What is the best craft non-alcoholic beer?

If you mean craft-style non-alcoholic beer, my top pick is Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA.

• Untitled Art NA West Coast-Style IPA - $5.00 (Unlikely Professionals)

🏆 Best overall: Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA

• Style: West Coast/session IPA
• Taste: Citrus, pine, noticeable but balanced bitterness, crisp dry finish.
• ABV: <0.5%
• Calories: about 65–70 per 12 oz.
• Why: It consistently ranks among the best NA beers in blind tastings; Forbes Vetted named it its best non-alcoholic IPA after testing 27 beers.

Other excellent craft options

• Untitled Art West Coast IPA — my choice if you want something richer and more like a traditional craft IPA; reviewers have particularly praised its depth and beer-like character.
• Athletic Free Wave Hazy IPA — better if you prefer juicy, tropical, hazy IPAs. It also took silver at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival in the non-alcohol beer category.
• Deschutes Fresh Squeezed NA IPA — a newer option with orange, passionfruit and juicy citrus character.

Bottom line: If you're buying just one, get Run Wild. If you normally drink West Coast craft IPAs and want the closest NA substitute for a serious craft beer, I'd also try Untitled Art West Coast IPA.

The quality of non-alcoholic (NA) craft beer has skyrocketed, making it genuinely difficult to tell many of them apart from their full-strength counterparts . While "the best" depends entirely on your preferred style, a few standout craft breweries and specific brews consistently dominate expert reviews and enthusiast rankings:

If you share your favorite beer style (e.g., crisp pilsner, juicy hazy IPA, dark stout, or tart sour), I can recommend the exact bottle or can that fits your palate best!

The quality and variety of craft non-alcoholic (NA) beer have improved dramatically , making it easier than ever to find brews that genuinely rival their full-strength counterparts. Because "the best" depends entirely on your preferred flavor profile, top-tier craft non-alcoholic beers are categorized below by style according to critical acclaim and community consensus:

• Best Hazy IPA: Athletic Brewing Co. Free Wave Hazy IPA – Widely considered a gold standard in the NA space, offering a juicy, hop-forward punch with a surprisingly full body and aromatic tropical notes.
• Best West Coast IPA: Samuel Adams Just The Haze – A heavily awarded hazy IPA that captures the authentic citrus and grapefruit punch of a craft hazy without the alcohol.
• Best Kölsch / Light Lager: Best Day Brewing Kölsch – Exceptionally crisp, clean, and refreshing, featuring subtle notes of honey, biscuit, and a delicate touch of citrus.
• Best Porter: Deschutes Black Butte NA – Translates the iconic obsidian-hued porter into an NA format with rich, smooth roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee notes that don't taste watered down.
• Best Stout: Guinness 0.0 – While technically from a macro heritage brand rather than an independent microbrewery, it pours, settles, and tastes astonishingly close to a traditional draft Guinness.
• Best Traditional Craft Pilsner: Notch Non-Alcoholic Craft Pils – A darling of the traditional craft scene, delivering genuine pilsner crispness, noble hop bite, and zero artificial sweetness.

If you want to narrow this down, tell me:

• What is your favorite style of regular beer (IPA, sour, stout, pale ale, etc.)?
• Do you prefer hop-forward bitterness or a crisp/malt-forward finish?

I can give you a personalized recommendation to match your taste.

If you mean craft-quality non-alcoholic (NA) beer that a craft beer drinker would actually enjoy, my top pick is:

🥇 Best overall: Athletic Brewing Company Run Wild IPA

• Style: American IPA
• Why it wins: It tastes the most like a “real” craft IPA: grapefruit/citrus hops, a little pine, firm bitterness, and a surprisingly full mouthfeel. It’s become one of the benchmark NA beers.
• Best for: Someone who normally drinks IPAs and wants the closest substitute.

