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20 Best Non-Alcoholic Beers to Drink Yourself Sensible
Our list of the best non-alcoholic beer brands covers our favourites from Australia and around the world. There’s never been a better time to round up the best because thanks to a surge in more ‘health conscience’ drinkers there are more alcohol-free beers and brands on the market than ever before. Each one delivers a surprisingly authentic taste, minus the potential hangover and a beer gut.
When perusing our list of the best non-alcoholic beers, you’ll find familiar brands and new ones alike that specialise in the zero-alcohol variety. Sure, you’ve probably heard of Carlton Zero and Coopers Ultra Light Birell, but what about NORT, Athletic Brewing, or Maisel’s Weisse Alkoholfrei? As we said, you definitely have your options. Here’s to drinking alcohol-free beer.
Related: Looking for more non-alcoholic drinks? Check out our guide to the best drinks here.
How Man of Many Chose this List of Non-Alcoholic Beer Brands
When it comes to Man of Many’s list of the best non-alcoholic beers money can buy, it goes without saying, that expertise is key. While we’ve tasted every beer on this list, we’ve also turned to the wider public for their overall ratings. Our list takes into account three major perspectives to determine the overall rating. In addition to our own opinions, we take into account reviews via alcohol retailer Dan Murphys and the Australian non-alcoholic drinks retailers Sans Drinks and Craft Zero. We then collate the information together and measure the beers via overall flavour profile, reader ratings and commercial availability, meaning one-off craft beers and special editions aren’t likely to top the list.
Best Non-Alcoholic Beers
The best non-alcoholic beers should be divided into a number of different categories.
- Best non-alcoholic beer overall: Nort Beer
- Best non-alcoholic lager: Heineken 0.0
- Best non-alcoholic IPA: Athletic Brewing Co.
- Best non-alcoholic pale ale: BrewDog Nanny State Pale Ale
- Best non-alcoholic mid-strength: Beneficial Beer Stone Cold Lager
Now we’ve highlighted the best of non-alcoholic beers, let’s check out the full list.
Image: Nort Pacific Ale Bottle | Nort
1. Nort Beer
After trying every non-alcoholic beer on this list we had to settle the score by passing a few Nort’s around the Man of Many office. The Nort Beer came out on top as our overall favourite amongst the team and it’s nort hard to see why. The brand is 100% Australian-owned and operated brewery with a focus on creating the most refreshing zero per cent beers money can buy. We found every beer in the range big on flavour but our favourites would rank in this order; XPA, IPA, and Pacific Ale. A great choice for those looking to shed a few calories in the process, the beer is plant-based so you can enjoy it more often.
Country of origin: Australia
Volume: 330ml can
Buy it here (Nort) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Sans Drinks)
Image: Heaps Normal Quiet XPA | Heaps Normal
2. Heaps Normal Quiet XPA
Formed as a collaboration between four mates, Heaps Normal started with the aim of encouraging conversation around mindful drinking. Fast forward a few years and the brand has become the most popular non-alcoholic beer in restaurants around the country. If there’s a low-alcohol beer option on your local’s beer list, there’s a good chance it’s a Heaps Normal. We love the Quiet XPA for its full-flavoured citrus and tropical ale flavour profile that offers all the aspects of a craft beer without alcohol. Win-win.
Country of origin: Australia
Alcohol Volume: Less than 0.5%
Volume: 375ml can
Price: from $61.99/ case of 24
Buy it here (Heaps Normal) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Sans Drinks)
Image: Capital Brewing ALC-LESS | Capital Brewing
3. Capital Brewing ALC-LESS Pacific Ale
Our friends at Capital Brewing have been making some of the best beers in the craft beer scene for years. When the market asked for a great non-alcoholic beer, they didn’t rush to the stage to deliver a subpar beer, they spent months trying, testing, and creating their version of the best on the market. We aren’t going to argue with the flavours here either, a little salty to top our list of the best non-alcoholic beer, you’ll love the full-flavoured tropical Pacific Ale burst that’s here in full effect.
