Non-alcoholic beers seem to be trending everywhere you look. I’ll be honest, I hadn’t really tried non-alcoholic beer until I was pregnant. I guess I’d never really thought about it before. What’s exciting is that it has pushed me into exploring this new beverage market! (and now I get to share it with you!)

I’m one of those people who drinks partly because of the social aspect, but also because I enjoy the taste. Other than a few virgin cocktails, there aren’t a lot of non-alcoholic versions of alcoholic beverages out there, so what’s a girl to do?! This was easy for me because I was a beer drinker long before I was pregnant, so having so many new options open to me in this life stage has been great.

Whether you’re pregnant or someone who loves beer but doesn’t want to consume alcohol for really any reason – if you love craft beers, classic American brews or the finer flavours of Europe, I’ve found a non-alcoholic beer for you!

Here are a few of my favorite non-alcoholic beers for you to try!

Heineken 0.0

Heineken is one of the largest beer brands in the world and as such, is readily available almost everywhere you go. On a recent trip to Europe, I found it to be the most commonly found non-alcoholic beer at restaurants, bars and markets.

What I love about Heineken 0.0 is that it actually tastes like Heineken. You don’t realize that you’re drinking the non-alcoholic version of their beer (other than the fact that you don’t feel the effects of alcohol!). It comes in a nice glass bottle with the same packaging that you’d expect from Heineken’s other beverage products.

Grolsch 0.0% + Grolsch Radler 0.0%

If you’re looking for a beer with hop and slight bitterness then this is the pick for you. I was an occasional drinker of Grolsch prior to seeking non-alcoholic alternatives, so I already had a history with the Dutch beer. Learning that it came in a non-alcoholic version was kismet for me. Grolsch 0.0% tastes just like its original Premium Pilsner counterpart!

Now, one of the hardest beer varieties to find in a non-alcoholic offering has got to be the Radler. Radlers are a summer staple and brunch favourite for me so you can imagine how excited I was to stumble upon the Grolsch Radler 0.0%. Its natural lemon flavour is light and refreshing without being too sweet – everything you need on a hot summer day.

Budweiser Prohibition Brew

If you aren’t familiar with Budweiser then you’re not familiar with beer! I first tried their non-alcoholic beer because I was curious and you know what? It tastes just like Bud! My biggest wish is that they’d make a Bud Light Prohibition Brew!

What I love about the Budweiser Prohibition Brew is that it is easy to find just about anywhere. They were one of the first of the big brands to enter the non-alcoholic beer space and are one of the most prevalent brands in beer in general. Attending a sporting event or a festival of some kind? Budweiser Prohibition Brew is likely what you’re going to find!

Partake Brewing

I was recently approached directly by Partake Brewing to give their brews a try for review. and what I found is that there’s so much to love about this Canadian craft beer brand! Let’s start with that – if you are someone who enjoys craft beers, then Partake is likely the non-alcoholic brand for you.

Partake Brewing currently offers four different varieties: Stout, IPA, Pale and Blonde with new brews launching soon (stay tuned!). Although they’re all good, my favourites are the Blonde and the Pale but that’s just based on preference (plus I’m writing this in the summer). I really liked the traditional craft ‘hoppiness’ of the IPA and the Stout is perhaps the only non-alcoholic stout that I’ve come across.

Can’t decide? Try one of their Discovery Packs! 

I think one of the most noteworthy things to mention about Partake’s brews is that they are low-carb and low-gluten: You might remember that pre-pregnancy I was doing a ketogenic-style diet. Let me assure you that with most brands that no-alcohol does not mean low/no-carbs! (I’m a label reader). I also noticed that their beers are significantly lower in gluten than others in their market which is also something worth noting.

Just a side note for all the pregnant ladies out there – this means no/less bloating when you drink beer and we all know that there’s only so much space in our bellies right now!

What I Love About Non-Alcoholic Beer

Easy to Find

Non-alcoholic beers are really easy to find. Many of them are available at your local liquor store, but they’re also available at the grocery store, too, making them super convenient to pick up. When I first started exploring this, I was astounded by the stock selection at my local supermarket! (Note: If you’re from the USA and you’re reading this, we don’t sell alcohol of any kind at our supermarkets in Canada).

Big Variety

As you’ve seen in this blog post, there aren’t just the two or three options you used to find next to the pop in the grocery store. You’re now able to find the big brands you love and even some craft beer options in non-alcoholic versions. One thing I would keep in mind, though, is to read the labels – some beers are classified as ‘non-alcoholic’ but still contain 0.5% alcohol (none of the aforementioned are in that category).

There’s No Alcohol (Obviously)

There’s a few reasons to ditch the alcohol content that don’t include pregnancy. Maybe you’re a big beer lover but you don’t want the alcohol. You’re out watching the game but you’ve got a drive ahead of you or a long to-do list that starts early the next day. You want to enjoy a beer with your buds but you’re on call for work. You’re playing in a full-day sports tournament to which drinking beer is a natural complement, but you want to have your full wits about you for the game (and you want to last all day!).

Whatever your reason for skipping the booze but keeping the beer, I hope that these options will fit your tastes and lifestyle!