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Forbes
7 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Father's Day Gift Guide 2025: The Tastiest Non-Alcoholic Beers
Dale's non-alcoholic beer is part of the booming trend of NA and alcohol-free brews worldwide. It happens every year: it's January, you blink, and somehow, Father's Day is this weekend. For anyone hunting for something to bring (or even if you already have some great gifts lined up already), check out this list of non-alcoholic and alcohol-free beers. You won't be alone: according to an IWSR report released in May, volume was up 9%, and they 'forecast that it will surpass ale to become the second largest overall beer category by volume worldwide this year.' In this list, you'll see a number of names from major conglomerates, as well as a few smaller manufacturers, but before we crack the list open, here's a point of clarification: the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) defines a 'non-alcoholic' brew as having less than 0.5% ABV, while an 'alcohol free' offering must be 0.0% ABV. Also, none of these beers are technically 'beer'— according to the TTB, they're actually just a 'malt beverage' (but for the purposes of this list, we'll stick to saying 'beer.') Now that that's settled, here are some of the tastiest non-alcoholic beers worth cracking open this Father's Day, whether you're sipping together or doing a cheers from afar. Guinness 0 manages to preserve the rich, creamy taste of the original with less than 0.5% ABV. From Diageo—the same drinks giant behind everything from Johnnie Walker to Tanqueray—comes perhaps the most technically impressive NA beer on the market. Guinness 0 manages to preserve the thick, cascading pour, the creamy mouthfeel, and the malty coffee notes that make the original so beloved. It's made with the same ingredients as the standard draft, just with the alcohol gently removed after brewing. For stout fans, this one's hard to beat. Developed by AB InBev and brought to you (in the US, at least) by Constellation Brands, Corona's NA version sticks to its roots with a light, citrus-kissed body and that unmistakable beach-adjacent flavor. Priced at the same level as Corona Extra, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the difference in a blind tasting. The signature clear bottle is here, the lime suggestion is still valid, and the easy-drinking quality hasn't gone anywhere. It's best served outside, ideally next to a lawn chair. Years is the new kid on the block, based in the Midwest as a release from Pilot Project Brewing. They have a Pilsner and a Classic Pale Ale: the former is brewed with precision and gives a classic pils mouthfeel, while the latter offers a bright hops flavor with a smooth malt base. They're both delicious, but just a note: you might not be able to find them in bars outside their home region, but they ship all across the country. Designated Dale's NA Pils is a great NA offering from a legacy craft brewery. From Oskar Blues—the Longmont, Colorado-based brewery best known for putting craft beer in a can—comes this crisp, clean take on a pilsner that doesn't sacrifice flavor for functionality. Designated Dale's is a nod to their flagship Dale's Pale Ale, and while this one drops the ABV to less than 0.5%, it keeps the iconic flavor. There's a real beer texture here, a bready flavor, and a crisp snap on the finish. They're also the official sponsor of US Curling, which is a sport that really benefits from the ability to keep your balance on ice (or not). Co-founded by actor Tom Holland and CEO John Herman, Bero is a minimalist NA beer that comes with real European brewing cred. They have four total styles, with a new West Coast style IPA rolling out this year. They've also landed distribution deals with Target, Sprouts, and Total Wine, and their CEO says they're the top-selling NA beer on Amazon—so there's some real buzz behind this relatively new brand. Founded in 2017 and now one of the fastest-growing beverage brands in the U.S., Athletic Brewing is all-in on NA beer. Their Connecticut-based operation has everything from IPAs to stouts to seasonal releases, and the beers routinely win awards in both nonalcoholic and general craft categories. With Nielsen data from 2024 claiming that they hold 19% of the domestic NA beer market, Athletic doesn't just make good NA beer; they make good beer, period, and it shows. Heineken 0.0 is one of the oldest NA offerings from a major brewer, with a presence in the US market since 2019. One of the earliest legacy brands to take NA beer seriously—they've had a presence in the US market since 2019. Heineken put real resources behind 0.0 and it shows, with an NA lager that stacks up against of s, and pours and drinks like the classic green-bottled original. It's got a sweet grainy nose, a mild hop character, and a touch of bitterness on the finish to keep it grounded. If your dad's a longtime Heiny drinker, this will hit the mark. Best Day Brewing, a California-based outfit, specializes in funky NA beers that deliver some serious flavor. They're part of the new wave of NA producers treating the category seriously without forgetting to make it fun. Their Electro-Lime Cerca de Cerveza is particularly tasty, with a zippy hint of lime and a smooth mouthfeel that make it a refreshing summer swig. Find them in stores or get them shipped (unless you're in Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Kansas, Idaho, and Nebraska, for legal reasons). Owned by Asahi Group Holdings, the Italian stalwart Peroni has brought its famously crisp Euro-lager into the zero-proof world with serious fidelity. It smells and tastes nearly identical to the full-strength version, with a lean, dry body and a faint hop character. It's the kind of beer that feels just fancy enough for dinner but still works with pizza—or a grill weekend with Dad. Bottom line: Not every father wants or needs a buzz to enjoy their Father's Day. With this lineup, he can still have his beer moment, minus the next-day regret. Or the designated driving duties.