Country of origin: Australia
Volume: 330ml bottle
Price: from $44.99/ case of 16
Buy it here (Capital Brewing) Buy it here (Sans Drinks)
Image: Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild Non-Alcoholic IPA | Athletic Brewing Co.
4. Athletic Brewing Co.
‘Non-alcoholic’ and ‘craft beer’ are two words we love to hear at Man of Many and Athletic Brewing Co. is here to exhibit the full-bodied flavours from their staples – our favourite being the Upside Down pale ale. Experimenting and pushing the rules in the name of the full-bodied flavour is the aim of the game for Athletic Brewing, and to figure out how on earth they achieve such, we asked founders Bill Shufelt and John Walker what they love about these fully-fermented drops.
“What I really enjoy about ‘fully fermented’ non-alcoholic beers is the body, the mouthfeel and the vibrant expression of the incredible ingredients in their original state – there is a harmony that these ingredients embody when they are left to their own devices.”
“When creating hazy brews there is a myriad of ‘tricks’ we can deploy from less flocculant yeast strains to different filtration or centrifugation techniques to hops and malts that can impart more haze – we like to design backwards, thinking about the mouthfeel, the aroma and the flavours and use that to guide us in selecting the best ingredients and processes for the job.”
These beers don’t just taste “good for a non-alcoholic beer” they taste good full stop.
Country of origin: America
Volume: 375ml can
Price: from $62.99/ case
Buy it here (Athletic Brewing Co.) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Craft Zero)
Image: Heineken 0.0 | Heineken
5. Heineken 0.0 Non Alcoholic Lager
When perusing the non-alcoholic beer selection over on BWS, you can do no wrong in picking up a case of Heineken 0.0. The brand crafts it like a normal lager before evaporating the alcohol, resulting in a taste that’s crisp, clean, and thoroughly reliable.
Country of origin: Netherlands
Volume: 330ml bottle
Price: from $45.90/ case of 24
Buy it here (Heineken) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Sans Drinks)
Image: Stone Cold Lager | Beneficial Beer Co.
6. Beneficial Beer Co. Stone Cold Lager
After trying this one, the team here at Man of Many believe this is the perfect ‘inbeertweener’ because Beneficial Beer Co’s Stone Cold Lager is a mid-strength, full-bodied non-alcoholic lager, which for the first time ever in the non-alcoholic beer market, is brewed the traditional way. Produced using a tried and tested traditional brewing process, the Stone Cold Lager has all the ingredients you’d expect – barley grain, water, hops and yeast – leaving all the flavours you would expect from a mid-strength lager.
Country of origin: Australia
Volume: 330ml bottle
Price: from $59.95/ case
Buy it here (Beneficial Beer Co) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Sans Drinks)
Image: James Squire Zero | James Squire
7. James Squire Zero
No stranger to a tap near you, James Squire entered the alcohol-free market with the launch of James Squire Zero. The launch brought their brewing heritage and credentials to an increasingly thirsty audience of zero-alcohol lovers, and we couldn’t wait to get our greasy mitts around a six-pack. Perfect for those who seek to avoid ‘fruit beers’, this is our pick of the bunch for those looking for a premium brew. James Squire Zero features all the refreshing flavours of a full-strength beer. We expect Zero to follow in the footsteps of James Squire Ginger Beer, the number one alcoholic ginger beer in Australia.
Country of origin: Australia
Closure: Twist Top
Volume: 345ml bottle
Buy it here (James Squire) Buy it here (Woolworths) Buy it here (First Choice)
Image: Carlton Zero | Carlton
8. Carlton Zero
A perennial favourite amongst sober sippers here at Man of Many, Carlton’s non-alcoholic beer (aka Carlton Zero) makes for the perfect summertime beverage in our books. Having been crafted with the same care, quality, and ingredients as the brand’s alcoholic output, it delivers a fruity aroma and robust, hoppy flavour.