Other excellent craft NA beers

• Athletic Brewing Company Free Wave Hazy IPA — Best if you like New England hazies. More tropical and juicy (citrus, mango-like notes) than Run Wild.
• Best Day Brewing West Coast IPA — A great choice if you prefer a cleaner, more classic West Coast hop profile; it has been recognized as a strong competitor to Athletic’s IPAs.
• Untitled Art FLVR! / NA Juicy IPA — One of the more flavorful options, with a fruit-forward hop character.
• Go Brewing Suspended in a Sunbeam Pils — Best if you want something crisp and lager-like rather than hoppy.
• Fremont Brewing NA Dark — A standout if you miss darker beers; it won gold in the non-alcoholic amber-to-dark category at the Great American Beer Festival.

My quick ranking by taste preference:

1. 🍺 IPA lover: Athletic Run Wild
2. 🌴 Hazy IPA lover: Athletic Free Wave
3. 🍻 Traditional lager drinker: Go Brewing Suspended in a Sunbeam Pils
4. 🌑 Stout/porter fan: Fremont NA Dark
5. 🍊 Big hop flavor seeker: Untitled Art FLVR! NA Juicy IPA

If I had to buy one six-pack for a serious craft beer fan, I’d start with Athletic Run Wild IPA.

If you mean craft-style non-alcoholic beer, my top pick right now is Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA.

Deschutes Non-Alcoholic Fresh Squeezed IPA

$11.99

🏆 Best overall: Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA

• Style: American IPA
• Why: Hoppy, citrusy, piney, and relatively dry rather than sweet or “worty.”
• Track record: It has won numerous awards, including World Beer Awards golds, and Forbes' 2025 blind tasting named it its best non-alcoholic IPA.
• Athletic was also named 2026 Brewery of the Year at the International Non-Alcoholic Competition.
• ABV: <0.5%.

Other excellent craft NAs

Interesting 2026 development: Best Day Brewing's Wild American Pilsner won Best in Show at the inaugural North American Nonalcoholic Cup in July 2026, so if you prefer lagers to IPAs, I'd put that at the top of your list.

My ranking for a beer drinker:
🥇 Run Wild IPA → 🥈 Free Wave Hazy IPA → 🥉 Best Day Wild American Pilsner.

If you tell me whether you prefer IPA, lager, stout, wheat beer, or something light/crisp, I can narrow it down to the single best one for your taste.

Here are top web results for exploring this topic:

Bean to Barstool·https://www.beantobarstool.com A Guide to the Best Non-Alcoholic Craft Beers by Style Recommended NA Beers by Style: Hazy IPAs and Pale Ales: - Self Care Freak Flag and others - Sam Adams Just the Haze - Untitled Art Juicy IPA - Sierra Nevada Trail Pass Hazy IPA - Go Prophets Hazy IPA Serious Eats·https://www.seriouseats.com The 16 Best Nonalcoholic Beers I'd Happily Crack Open Anytime The Best Nonalcoholic Beers. The Best Athletic Brewing Nonalcoholic Beers. Athletic Brewing is probably one of the most popular and widely distributed nonalcoholic beer brands. And it's beloved for go Tasting Table·https://www.tastingtable.com 11 Non-Alcoholic Beers From Major Brands, Ranked From Worst To ...11 Non-Alcoholic Beers From Major Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best. By Meredith Burkhart Updated: Feb. 18, 2025 7:52 am EST. Major brand non-alcoholic beers assorted on bar mat Meredith Burkhart/Tast Reddit·https://www.reddit.com**Good nonalcoholic beer recommendations** that aren't the classics ...Kaliber is made by Guinness. el_kowshka_es_diablo. •. 2y ago. I really like the N/A Heineken. I haven't been very adventurous with N/A beers so I assume there are far better options. But I really like Substack·https://throwingspaghetti.substack.com My Top Picks for Non-Alcoholic Beer Right Now - Throwing Spaghetti Athletic Brewing Company: Run Wild IPA. Run Wild was the first non-alcoholic beer I ever tried. I was in my parent's backyard, and it was before I even · Good Time Brewing Co.: Pils and IPA. I love th Athletic Brewing Co.·https://athleticbrewing.com**Non**-**Alcoholic Beer** : IPAs, Golden, Dark & Light Styles Athletic Brewing is pioneering a non-alcoholic craft beer revolution. Enjoy our refreshing brews without sacrificing your lifestyle or good taste. The New York Times·https://www.nytimes.com The 8 Best Nonalcoholic Beers of 2026 | Reviews by Wirecutter A craft classic, this beer arrives in nonalcoholic form with most of its flavor intact. It's a Pacific Northwest miracle. Buying options: Buy from Total Wine & More, opens in a new tab · Buy from Desc NA Beer Club·https://nabeerclub.com The World's Biggest and Best List of Non-Alcoholic Craft Beers The World's Biggest and Best List of NA Beers in America. Discover your next favorite non-alcoholic beer! Our extensive catalog brings together the best NA beers from renowned breweries and innovative PorchDrinking·https://porchdrinking.com 30 Best Non-Alcoholic Beers for 2026: IPAs, Lagers, Stouts & More The Gravitas Series is among the best non-alcoholic stout beers you can find. The series is Bravus's over-the-top answer to “NA beer can't be decadent.” This limited barrel-aged stout layers cocoa, ma The Quality Edit·https://www.thequalityedit.com**Best Non**-Alcoholic Beer : Lager Reviews 2026 - The Quality Edit Good Time is brewed in New York, self-purported to be the best-tasting non-alcoholic beer on the market (I'm reminded of the light beer wars of the 1980s). Good Time is another pale pilsner; not as pa

