Non Alcoholic Beer

Lifestyle

Non Alcoholic Beer Cans: Guinness 0.0, Athletic Brewing Co. Upside Dawn Golden Ale, Blue Moon Non-Alcoholic, Coors Edge, Best Day Brewing Kolsch, Samuel Adams Just the Haze Non-Alcoholic IPA, and Budweiser Zero

From taste, to flavor, to an almost spitting imitation of the real thing, non alcoholic beer is evolving. No longer the O’Doul’s of the 90s, non alcoholic beer is gaining traction quickly, and for good reason!

Whether it’s cracking one open while doing yard work or having a refreshing bev with the boys, many of my clients who have heart disease still want to enjoy a beer or two on occasion. Non alcoholic (NA) beer gives them the option to do so. They can worry a bit less and not feel like they are sacrificing their heart health.

NA beer contains between 10 – 110 calories and 2 – 25 grams of carbohydrates which is why it should be consumed in moderation. In excess, this increase in calorie or carbohydrate consumption may impact your nutrition or blood sugar goals. Drink reasonably and responsibly!

Disclaimer: Some external links on this page are affiliate links, meaning if you click an image/link and make a purchase, I earn a commission at no extra cost to you. My recommendations are based upon products or services that I feel could help you on your heart health journey. Please don’t spend any money on these products unless you feel like they may be a good fit for you.

Effects of Alcohol

The serving size for one beer is considered 12 fluid ounces or the equivalent of one bottle or one can of beer. This is considered one standard drink.

Moderate drinking is considered no more than 1 drink per day for women and no more than 2 drinks per day for men.

As moderate drinking transitions to heavy or binge drinking, it can adversely affect your heart health. Excessive drinking can increase your risk of high blood pressure, cardiac arrythmias, stroke, peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and heart failure.

Are there any benefits to drinking alcohol? Unfortunately, not really from a health perspective. In some studies, low to moderate drinking might show some cardiovascular benefits while others show negative consequences. Less to none is best.

Reasons people choose to drink non alcoholic beer 

There are a variety of reasons why an individual chooses these alternative brews.

  1. Reduce intake of alcohol or work towards sobriety
  2. Health conditions that contraindicate consuming alcohol
  3. Potential medication interactions
  4. Want to go out and spend time with family and friends in a safe manner
  5. Reducing the likelihood of negative side effects.
    1. Feelings of being hungover
    2. Gastrointestinal issues 
    3. Restless sleep/insomnia

FAQ about Non Alcoholic Beer

Does Non Alcoholic Beer have Alcohol?

Yes, it does contain alcohol. In order to classify as a non-alcoholic beer, it must contain less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV).

What’s the difference between non alcoholic and alcohol-free beer?

Non-Alcoholic beer must contain <0.5% ABV. 

Alcohol-Free Beer must contain no alcohol or 0% ABV. 

Zero Proof Alcohol

Zero Proof Alcohol means that the alcoholic beverage contains 0% ABV. Therefore, negligible amounts of alcohol are present.

Are Non Alcoholic beers gluten free?

Not usually.

The reason why they are not generally classified as gluten free is because many beers utilize a grain that contains gluten. Gluten is a protein that is found in wheat, barley, rye, and sometimes, oats.

Two ways a non alcoholic beer can become gluten free.

  1. If a beer utilizes a gluten free grain, it may provide an end product that is gluten free.
  2. Processing beer that results in a reduction in the gluten content of the NA beer to contain less than 20 parts per million (ppm). 

How many non alcoholic beers equal one beer?

Let’s consider a standard beer as 12 fluid ounces with 5% Alcohol by Volume.

One light beer (5% ABV) is equivalent to 10 NA beers. That’s quite a bit of non alcoholic beers to match the ABV of one beer!

Here is a comparison chart to show an approximation of how many NA beers you would need to drink to equate to the alcohol by volume in one beer.

Type of Beer Non-Alcoholic Beer Equivalent **
Light Beer ABV 4 – 5%8 – 10 NA beers
Regular Beer ABV 5 – 6%10 – 12 NA beers
Craft Beer ABV 6 – 10%12 – 20 NA beers
Chart: How many non alcoholic beers equal one beer

Calories in Non Alcoholic Beer

Calories in non alcoholic beer can fluctuate as can their macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, and protein). Most I have found are between 10 – 110 calories per serving, give or take. Calories in alcohol are primarily determined by the alcohol content, and/or the carbohydrates present. Calories increase as alcohol by volume, and/or carbohydrates increases.

Remember, 1 gram of alcohol = 7 calories and 1 gram of carbohydrates = 4 calories.

It’s a misconception that the darker the beer, the “heavier” the beer, or the more calories it contains. The darker color is usually a result of the brewing process. For example, Guinness Zero is 75 calories for 14.9 fl. oz. compared to Samuel Adams Just the Haze IPA at 98 calories for 12 fl. oz.

Another thing worth mentioning is just because a non alcoholic beer or alcohol free beer is low in alcohol does not mean it is low in calories or carbohydrates. Look at the serving size and nutrition facts to see how they can fit into your overall dietary plan.

