Just as with full-strength beers, IPAs dominate the non-alcoholic beer scene—but not for long if non-alcoholic lagers have anything to say about it.
As an IPA-head, I was surprised to find myself enjoying some of these non-alcoholic lagers.
If you’re ready to shake up your drinking routine, then check out this list of the our favorite non-alcoholic lagers I’ve tried.
I compare different non-alcoholic lagers from the United States and the UK and rate them for their overall crushability, aroma, and taste.
Winner: The tastiest non-alcoholic lager I tried is Athletic Brewing Lite. It is light like a Pilsner or a Helles lager, but there is a subtle complexity to the flavors and the body is not insipid like many light beers. See my full review below.
What To Expect From A Non-Alcoholic Lager
Lagers are known for being light, crisp, smooth, and refreshing, with a slight malt sweetness and not much hoppy taste or bitterness.
This mild beer-style is often recommend for new beer drinkers or those who do not like bitter beers.
Non-alcoholic lagers stay true to the style, and you can expect a non-alcoholic lager to pour a light straw yellow and have a light, crisp, and smooth mouthfeel.
In general, I really enjoyed:
- Untitled Art Italian Pilsner for having a delicious slightly-more-complex flavor profile than many Pilsners
- Grüvi Non-Alcoholic Golden Lager for being crisp and well-balanced
- Heineken 0.0 for a clean, crisp lager at a very affordable price
Our #1 Pick: Athletic Brewing Lite – 4/5 Stars
I chose Athletic Lite as my favorite non-alcoholic lager pick because it successfully sidestepped the usual pitfalls of light beers.
Due to previous negative experiences with light beers, I had anticipated it to be tasteless and unpleasant.
Here, the flavors are subtle, its profile is uncomplicated yet interesting, and its body is light but not insipid.
Athletic Lite is a beer that has a similar style to a pilsner or a Helles lager, with a light flavor. However, it should not be mistaken for Coors Lite or Miller Light.
Read here for my full Athletic Brewing Lite review.
Order from non-alcoholic drink retailer Proof No More (within United States)
2. Untitled Art Italian Style Pils – 4/5 Stars
Wisconsin’s Untitled Art rarely disappoints me with their non-alcoholic beers, and this Italian Pilsner is another NA beer from them that I enjoy often.
It is crisp, malty, with a light touch of sweetness – everything I expect from a good non-alcoholic lager.
The taste of Italian Style Pils reminds me of Peroni, with its notes of malt, honey, orange, and floral coming through strongly before a semi-dry finish.
I definitely think this non-alcoholic beer is miles ahead of many non-alcoholic Pilsners.
Read our full review of Untitled Art Italian Pils here.
Order from non-alcoholic drink retailer Proof No More (within United States)
3. Lucky Saint Unfiltered Lager – 4/5 Stars
When I’m in the UK, I always pick up a few bottles of Lucky Saint lagers.
I think it is one of the better brewed non-alcoholic lagers in the UK right now, with its crisp and clean malty taste, slightly citrus note, and a touch of sourness.
Lagers are not known for being very complex or hoppy in taste, and I like that Lucky Saint is challenging that with a slightly more hoppy lager.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer ZeroZilchZip (within the UK).
4. Grüvi Non-Alcoholic Golden Lager – 4/5 Stars
Denver-based Grüvi’s Golden Lager is a 2022 World Beer Cup Awards Winner and it’s easy to see why.
I love how crisp, clean, and refreshing this non-alcoholic lager tastes, with a nice malt background and just a bit of honey to make it taste exciting.
The flavor is classic and familiar, and I found it easy to knock back a few while lazing around in the sun.
Read my full review of Grüvi Golden here.
Order direct from Gruvi (within United States)
5. Drop Bear New World Lager – 3.5/5 Stars
This Welsh non-alcoholic lager is the only India pale lager on this list, and that means it tastes more like an IPA than a pilsner or a lager. I like it so much that I’ bought’ll buy multiple cans whenever I visit the UK.
Drop Bear New World Lager is made with a combination of Motueka, Rakau, and Wai-iti hops (all from New Zealand), plus a combination of Lager and Vienna barley malt.
It is malty with notes of wholemeal toast and citrus mandarin orange. I’ll recommend this non-alcoholic lager if you’re looking for a satisfying replacement for an IPA or a British bitter.
