Disclaimer: This is NOT the final answer, but it has become a clear option for IPA consumption for me! IPAs are my favorite and can have up to 8% alcohol, which can put me in the shitter, quickly!
One of my favorite things to do when traveling is trying the local beer. There are microbreweries in every city, so I can try them during my visits and have done so over the years. Honestly, I never really considered NA beer until trying them and realizing how good they are and better yet, how they don’t make me feel.
I get the same feeling of drinking a beer while watching the game, with no hangovers or questionable decisions. Talk about a win-win-win!
I have tried quite a few NA IPAs, and I will share my thoughts in this post in hopes that you give them a chance. One of the first IPAs on my market that I remember is Lagunitas.
These have put me under the table more times than I would like to admit, and I quit drinking them years ago.
It wasn’t hard to dig up an old Lagunitas picture, I did ding all, including my liver (LOL). The Lagunitas India Pale Ale (6.2% alc): 190 calories per 12 fl oz 🤪
The next picture was the first time I tried a similar NA version, and what an amazing surprise. Here is the description from their website, and you can find more information by clicking here:
“With the rising need for more near-beer, and with Hazys taking over beer fridges, our clever brewers did the math and put the two and two together and gave you .05% and 60 calories. Enter Hazy IPNA, a flavorfully juicy non-alc option that’s packed with passionfruit flavor. It’s bright and hoppy like our IPNA, only this time we went crazy hazy and tropically hoppy. It’s everything you want in a refreshingly satisfying IPA…It has all of the juicy flavor, all of the haze, and none of the compromise.”
I have tried other brands and find myself at Total Wine package store looking for new ones, Google and here is a “Top 10” and “Top 12” I found to during my research to try to keep this momentum.
The next on my list of favorites is Guinness NA. I have also had a few of the original, including tasting them right from the Brewery in Dublin, Ireland, where I acquired the unique taste. This NA tastes almost the same, and it was a staple for me during the Edmonton Oilers’ run during the hockey playoffs in 2025.
The secret to keeping this trend going is finding different flavors in the fridge to avoid a beer run.
My first serious attempt was spending ~$80, which is basically the same price as regular beer. 😐
The winners in this order were Guinness, which I already mentioned, Partake IPA, Sober Carpenter IPA, Athletic IPA, and then the far right Athletic, which was ok with a lime but watered down version of beer. It did taste great with Clamato, which was a win to keep around.
This is when I knew I was onto something awesome! I then started researching the best IPAs and found Go Brewing, and they delivered right to my front door for FREE. Below is $96 in NA beer with 20% off promo, which worked out to under $2 a beer. They had the best rating on IPAs, but unfortunately, they were not as good as Lagunitas, but glad I ordered them as I now have a legitimate favorite.
I have had some people congratulate me on switching to NA beer, while others ask, “What’s the Point?”.
Well, after taking a break from real beer, here is how it helped me so far:
1. I have been to the gym/spa almost every day for the last two months.
(Steam, sauna, cold plunge, hot tub on repeat for 2-3 hours)
2. I set up my cardio at home and work out every morning before the gym.
3. I have not had a hangover for the last two months.
(I haven’t been back to Mexico since, but I have already packed a NA cooler). 😐
4. The best of all, I feel fantastic, and people are starting to notice my weight loss.
Admittedly, I have always been a fad person my whole life, and this may be no different.
I have lost/gained many times over the years, which is something that does not stick long term. It has to be a lifestyle change, and a routine takes a lot longer than two months to show 100% commitment. The first thing I mentioned in this blog is that it is not a replacement but an alternative that has been working for me.
Another good reason is to let you know that I am headed to Mexico soon and Oktoberfest in two months, which will be a good test of this fad. A German friend told me that they do sell NA beer in Munich and there is a NA tequila that I will take to Mexico in my cooler of hope, but I will have real beer there in moderation.
Other than Margaritas and the odd Bloody Mary/Caesar, I do not drink alcohol, but you can see that there are NA options, including Ritual and Free Spirits brands. Ritual is the number 1 seller of “Mocktail” replacements, as they use it in bars, from my understanding. Here is a YouTube video I found, and making a mocktail margarita:
If this is something that has piqued your interest, I found another company that creates fancy Mocktails. Some are even premade as testers and their website can be found here:
I will update my blog after Mexico and Oktoberfest, as I often do with my blogs.
Here are the NA beers I have tried with links, and I will also continue to update.
Penn’s best (Less than half price compared to others – $3.99 six pack – most others $10+)
What is your favorite NA feel-good beer so I can add it to my list?