If you want one craft non-alcoholic beer to try first, I’d pick Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA.

It consistently ranks among the best NA beers, including being Forbes’ top non-alcoholic IPA and a top overall pick in multiple 2026 rankings. It has grapefruit and pine hop character, noticeable bitterness, good carbonation, and a dry finish—so it tastes much more like a legitimate craft IPA than “beer-flavored water.”

My short list

• 🥇 Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA — Best overall; balanced, hoppy, classic IPA.
• 🍊 Deschutes Fresh Squeezed N/A — Best if you like juicy, citrus-forward IPAs; it has Mosaic/Citra-driven orange and passionfruit character.
• 🌴 Athletic Brewing Free Wave Hazy IPA — Best for a hazy/juicy IPA; more tropical and softer than Run Wild.
• 🍺 Best Day Brewing Kölsch Style — Best for something crisp, light and refreshing rather than hop-heavy; it also won silver at the 2024 GABF non-alcohol beer category.
• 🖤 Deschutes Black Butte Non-Alcoholic Porter — My pick for a dark beer; rich coffee/cocoa flavors and a fuller body.
• 🥭 Untitled Art Mango Dragonfruit Sour — If you want something fruity and sour rather than beer-like. It won gold at the 2025 GABF specialty non-alcohol category.

If you're a regular craft-beer drinker: start with Run Wild.
If you normally drink hazy IPAs: get Free Wave.
If you drink lagers/pilsners: get Best Day Kölsch.

If you tell me what regular beer you normally drink (IPA, Modelo, Coors, stout, etc.), I can give you the closest NA equivalent.

The non-alcoholic (NA) craft beer landscape has exploded with options that actually taste like real beer rather than sweetened wort . While Athletic Brewing Co. remains the powerhouse standard-bearer of the industry, several dedicated craft breweries and traditional masters are making exceptional pours.

The top craft non-alcoholic beers are categorized by style below:

Best IPAs & Hazy IPAs

• Athletic Brewing Co. Free Wave Hazy IPA – Widely considered the gold standard for NA hazy IPAs, packed with Amarillo, Citra, and Mosaic hops giving it a pillowy mouthfeel and juicy peach/pineapple notes.
• Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild IPA – A West Coast-style staple that delivers authentic piney, citrusy bitterness without feeling watery.
• Sierra Nevada Trail Pass IPA – Brings classic craft pedigree into the NA space with bright grapefruit and clean, silky malt profiles.
• Samuel Adams Just The Haze – A remarkably convincing New England-style hazy IPA with a juicy, fruit-forward profile.

Best Lagers, Pilsners & Light Ales

• Best Day Brewing Kölsch – Exceptionally crisp and clean with delicate notes of biscuit and honey, making it a favorite for active lifestyles.
• Go Brewing Suspended in a Sunbeam Pils – A bright, snap-finish pilsner that captures traditional noble hop character without the heavy grain weight.
• Athletic Brewing Co. Upside Dawn Golden Ale – Light, refreshing, and subtly earthy, serving as an easy everyday crusher.