If you’re hoping for a classic lager taste, look elsewhere.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Dry Drinker (within the UK).
6. BrewDog Lost AF Lager – 3.5/5 Stars
I’ve tried different BrewDog non-alcoholic beers, including their very juicy Elvis AF, and have found BrewDog beers to be consistently satisfying even if they are not the best tasting alcohol-free beers.
The Lost AF alcohol-free lager is a UK-only edition, and it has a light body with a slightly fuller mouthfeel thanks to the added lactose.
It is crisp and malty, with a light citrus lemon and grapefruit presence.
The finish has a long bitterness, which is satisfying for those who love lingering hop bitterness from their beers.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Dry Drinker (within the UK).
7. Jump Ship Brewing Yardarm Lager – 3.5/5 Stars
I got the chance to try this Scottish non-alcoholic lager and was very surprised by how crisp and balanced the flavors are. Floral wheat, biscuity malt, and citrusy hops all make an appearance.
Jump Ship Yardam Lager is made using Citra and Austrian Styrian Bobek hops, both of which give the beer a strong hop flavor – uncharacteristic of a lager.
It’s no wonder this brew won the gold for best non-alcoholic lager in the world at the 2021 World Beer Awards.
Check out our full review of Yardarm here.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailer Dry Drinker (within the UK).
8. Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects Hoppy Amber – 3/5 Stars
I like Brooklyn Brewery’s Special Effects Hoppy Amber because it is simple, affordable, and has a decent flavor to make for a pleasant drinking experience.
This American Amber lager is made from Caramel and Munich malts plus a blend of Mosaic, Citra, and Amarillo hops.
The taste is fresh, sweet, and tropical with a bit of cereal maltiness hanging out in the background. There is a decent amount of body for a non-alcoholic beer and just enough carbonation to give it a nice mouthfeel.
I don’t think it is the #1 non-alcoholic lager out there, but there are days when I want a crisp, malty lager that is not a Bud Zero – and this is one of my favorite picks.
Read my full Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects Hoppy Amber review.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailers Proof No More (within United States) and Dry Drinker (within the UK).
9. Rescue Club Brewing Pils – 3/5 Stars
When I think of the classic Pilsner taste and aroma, I get that with Rescue Club Pils. This is a classic Pilsner-style NA beer with lots of malts and subtle hops.
It has the aroma of German hops and roasted malt, with a malt-forward flavor and a subtle aftertaste of German hops.
I found the mouthfeel satisfyingly light and the finish is crisp and clean. I think this non-alcoholic Pilsner is perfect for a hot day or any outdoor activity.
Order from non-alcoholic drink retailer Proof No More (within United States)
10. Heineken 0.0 – 3/5 Stars
I am often let down by the taste of mass-produced non-alcoholic beers, but Heineken 0.0 is one of my regular non-alcoholic beers.
Like the alcoholic Heineken, Heineken 0.0 is not going to be the tastiest non-alcoholic lager you’ll try. But it is crisp, light, and lager-like with a blend of cereal malts and fruity hops.
If you enjoy 5% ABV Heineken, then there’s a good chance you’ll also like the brand’s non-alcoholic version. In fact, you might not even be able to tell the difference between the two.
Read our full review of the Heineken 0.0.
Order from non-alcoholic drinks retailers Proof No More (within United States) and Dry Drinker (within the UK).
11. AL’s Classic Non-Alcoholic Lager – 2.5/5 Stars
I’ve included AL’s Classic in this list because it’s an all-around solid option when you’re looking for a light, crushable non-alcoholic lager.
It is marketed as a non-alcoholic dive bar beer, which I agree after having the chance to try it: the flavors won’t wow you, but you will easily drink one after another.
It gives off the familiarity of a good old-fashioned American lager, and I found it to be an insanely drinkable non-alcoholic beer that almost everyone will love.
It is soft and floral while somehow also being crisp and refreshing.
Read my full AL’s Classic non-alcoholic lager review.
Order from non-alcoholic drink retailer Proof No More (within United States)
Which Non-Alcoholic Lager Will You Try?
Thanks to their lightness and drinkability, lagers are solid go-to beers when you want to throw back a few.
Hopefully, this list of our favorite non-alcoholic lagers has inspired you to try out a new boozeless option.
Also Read: 30 Best Non-Alcoholic Beers: IPAs, Lagers, Stouts, and More