Country of origin: Australia
Volume: 375ml can
Price: from $39.99 AUD
Buy it here (Woolworths) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (BWS)
Image: Mornington Free | Mornington Peninsula Brewery
9. Mornington Peninsula Brewery Mornington Free
We were quick to jump on the Mornington Peninsula bandwagon when they announced the launch of their Mornington Free Pale Ale. And while it was the brand’s first foray into the non-alcohol sector, it was also the first Pale Ale offering from an award-winning craft brewery. Just like a number of the best non-alcoholic beers on this list, Mornington Peninsula Brewery starts the brewing process from scratch. Forget stripping the alcohol and flavour out of full strength, the brand starts from the beginning and creates a delicious and refreshing bevvy with less than 0.5% ABV.
Country of origin: Australia
Volume: 330ml can
Price: from $44.95/ case of 24
Buy it here (Mornington Peninsula Brewery) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s)
Image: Holsten Alcohol-Free | Holsten
10. Holsten Alcohol-Free
Holsten is one of the most popular brands in Germany and with good reason. Its non-alcoholic beer has everything you can ask for in a German pilsner…unless you’re asking for alcohol. This is one of the best non-alcoholic beers for those watching their waistline too, coming it at just 40 calories per bottle you won’t feel any guilt putting a few of these back.
Country of origin: Germany
Volume: 375ml bottle
Price: from $37/ case of 24
Buy it here (Holsten) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Liquor Land)
Image: Birell Ultra Light | Coopers
11. Coopers Birell Ultra Light
For one of the best non-alcoholic beers in Australia, look no further than one of the nation’s biggest brands, Cooper’s. They didn’t just jump on the non-alcoholic drinks trend after we published our article, they’ve been making this beer for years and Coopers know how to craft some delicious suds. Here you’ll find a vibrant colour, full-bodied maltiness, a clean finish, and an ABV of just 0.5%.
Country of origin: Australia
Volume: 375ml bottle
Price: from $31.99/ case of 24
Buy it here (Coopers) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Sans Drinks)
Image: Uptown Craft Lager | Big Drop Brewing
12. Big Drop Brewing Uptown Craft Lager
We think the legends over at Big Drop have mastered a brew that taste just like the real thing. The brewer uses a lazy yeast, which is not very good at converting sugar to alcohol, as well as brewing at slightly higher temperatures at various points to further inhibit alcohol production. Additionally, this non-alcoholic beer uses less grain, which means less sugar. Goodbye beer gut.
Country of origin: Australia
Alcohol Volume: Less than 0.5%
Volume: 375ml can
Price: from $70.99/ case of 24
Buy it here (Big Drop Brewing) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Sans Drinks)
Image: Nanny State Pale Ale | BrewDog
13. BrewDog Nanny State Pale Ale
Thanks to the power of crowd-funding, Scotland’s BrewDog Brewery came roaring to life and wasted no time in churning out choice products. Amongst its slate of steady sippers is Nanny State Pale Ale, a no-alcohol beer of considerable quality. It’s brewed with a full spectrum of hops and malts and then dry-hopped with Centennial and Amarillo.
Country of origin: Scotland
Volume: 330ml can
Buy it here (Craft Zero) Buy it here (First Choice) Buy it here (Sans Drinks)
Image: Karamalz Classic | Karamalz
14. Karamalz
Germany’s most popular malt beverage is a no-brainer purchase for non-alcoholic beer drinkers in Australia. Combining barley malt, maltose, hops, and clean brewing water with a touch of carbonation, Karamalz is slightly bitter and naturally sweet. If some scientific reports are to be believed, it’s not just delicious, but good for you too. What’s there not to love?
Country of origin: Germany
Volume: 330ml bottle
Price: from $62/ case of 24
Buy it here (Karamalz) Buy it here (Alco Free)
Image: Maisel Weisse | Maisel
15. Maisel Weisse
Maisel’s wheat beers are the stuff of legend in Bavaria and abroad. Brewed in accordance with Germany’s purity law, this non-alcoholic variant comes in 500ml bottles, bringing big bang for your buck.