Montreal Gazette
13-05-2025
- Business
- Montreal Gazette
Guinness flows again at Hurley's Irish Pub after a long drought
The delivery truck pulled up in front of Hurley's Irish Pub at 9:47 a.m. Tuesday, and two workers began unloading what loyal customers at the popular Montreal drinking establishment had been thirsting after for more than a month: kegs of Guinness. It was the bar's second and longest drought of the legendary draft beer this year, as the iconic Irish brewery has been dealing with supply issues worldwide due to the surging popularity of its alcohol-free Guinness 0 and of the social media craze surrounding the Split the G drinking game, in which people try to calibrate their first gulp so that the beer line falls exactly in the gap of the G on a branded Guinness glass. Tuesday morning, with the goods safely chilling in Hurley's cold room, general manager Rod Applebee breathed a sigh of relief. 'It was 40 kegs and it felt good,' he said of the shipment. 'It felt good lifting them.' And it's going to feel good pouring and serving them. For more than five weeks, Hurley's staff had to explain the situation to each customer who ordered a Guinness — the Irish pub was all out of the No. 1 Irish beer — and gently guide them toward a can of Guinness or another brand of stout. Easier said than done. 'A Guinness drinker is a Guinness drinker,' Applebee said. '(People) were getting upset. They had to switch to cans, and the cans don't cut it. They're good, but they're not Guinness on tap.' The 40 kegs will last 'hopefully two weeks,' Applebee estimated. Next week, he plans to make another big order and to keep as much overstock as he can, just to be safe. 'With each order, I'll top up to 50 kegs,' he said. 'If I can find more (storage) space, I'll use it. Then if it does go out, I'll have a bit of a run to extend it. I hated hearing of other bars still having it. I was like, 'Man, that's just 'cause you don't sell it as quickly as us.' Irish pubs with several locations have an advantage, said bartender Douglas Nisbit, as they can move kegs from one location to another in case of a shortage. A giant inflatable Guinness pint was installed outside Hurley's Tuesday morning to celebrate the return of the bar's most popular brew, and the Guinness logos on the awnings over the patio could no longer be construed as false advertising. 'Guinness is us,' Applebee said. 'It's back, and hopefully for a long time.' Sitting on the patio at lunch hour, Rebecca Hare was blissfully unaware of just how lucky she was to be sipping the first pint of Guinness to emerge from Hurley's taps in over a month, to go with her hamburger. 'I live eight hours away, between London and Windsor,' said the mom, who had brought her six-year-old son Benjamin in for an MRI. Hare, who has an Irish harp tattooed on her inner left wrist, said: 'I love Hurley's and I love Montreal.' She also loves Guinness, which she said is 'the only dark beer that I drink.' She didn't know what she would have done if she had showed up a day earlier and not been able to order her favourite beer. 'I might have left,' Hare mused. Nisbit had the honour of pouring that first pint, complete with the pause before the final top-off to make it just so. 'It was good. It was perfect,' he said. 'It poured really well, actually. I thought it might be a bit warm. If it's too warm, it foams; but it was fine.' And all was well in the world.
