 per can
- Profile: Coffee, dark chocolate, dry roasted finish
Pros: Good roast character, 12-pack value, vegan Cons: Thinner than Guinness 0.0, no nitro Best for: Everyday stout drinkers, food pairing
Shop Athletic All Out on Amazon or buy direct from Athletic Brewing
#3 Bravus Oatmeal Stout
Best Craft Stout
Why it’s #3: Bravus is a California brewery that only makes non-alcoholic beer, and their oatmeal stout is the one craft NA stout that gets talked about in the same breath as Guinness 0.0. The oats give it a fuller, silkier body than All Out, with chocolate and a light roasted sweetness. It ranks third rather than second only because it is harder to buy. Bravus sells direct and ships to most states, and it shows up at Total Wine, but you will not find it on Amazon.
- Pack: 6 or 12 cans, 12 oz
- ABV: Under 0.5%
- Profile: Chocolate, oats, silky body, light sweetness
Pros: Fullest body of any NA stout without nitro, dedicated NA brewery Cons: Not on Amazon, shipping adds to the cost Best for: Craft stout fans, anyone who finds Guinness 0.0 too dry
#4 Partake Brewing Stout
Lowest Calorie
Why it’s #4: Partake’s whole lineup is built around low calories, and the stout follows suit at 30 calories a can. It has real roasted malt flavor, but the body is thin and the finish disappears quickly. It is the right pick if you want the taste of a stout without the carbohydrates, and the wrong pick if you want the texture.
- Pack: 12 cans, 12 oz
- ABV: Under 0.5%
- Calories: 30 per can
- Profile: Light roast, coffee, thin body
Pros: Lightest stout you can buy, decent roast flavor Cons: Thin, short finish Best for: Calorie counters who miss stout
Buy direct from Partake Brewing
#5 Big Drop Galactic Milk Stout
Best Dessert Stout
Why it’s #5: Big Drop is a UK brewery that specializes in NA beer, and Galactic is a milk stout, which means lactose for sweetness and a creamy, almost chocolate-milk body. It is the sweetest beer on this list by a wide margin. That makes it polarizing. Stout drinkers who like a dry Irish style will find it cloying. Anyone who likes a dessert stout will love it.
- Pack: 4 or 12 cans, 12 oz
- ABV: Under 0.5%
- Profile: Chocolate, vanilla, lactose sweetness
Pros: Rich and creamy, distinctive, well made Cons: Sweet, inconsistent US availability Best for: Dessert pairing, milk stout fans
Quick winners guide
| Pick | Best for | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|
| Guinness 0.0 | Best overall, true 0.0% | Amazon, most grocery stores |
| Athletic All Out | 12-pack value | Amazon, Athletic direct |
| Bravus Oatmeal Stout | Craft pick | Bravus direct, Total Wine |
| Partake Stout | Lowest calorie | Partake direct |
| Big Drop Galactic | Dessert stout | Big Drop direct |
What to try next
Guinness 0.0 also makes an excellent base for a non-alcoholic black and tan, poured over any of the lagers in the best non-alcoholic lagers guide. For the complete picture across every style, see the best non-alcoholic beers ranking. And if you want to know whether the rest of Athletic’s lineup lives up to All Out, the Athletic Brewing review ranks every beer they make.