Country of origin: Germany
Volume: 500ml bottle
Price: from $79.94/ case
Buy it here (Maisel) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (German Liquor)
Image: Clausthaler Unfiltered | Clausthaler
16. Clausthaler Unfiltered
One of Clausthaler’s latest is also one of their greatest. Combining an innovative brewing technique— during which Cascade Hops are added after fermentation—with the German Zwickel tradition of unfiltered brewing, it comes in rich, crisp, and golden. That’s joined by the perfect touch of malty sweetness.
Country of origin: Germany
Volume: 330ml bottle
Buy it here (Vegan Drinks) Buy it here (Alco Free) Buy it here (Sans Drinks)
Image: ü.NN IPA | ü.NN
17. ü.NN IPA
Rounding out our list of the best non-alcoholic beers in Australia and beyond is this award-winning IPA. It comes to us from Germany’s ü.NN and imparts a golden colour, fruity aromas, and a clean taste. Drink it during hot weather and don’t forget to go “ahhhhh…”
Country of origin: Germany
Volume: 330ml bottle
Buy it here (Harris Farm) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Clear Mind)
Image: Erdinger Alcohol Free | Erdinger
18. Erdinger Alcohol Free
A number of non-alcoholic beer drinkers simply swear by this wheat-based brew, which goes big on flavour and texture alike. With its ABV of 0.5%, some might call it low alcohol as opposed to no alcohol. Either way, you won’t be getting drunk.
Country of origin: Germany
Volume: 330ml bottle
Buy it here (Craft Zero) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Sans Drinks)
Image: Sobah #3 Pepperberry IPA | Sobah
19. Sobah #3 Pepperberry IPA
With a name like #3 Pepperberry IPA, you know this zero-alcohol beer from Sobah is something special. Infused with fruit from the Australian Native Pepperberry tree, it delivers citrusy hop flavour along with a spicy kick. More than one of Australia’s best non-alcoholic beers, this is a tasty and downright interesting beverage. Try it regardless of your regular drinking habits.
Country of origin: Australia
Volume: 330ml can
Buy it here (Sobah) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (Sans Drinks)
Image: Hollandia Non-Alcoholic Beer | Hollandia
20. Hollandia Non-Alcoholic Beer
Between its smooth texture and malty flavour, this non-alcoholic beer is one of the best you can buy in 2019. Like so many others on the list, it’s crafted using traditional methods and ingredients before the alcohol is gently evaporated.
Country of origin: Netherlands
Volume: 330ml can
Buy it here (Hollandia) Buy it here (Dan Murphy’s) Buy it here (BWS)
Non-Alcoholic Beer FAQs
What are the best non-alcoholic beers?
The best non-alcoholic beers include the BrewDog Nanny State, Carlton Zero, Bitburger Drive, Heineken0.0 and the Hollandia Non-Alcoholic release. However, there are heaps more quality low-alcohol options on the market.
Are non-alcoholic beers bad for you?
Non-alcoholic beer is typically made by removing the alcohol from regular beer. Although they have much less alcohol, non-alcoholic beers may harbour small amounts, which can be unsafe for pregnant women and anyone recovering from alcoholism.
Is non-alcoholic beer healthy?
In terms of calorie consumption, non-alcoholic beer has far fewer calories than regular beer, however, it is still a significant source of carbohydrate and should be consumed in moderation.
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Jacob Osborn
Jacob Osborn is an accomplished author and journalist with over 10 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Bachelor's degree in English and Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin--Madison and co-authored a Young Adult novel through Simon & Schuster. Now based in Portland, Oregon, Jacob specialises in entertainment, technology and alcohol reporting. You might find him crate-digging at the nearest record store or sampling whisky at the nearest bar. He daydreams of travelling around the world, but for now, the world will have to come to him by way of lifestyle products, gear, gadgetry, and entertainment. Let's call it a happy compromise while he saves up for the next big trip.
