It’s always Happy Every Hour when you remove the alcohol and get your drink on without the buzz. Get to know Justin Lamb, our newest Sober Curator, who will be leading the charge in the Non-Alcoholic Beer Category every Friday.
We’ve All Been There
The end of the aisle of the grocery store, the dusty, warm cooler in the back of the liquor store. We reluctantly grab that six pack of O’Doul’s, likely expired and covered in dust. Carrying it to the register, you already know the terrible taste you’re about to have in your mouth. It’s the dreaded non-alcoholic beer. For decades, the sober and sober curious have only been given options of garbage beer, boiled to remove the alcohol, then bottled back up and thrown into the back shelf of your corner store. These days, things have made begun to change. If you find yourself with a hankering for hops or in a mood for malt, there are more options available to you today than there ever have been.
Non-Alcoholic Beers Were Inevitable
The inevitable following of an overly intoxicated craft beer culture has presented itself in a new variety of some of the most delicious brews out there, and they’re all non-alcoholic. Those words can carry a multitude of definition, but for clarity, I will tell you that all non-alcoholic beers are 0.5% alcohol or less. The same that you would find in most kombuchas and juices. If that concerns you, take it from Athletic Brewing when they say “you’d need to drink 8 non-alcoholic beers in under 5 minutes to reach near the same alcohol level as 1 regular beer…you’ll get sick from drinking so much water before the small amount of alcohol matters much.”
The Journey of NA Beers Available
With the groundwork laid, let me take you on a journey of all of the beers you have available to you. Breweries are springing up all over the country that deal exclusively in non-alcoholic beers. On top of that, some of the biggest names in the craft beer world are also jumping on board with their own NA versions of classic choices.
Whether you are in California (Surreal Brewing, Bravus Brewing), Connecticut (Athletic Brewing), St. Louis (WellBeing Brewing), or Minnesota (Hairless Dog Brewing), the options truly are endless. Travel north to Canada and you can add a few more to the list, and new ones are popping up and growing all the time. Most breweries will even ship right to your home! With the large distribution channels already in place for many microbreweries, you can even try some of the big guys’ options with Sam Adams and Lagunitas coming out with their own NA brews, as well.
NA Beer Friday
Each week, I will be sampling a new non-alcoholic craft beer, giving you my honest feedback (they’re not all great), and encouraging you to try some on for yourself. Whether you crave the pucker of a good sour beer or gose, or the hop heavy side of an IPA (hazy or not); or maybe you like to have the warm feeling of a hearty stout, or the classic malty taste of a cold-brewed amber ale. Good news! They are all available, non-alcoholic, and are mostly delicious!
Before getting sober, I reviewed beers weekly on a podcast and do not shy away from telling people when their products aren’t great. So bookmark, subscribe, and let’s connect and chat! I’m so excited to introduce you to the brand new world of non-alcoholic craft beer!
HAPPY EVERY HOUR: We know we mix a mean mocktail. HAPPY EVERY HOUR will keep you up to date on the latest and greatest trends in the world of mocktails and zero-proof beverages.
TRIGGER WARNING: People in early sobriety may want to proceed with caution. Always read labels. Please hydrate responsibly … because drunk never looks good.
In the mood to #ADDTOCART and grab yourself some Happy Every Hour merch? Yeah, we don’t blame you.
Resources are available
Resources Are Available
If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties surrounding alcoholism, addiction, or mental illness, please reach out and ask for help. People everywhere can and want to help; you just have to know where to look. And continue to look until you find what works for you. Click here for a list of regional and national resources.