It’s time to dust off your high school Spanish because we’re going south of the border for this review. Okay, not exactly, but I am testing a Mexican-inspired light copper beer: Athletic Brewing’s Cerveza Atletica Light Copper.
This brew is designed for summertime drinking and pairs well with Mexican staples like salsa and fish tacos. Here are my tasting notes in this Athletic Brewing Cerveza Atletica review.

A Quick Look Cerveza Atletica Light Copper
Cerveza Atletica is a Mexican-inspired light copper beer brewed with Vienna and Munich malts and a noble hop, German Hersbrucker. Together, these ingredients provide a rich coppery color and a flavor profile containing bread, spice, and floral notes.
While light in body, Cerveza Atletica is not light on taste. I recommend this beer for a hot day refreshment or to pair it with your favorite Mexican dishes.
Athletic Brewing Cerveza Atletica Review
Looks & Aroma
As you would expect from a light copper beer, Cerveza Atletica pours a clear coppery color. As a comparison, it has a similar color to iced tea and Negra Modelo, a popular beer out of Mexico.
There was a one-finger foamy beige head with moderate retention, lasting about one minute.
I found the aroma subtle and a bit hard to describe. There are definitely bready notes and a bit of hoppy bitterness, plus some freshness reminiscent of grass and flowers.
The carbonation seemed fairly light without being lazy.

Taste
Cerveza Atletica’s flavor profile is similar to those found in medium-bodied Mexican beers, albeit with some important differences.
The bready notes and hops from the nose are present, in addition to a mix of spices, caramel, and just a touch of apple.
The mouthfeel was medium and definitely didn’t give away the fact that this is a non-alcoholic beer. The finish was smooth and malty.
If I had to compare this brew to another beer, I’d say it tastes more like a light Mexican beer or the Athletic Lite. As a Mexican lager, I would say it is hitting all the right notes.
Customer Reviews
To give you a more well-rounded review, I went looking for customer reviews on BeerAdvocate. Overall, Cerveza Atletica has a 80-out-of-100 rating on BeerAdvocate with more than 20 customer reviews.
Reading through these reviews, I can see that most of the reviewers found it to be a decent non-alcoholic lager that is great for light drinking – which is exactly what this beer is all about (not complex flavors).
Cerveza Atletica Ingredients
Cerveza Atletica contains water, organic Vienna malt, malted barley, wheat, hops, and yeast.
Vienna Malt provides a malty sweetness and aroma, creating a subtle biscuit flavor. What’s more, it adds rich, golden hues to the final product, something that’s perfect for a copper beer like Cerveza Atletica.
The hop used is German Hersbrucker, a noble hop known for its spice, fruit, and floral characteristics. These hops are also used in pilsners, lagers, and bocks, among others.
Cerveza Atletica Calories
A 12oz/355mL serving of Cerveza Atletica contains 60 calories, 14g of carbohydrates, 1g of protein, and 0g of fat.
The calories are on the high side of normal for non-alcoholic beers but still reasonable. I do find the number of carbs pretty high but I guess that’s to be expected.
Avg Quantity Per Serving (12 oz/ 355 ml) | |
---|---|
Calories | 60 kcal |
Carbohydrates | 14g |
Protein | 1g |
Fat | 0g |

Final Verdict Of My Athletic Brewing Cerveza Atletica Review
I tried Cerveza Atletica not long after sipping Athletic Lite, the company’s light beer. While their flavor profiles are distinct, they do have a few things in common. Both are incredibly refreshing and light without being watery.
While neither one made me want to pound another can immediately, I could definitely see myself sipping on Cerveza Atletica after a sweaty workout.
Cerveza Atletica confounded me more than a lot of non-alcoholic beers I’ve tried. That’s mainly because I’m not totally sure how to classify it.
Although the color appears to be dark, the body and flavor profile are lighter than my initial expectations. Additionally, this beer offers a wide range of flavors, and you can definitely taste the mix of hops, malts, and florals, making it more intricate than typical Mexican beers.
Still, I thought Cerveza Atletica was tasty enough and I know it would be the perfect addition to a summertime cookout.
Where to Buy Athletic Brewing Cerveza Atletica
For those located in the United States, Proof No More carries Cerveza Atletica in singles, 4-packs, 6-packs, 12-packs, and 24-packs.
Other Cerveza Atletica FAQs
Is Cerveza Atletica Gluten-Free?
Cerveza Atletica contains malted barley and wheat, neither of which are suitable for those on a gluten-free diet.
If you can’t drink this beer, don’t despair, we’ve got plenty of other gluten-free options. See all of them in our Ultimate Guide To Gluten-Free Non-Alcoholic Beer.
Is Cerveza Atletica Alcohol-Free?
Like all of Athletic Brewing’s products, Cerveza Atletica contains less than 0.5% ABV. While not technically alcohol-free, this amount of alcohol is negligible. Essentially, it’s the amount you’d find in a cup of yogurt or a glass of apple juice.
That means you absolutely cannot get drunk off of this beer, no matter how much you drink.
Athletic Brewing’s products are fully brewed. In other words, nothing is removed using distillation or reverse osmosis. Rather, these beers have a low ABV from the start.
Brewers prefer this technique because it preserves the flavors of the beer while allowing them to remain alcohol-free.
Is Cerveza Atletica Vegan?
Athletic Brewing is a fully vegan company, meaning that none of its products contain animal products or byproducts. As proof of this commitment to vegan brewing, all of Athletic Brewing’s products have the Vegan stamp on them.
If you can’t get enough of vegan non-alcoholic beers, then check out our picks for 10 of The Best Vegan Non-Alcoholic Beers.
Did you love this Athletic Brewing Cerveza Atletica review? Then check out more of our Athletic Brewing non-alcoholic beer reviews here:
A complex Mexican-style brew perfect for hot days and taco buffets.