Non-alcoholic beer has quietly become the most mature segment of the alcohol-free market. Athletic Brewing built an entire craft brewery around NA, and the major brewers (Heineken, Guinness) followed with credible 0.0% versions of their flagships. Most NA beers now hold their own in blind taste tests — the gap to real beer is smaller here than in any other zero-proof category.
When you’ll actually need a non-alcoholic beer
For pairing with food, watching sports, post-workout, or any context where you want the ritual of a beer without the alcohol. Athletic Brewing’s IPAs are good enough that craft beer drinkers don’t feel like they’re settling. Heineken 0.0 is the practical default when you want something familiar and easy to find. Guinness 0.0 is the only credible NA stout on shelves.
How we ranked these
We weighed flavor authenticity vs. real beer, style coverage, availability, and value. Athletic Run Wild wins overall — it’s the best NA IPA on the market. Heineken 0.0 wins on availability. Guinness 0.0 wins for stout lovers by default (no real competitors). Full breakdown below.
The full ranking
Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA
Why it's #1: The IPA that put NA craft beer on the map. Hop-forward, citrusy, and good enough to fool most IPA drinkers in a blind taste test.
- 12-pack of 12oz cans
- 65 calories per can
- <0.5% ABV
- Citrusy hop profile
- US-made craft brewery
Athletic Brewing Free Wave
Why it's #2: The hazy IPA variant from Athletic. Juicier and smoother than Run Wild, with the same craft-quality build.
- 12-pack of 12oz cans
- <0.5% ABV
- Hazy/juicy IPA profile
- Real fermentation
Heineken 0.0
Why it's #3: The benchmark NA lager. Reliably good, cheaper than craft options, and available almost everywhere — from gas stations to grocery stores.
- 12-pack of 11.2oz bottles
- 0.0% ABV
- 69 calories per bottle
- Lager profile
- Mainstream availability
Guinness 0.0
Why it's #4: The only credible NA stout on the shelf. Same creamy texture, same coffee/chocolate notes, no alcohol — and the nitro widget still works.
- 4-pack of 14.9oz cans
- 0.0% ABV
- Nitro-widget can
- Coffee, chocolate, roast notes
- Made by Guinness
Brooklyn Special Effects
Why it's #5: Hoppy lager from Brooklyn Brewery. Bridges the gap between mainstream lager and craft beer character.
- 6-pack of 12oz bottles
- 0.4% ABV
- Hoppy lager profile
- Brooklyn Brewery