I’ve put together the nutrition facts for a few of the most popular brands on the market. Check out how they compare to one another in the table below.

Calories and Carbohydrates in Non Alcoholic Beer

Non-Alcoholic BeerStyleABV %Serving Size (fl.oz.)CalCarbsFatPro
Athletic Brewing Co.
Upside Dawn Golden Ale
Run Wild
Atlética


Golden
IPA
Mexican-Style
Copper

<0.5
<0.5
<0.5

12
12
12 

45
65
60


14
10
14

0
0
0

<1
<1
1
Best Day Brewing
West Coast IPA
Kolsch
Hazy IPA

IPA
Kolsch
Hazy IPA

<0.5
<0.5
<0.5

12
12
12

68
55
53

11
11
11

0
0
0

3
3
3
Blue Moon Non-AlcoholicBelgian-Style Wheat<0.51280801
BrewDog USA
Punk AF Non-Alcoholic

Pale Ale

<0.5%

12

20

2.3

0

0
Brooklyn Brewery
Special Effects IPA
Special Effects Pils

IPA
Pilsner

<0.5
<0.5

12
12

80

17

0

1.5
Budweiser ZeroLight0.0125012.10<1
Busch NALight0.4126012.900.6
Ceria Brewing
Grainwave
Belgian-Style White Ale
0.0

12

77

14


Clausthaler ISO 0.0Light0.011.21062302.3
Corona Non-AlcoholicLager<0.5126017.501.3
Coors EdgeLight<0.5124180<1
GO Brewing
New School Sour Berry
Head On American Wheat

Sour
Wheat

<0.44
<0.46

12
12

61
30

15
10

1.4
0
0.61
Grolsch 0.0Golden0.011.29618.801.7
Guinness 0.0Stout<0.512 (can: 14.9)7517.301.4
Heineken 0.0Lager<0.512691602
Kronenbourg 1664
Blanc 0.0%

Wheat

0.0

11.2

96

23.4

0

0
Partake Brewing
Blonde
IPA
Pale
Pilsner

Blonde
IPA
Pale Ale
Pilsner

<0.5
<0.5
<0.5
<0.5

12
12
12
12

15
10
10
25

3
0
4
4

0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
Peroni Nastro AzzurroLager0.011.2
Samuel Adams Just the Haze IPAIPA<0.512982201.5
Sierra Nevada
Trail Pass Golden

Golden Ale

<0.5

12

95

19


Sober Carpenter
Blonde Ale
Raspberry Sour

Blond Ale
Sour

<0.5
<0.5

16
16

60
75

9
15

0
0

0
0
Stella Artois Liberté Non Alcoholic
Lager

0.0

11.2

59

13.2

0

1.5
Untitled Art
Mango Dragonfruit
Fruited Sour
Sour<0.590161613
Wellbeing Hellraiser Dark Amber
Dark Amber

<0.5

12

80

32


Calories and Carbohydrates in Non Alcoholic Beer

For some of the non alcoholic beers, serving size and servings per container varied, primarily for non-domestic NA options. I streamlined the nutrition facts to make it easier for you to understand with less calculations for you to do. Non-domestic NA beer, such as from Europe, provide nutrition facts per 100mL because they follow the metric system. Most bottles or cans contain 330mL which is equivalent to approximately 11.2 fl. oz.

*NA beers may also contain more than one serving per can or bottle. For example, Guinness 0.0’s serving size is 12 fl. oz. and servings per container are 1.25.

  • For Clausthaler ISO 0.0
    • Origin: Germany
    • Amount per 100mL: 32 calories, 7.1g Carb, 0g Fat, 0.7g Pro
  • For Grolsch 0.0%
    • Origin: Netherlands
    • Amount per 100mL: 23 calories, 5.7g carb, 0g Fat, 0.5g Protein
  • For Kronenbourg 1664 Blanc 0.0%
    • Origin: France
    • Amount per 100mL: 29 calories, 6.7g Carb, 0g Fat, <0.4g Pro
  • For Peroni Nastro Azzurro
    • Origin: Italy
    • Serving Size: 1 bottle (33 cl ow) = 11.2 fl. oz
  • For Sober Carpenter
    • Origin: Canada
    • Serving Size: 1 can (473mL) = 16 fl. oz.

My Non Alcoholic Beer Adventure

shopping for non alcoholic beer at a local liquor store

My quest wasn’t easy, and one I certainly didn’t take lightly. After quite a few trips to different liquor stores, here are some of my take-aways.

