If you’ve ever sipped a non-alcoholic drink that felt like it was auditioning for the role of “real alcohol,” you know the experience. It’s giving: Look at me! I’m basically a craft beer! Thanks, but no thanks. But the NA drinks I keep coming back to, the ones worth writing about, are the ones that don’t want to be alcohol. They want to be delicious.
That was the consensus at our recent Good Day Sauna x The Sober Curator New Year Cold Plunge event: STEM Zero NA Ciders are the real deal. This wasn’t a massive crowd. It was 15 people, small enough to feel intimate and communal, big enough to feel electric. We went back and forth between the sauna and the Puget Sound, doing that unique Pacific Northwest ritual where you willingly choose discomfort and call it wellness.
The water was 46 degrees.
Two sea lions were swimming close by, like they were supervising. Fish were literally jumping out of the water (probably because it was so cold). One guest found a perfect sand dollar, and in between plunges, we watched the ferry glide in and out with the Cascades posted up in the background like a postcard saying, “You’re welcome.”
And in between all of that? We drank STEM Zero.
What We Served: STEM Zero NA Ciders
Each guest had the option to grab a Puffin Drinkwear Koozie to put their STEM Zero in and take home, which felt like both a party favor and a tiny trophy. Like: Congratulations, you survived the plunge. Here is your prize.
We featured two flavors:
- STEM Zero Blueberry Lime (0.0% ABV)
- STEM Zero Apricot Haze (0.0% ABV) (available year-round)
And the crowd? Pretty evenly split between the two, which tells me everything I need to know: STEM is doing something right.
Review: STEM Zero Blueberry Lime (0.0% ABV)
Flavor Profile: Bright, bold, juicy, and unexpectedly complex.
This vibrant blend of blueberries, zesty lime, and aromatic bergamot delivers a refreshing flavor journey that doesn’t taste like “replacement drinking.” It tastes like a drink you’d choose even if alcohol didn’t exist. It’s crisp and fruit-forward, but not syrupy. The citrus adds punch, and the bergamot gives it a subtle elevated edge that feels intentional.
Best Moment to Drink It: After the sauna. After the plunge. After you regain control of your breathing and remember you have a body. ???? This was the one that felt especially perfect in the salty sea air. It had that bright snap that made people say, “Wait… this is really good.”
Ingredients: Fresh Pressed Apple, Water, Blueberry Concentrate, Key Lime Puree, Organic Cane Sugar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Sea Salt, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Natural Flavors
The Verdict: If you love drinks that are bright, citrusy, and fruit-forward, Blueberry Lime is your go-to.
Review: STEM Zero Apricot Haze (0.0% ABV)
Flavor Profile: Soft, juicy apricot + fragrant hops = haze energy without the booze.
This flavor was built for people who love the vibe of a hazy beer but want something that stands on its own. Apricot Haze is fruit-forward, but the hops add a layer of aromatics and subtle bitterness that makes it feel adult and satisfying, not sweet or juvenile. It’s not trying to be beer. It’s not trying to be cider with alcohol. It’s just trying to be a delicious NA drink with personality. And it succeeds.
Best Moment to Drink It: This one felt like a “linger and chat” drink. The flavor evolves a bit as it warms slightly, and it paired really well with the social, cozy energy of our little post-plunge gathering.
Ingredients: Fresh Pressed Apple Juice, Water, Apricot Puree, Organic Cane Sugar, Apple Cider Vinegar, Hops, Sea Salt, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Natural Flavors
The Verdict: If you love fruit-forward drinks with a little haze-style hop complexity, Apricot Haze is your winner.
What Everyone Loved Most
Here’s the sentence that came up again and again: These drinks weren’t trying to be alcohol. They were trying to be delicious.
YES. That’s the point.
STEM Zero isn’t selling you nostalgia for booze. It’s giving you something you can actually enjoy without needing to pretend it’s anything else. That’s the future I’m rooting for: NA drinks that are the main character, not the understudy.
Final Thoughts: Would We Serve STEM Zero Again?
Absolutely. In fact, I’m drinking one right now as I write this.
STEM Zero is:
- Clean and refreshing
- Flavor-forward without being overly sweet
- Adult and complex without tasting “fake”
- Perfect for events, social settings, and post-wellness moments
And honestly? If you can make 15 people who just dunked themselves into 46-degree Puget Sound water pause and say, “Damn… that’s good,” you’ve earned your spot in the NA beverage rotation.
Quick Recommendation: Which Flavor Should You Try First?
✅ Blueberry Lime if you love bright, bold, citrusy fruit flavors
✅ Apricot Haze if you love juicy fruit + hop aromatics + haze vibes
✅ Or do what we did: try both and join the friendly debate.
Sober Curator Fun Fact: Want to see the action live? Check out this IG REEL recapping the experience. And keep an eye out for more curated events by yours truly in the Seattle area. Also, make sure to follow @GoodDaySauna on IG for their up-to-date schedule.
Call To Action (CTA)
Have you tried STEM Zero yet?
Drop your favorite flavor in the comments, and if there’s an NA cider you want us to review next for our HAPPY EVERY HOUR section, please tell me. I’m always looking for drinks that don’t just remove alcohol, but add joy.
#ADDTOCART: Puffin Drinkwear: Because Your Beverage Deserves a Wardrobe, Too
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