Best Darks, Stouts & Porters

• Guinness 0.0 – Though from a macro giant rather than an independent craft brewer, it deserves an honorable mention for nailing the velvety nitro head and roasted coffee-malt complexity of a real Guinness.
• Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Non-Alcoholic – A faithful, smooth-roasted non-alcoholic transition of their iconic porter, carrying rich chocolate and coffee notes.
• Bravus Brewing Co. Oatmeal Dark / Peanut Butter Dark – Bravus specializes in deep, dessert-leaning dark craft styles with a remarkably authentic mouthfeel.

Best Sours & Specialty Styles

• Untitled Art Flvr! NA Mango Dragonfruit Sour – If you like tart, fruit-forward profiles, this is a punchy, vibrant sour that doesn't taste flat or watered down.

If you share your favorite style of regular beer (e.g., crisp pilsner, heavy stout, juicy IPA), I can give you a more specific recommendation to match your palate.

If you mean craft-style non-alcoholic beer, my pick is Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA.

Deschutes Fresh Squeezed Non-Alcoholic IPA

$11.99

My top choices right now:

1. Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA — best overall
   Citrusy, piney, properly bitter, and much closer to a real craft IPA than most NA beers. It’s <0.5% ABV and 35 IBUs. It also won gold at the 2025 Great American Beer Festival in the hoppy NA category.

2. Deschutes Fresh Squeezed NA IPA — best if you like juicy/citrusy IPAs
   This would actually be my “treat yourself” pick. It emphasizes bright citrus and tropical fruit and has been getting particularly strong reviews.

3. Best Day Wild American Pilsner — best lager/pilsner
   A big 2026 winner: it took Best in Show and Double Gold at the inaugural North American Nonalcoholic Cup. It's crisp, clean, and much lighter than an IPA.

4. Athletic Free Wave — best hazy IPA
   More tropical, soft, and juicy than Run Wild. Forbes' 2025 tasting panel named it its best NA hazy IPA.

If I were buying just one: Run Wild.
If you normally drink West Coast/hazy IPAs: try Deschutes Fresh Squeezed or Athletic Free Wave.

If you tell me what regular beer you usually drink (IPA, pilsner, stout, lager, etc.), I can give you the best NA match.

Deciding on the "best" craft non-alcoholic beer depends heavily on your preferred style—whether you love a piney West Coast IPA , a crisp pilsner, or a rich dark porter. Thanks to modern brewing innovations like vacuum distillation and specialized fermentation, the quality of non-alcoholic craft options has skyrocketed.

Top-rated craft non-alcoholic beers are organized by style below:

• Best Overall Craft Pioneer: Athletic Brewing Co. (Run Wild IPA / Free Wave Hazy IPA)
  Athletic Brewing remains the heavyweight champion of the category. Their Run Wild IPA is a benchmark West Coast-style brew with a piney, citrusy kick and a clean, dry finish, while Free Wave Hazy IPA delivers a juicier, fruit-forward profile without tasting watery.
• Best Dark Craft Beer: Deschutes Brewery Black Butte Non-Alcoholic
  A faithful, award-winning rendition of their iconic Pacific Northwest porter, Black Butte NA manages to retain the roasty, complex malt profile and full body of a traditional dark beer where many lighter NA alternatives fall short.
• Best Crisp Lager / Pilsner: Best Day Brewing Wild American Pilsner
  Taking top honors in recent non-alcoholic brewing cups, Wild American nails the crisp, refreshing snap of a classic pilsner, proving that light styles—which give "nowhere to hide" flaws—can still taste authentic.
• Best Bold & Hoppy Alternative: Go Brewing (The Story / Sunshine State)
  For drinkers who find traditional non-alcoholic options too mild or thin, Go Brewing builds flavor-packed, high-impact craft styles—including standout tropical IPAs and double IPAs—that lean aggressively into specialty hops.

If you share your favorite style of regular beer (like a stout, sour, pilsner, or juicy IPA), I can give you a more specific recommendation tailored to your exact taste.