  • Most liquor stores don’t have a big selection of non-alcoholic beer. NA beers tend to either have their own separate door in the fridge or cooler, are merchandised alongside their alcoholic counterpart, or tucked away on the bottom shelf.
  • There are no sample pack options. Instead, you have to buy the entire case. This can certainly be a deterrent for someone who is wanting to try it before they buy it. A potential opportunity would be for liquor stores to give you the option to build a sample pack of NA beers.
  • Non alcoholic beer can be pricey. This is likely due to the fact that they must undergo additional production which requires more equipment, time, and labor.
  • It’s helpful to think of non alcoholic beer in two categories when comparing them to the real thing.
    • First category: As an alternative to the full alcoholic version
      • Examples: Coors Edge compared to Coors Light or Budweiser Zero compared to Budweiser.
    • Second category: Based upon style
      •  Examples: Wheat, Golden, IPA, Kolsch
ProofNoMore Non Alc Beverages

Best Practices for Trying Non Alcoholic Beer

I’ve complied some best practices to save you some time and energy.

  1. Order a sample pack online. Here’s why this can be beneficial for a few reasons.
    • You can search for brands or styles you enjoy and purchase one can or bottle to try.
    • Use the reviews as a guide. You can see the brands and styles other people are enjoying and can use those reviews to influence what you purchase.
    • You might be able to spend a little less money. You can build a bundle pack with a few ones to try. This can reduce the likelihood that cost is a factor.
    • You’re less tempted to pick up an alcoholic beverage or buy a case of beer. This can come in handy if you’re working towards lessening your alcohol intake and the temptations that come along with it.
  2. Ask a friend. You might already have one in your group that has ventured into the NA beer realm. Ask them! They probably have tried quite a few and could offer up a few suggestions.
  3. Order one at a brewery or out at dinner. More and more breweries and restaurants are serving up non alcoholic beer options. This might be the perfect opportunity to taste test one!
  4. Make it fun!
    • Swap alcoholic beverages with non-alcoholic ones on game days.
      • When we are distracted, we tend to mindlessly eat and drink, especially when we are watching our favorite sports team claim either victory or defeat. By choosing a NA beer, we can help reduce the likelihood of drinking too much and still enjoy the game. It’s a win-win!
    • Enjoy a Brews and Board Game Night.
      • Have your family and friends over to review non alcoholic beers and get competitive, playing some of your favorite old school classics.
    • Create a Char-brew-terie Board.
      • A charcuterie board is a selection of preserved meats and sometimes cheeses laid out on a board or platter, according to the Food Network.
      • With a char-brew-terie board, you can create the same concept as you would a charcuterie board mixed with a flight of NA beer. Unlock your inner foodie with these beer and food pairings!
        • Blond Ale + Monterey Jack Cheese
        • IPA + Spiced Almonds
        • PIlsner + Mild Cheddar Cheese + Crackers + Apple Slices
        • Wheat + Caprese Salad

Create your own sample pack!

Curious about trying different flavors but unsure of which one? Don’t want to invest your hard-earned cash into one case with one variety? ProofNoMore is an online retail store for the mindful drinker. With over 121 non alcoholic beer choices and counting, you can mix and match and create your own 12-pack. Here’s 10% off to kick off your new adventure! 🏈

Curating my Top Choices

After I trialed 20+ NA beers, I came up with my top non alcoholic beer list.

Every one of you will have a different opinion, preference, and choice (which is awesome)! To help the majority of you get off the starting block on your non alcoholic beer journey, I put some of those NA beer choices together for you.

Disclaimer: The choices and opinions expressed in the following list are mine and a few friends I recruited for my very informal non alcoholic beer review. With the help of a few local liquor stores and some amazing breweries, I was able to purchase and taste test a variety of brands + styles of NA beers.

While I hope this is just the beginning for breweries to continue to craft and create more non alcoholic options, I’m giving you my current top 10 favorites in no particular order.

Best Non Alcoholic Beer

  1. Best Day Brewing Kolsch
  2. Athletic Brewing Upside Dawn Golden Ale
  3. Guinness 0.0
  4. Samuel Adams Just the Haze IPA
  5. Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects Pils
  6. Heineken 0.0
  7. Corona Non-Alcoholic
  8. Sierra Nevada Trail Pass Golden
  9. Budweiser Zero
  10. Untitled Art Mango Dragonfruit Fruited Sour

Bottom Line

Non alcoholic beer is the sleeper in your Fantasy Football Draft. It’s up and coming, and you should jump on the trend before it hits the big leagues. It can be a simple switch that can make a substantial impact on your heart health, without having to compromise the fun, flavor, and camaraderie that comes alongside drinking beer. Cheers, my friends!


Need more support?! Join the team!

If you’re living with heart disease and looking to rebuild your strength, connect with others who understand the journey, and gain access to expert advice and resources, this community is for you.

Together, we’ll share tips, make forward progress, together, and take steps toward a healthier heart.

If you’re ready to level up your heart health, I’d love to recruit you to the HHL!

2 Comments

  1. Bert Romaguera

    Great article! I really appreciate the clear and detailed insights you’ve provided on this topic. It’s always refreshing to read content that breaks things down so well, making it easy for readers to grasp even complex ideas. I also found the practical tips you’ve shared to be very helpful. Looking forward to more informative posts like this! Keep up the good work!

    • Heather Shasa

      Thank you, Bert! Appreciate you stopping by, and glad you found this post helpful. Have a great day!

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