Non-alcoholic beer has surged in popularity over the past few years, with new brands and styles hitting the shelves faster than ever. But if you’ve ever taken a close look at the labels, you might have noticed that many so-called “non-alcoholic” beers still contain up to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). That might leave you wondering: are there any completely alcohol-free beers? The answer is yes—but with some caveats.
Understanding the 0.5% ABV Rule
In the U.S., beverages containing 0.5% ABV or less can be legally labeled as “non-alcoholic.” There are slightly different rules around the world, especially in the UK. This standard exists because traditional brewing methods make it difficult to remove every trace of alcohol.
Even foods like ripe bananas and kombucha contain small amounts of alcohol. Yeast naturally ferments sugars to make alcohol in many of the foods and drinks we consume that we don’t typically think of as “alcoholic”.
- Grape Juice — 0.29% – 0.86% ABV
- Apple Juice — 0.06% – 0.66% ABV
- Orange Juice — 0.16% – 0.73% ABV
- Wheat Rolls — 0.14% ABV
- Wheat and Rye Bread — 0.29% ABV
- Burger Rolls (American Style) — 1.28% ABV
But for those who want to avoid even trace amounts, options do exist.
Alcohol-Free Beers: Do They Exist?
Yes! Some breweries have developed technologies to remove all alcohol from their beer, producing a truly 0.0% ABV beverage. These beers go through advanced dealcoholization processes like vacuum distillation or reverse osmosis, ensuring that no alcohol remains while still preserving flavor.
Macro Brands like Heineken, Guinness, Budweiser, and Stella Artois have released dealcoholized versions of their beers that are certified alcohol-free. In the craft beer world, there have been only a few completely alcohol-free brands. Below are 3 well-known alcohol-free brands on the market in the US (not a full list).
Ceria Brewing, founded by Blue Moon brewmaster, Keith Villa, produces completely alcohol-free craft beers. Their Grainwave Belgian Wheat and Indiewave IPA are both great 0.00% ABV craft options.
Atmosphere Brewery, based in New York and brewed in Germany, makes a 0.0% ABV pilsner. It is brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot, a German purity law that originally limited the ingredients used to brew beer to water, barley, hops, and yeast.
Hairless Dog, the first domestic craft 0.0% beer on the market in the US, was founded in 2016 by Minnesotans Paul Pirner and Jeff Hollander. They offer four 0.0% options: an IPA, Rose, Black Ale, and Citra Lager.
Who Might Prefer Alcohol-Free Beer?
There are plenty of reasons why someone might opt for a beer with absolutely no alcohol:
- Pregnant individuals who want to enjoy a beer-like experience safely.
- People in recovery from alcohol dependency who want to avoid even trace amounts.
- Designated drivers who need to ensure complete sobriety.
- Religious or health-conscious drinkers avoiding all alcohol for personal reasons.
- And, our personal favorite — Just because!
Where to Find Alcohol-Free Beers
Completely alcohol-free beers are becoming easier to find, especially in well-stocked liquor stores, supermarkets, and specialty beverage shops.
Online retailers also offer a variety of 0.0% beers, making it more convenient to try different brands from around the world.
Discover AF/NA Options
While most non-alcoholic beers contain up to 0.5% ABV, truly alcohol-free beers do exist. If you’re looking for a beverage that contains absolutely no alcohol, there are some great macro and craft options. With more innovation in the non-alcoholic beer space, it’s likely that we’ll see even more 0.0% ABV options in the future!
Looking for recommendations? Join NA Beer Club and explore the best alcohol-free and non-alcoholic beers on the market!
