Athletic Brewing Review

I’ve wanted to try Athletic Brewing for a while. I rarely drink (for no reason it’s just not something that comes to mind or that I feel like I miss). Occasionally I have a beer, but that’s about it. I’ve heard good things about Athletic Brewing, so I was excited to try it. They’ve been around for a while, and it’s a fun alternative if you don’t want to water.

About Athletic Brewing:

Athletic Brewing makes non-alcoholic beer you want to drink, and it’s brewed with the same ingredients as regular beer. It’s been featured in several magazines and media, such as Thrillest and Outside.

But is Athletic Brewing good?

Athletic Brewing was founded in 2018 by John Walker and Bill Shufelt. They wanted to create a non-alcoholic beer that didn’t taste stale or gross. It took over two years to formulate the right formula. Athletic Brewing now features fermented beer with .5% ABV.

They don’t just make beer; they now make hops-infused sparkling water and merchandise. But the bread and butter is beer.

About Athletic Brewing Beer:

Athletic Brewing now makes five different craft beers as well as seasonal and limited editions. I tried three out of the five, and I’m looking forward to eventually trying the other two. They all have less than 100 calories and taste the most similar to the beer of any non-alcoholic drink I’ve tried.

So why non-alcoholic beer?

It’s like decaf coffee. This is a good option if you like beer’s flavor and don’t necessarily want alcohol. Or maybe you don’t want to drink.

How is Athletic Brewing Made?

It’s made similar to standard brewing but with 12 different updates. They purposefully stayed away from the traditional non-alcoholic brewing methods. According to their website, their method is an innovative, proprietary method of brewing beer without alcohol.

Flavors I tried:

Run Wild IPA:

If you’re a fan of IPAs, you’ll probably be a fan of the Run Wild IPA. The Run Wild is slightly fruity and made with 5 Northwest hops. The Northwest Hops gives a slight bitterness that pairs well with the sweetness of the malt. Each of the Run Wild IPAs only has 70 calories. I let my spouse try and sip, and he didn’t even realize it was non-alcoholic. Am I a fan of it because there is a cat on it or because it tastes good… you’ll never know.

Upside Dawn Golden Ale:

This light golden ale combines floral notes with an earthy flavor to offer a balanced brew. Many people will recognize a blend of English and American Hops for a unique taste. I did not, but then again, I am not a beer expert. Unique is an understatement, although I did enjoy the Upside Dawn Golden Ale.

Free Wave Hazy:

When I first saw it was “great for road trips,” I was shocked. Why on Earth say that? But then I remembered it is non-alcoholic. The Free Wave Hazy combines flavors of Amarillo, Mosaic, and Citrus hops. Of any of the Athletic Brewing I tried, it had the most taste. It’s my second favorite behind the Run Wild IPA.

Athletic Brewing Cost: 6 packs for $13.99

It’s not the most expensive comparable beer out there, but it’s also not cheap. The cost for quality probably is the best value.

Subscribing:

Athletic Brewing does have a subscription service, and you can save 15% on the beer. There is no fee to join commitment; if you aren’t happy, you can pause or cancel anytime.

Athletic Brewing Conclusion:

Of any non-alcoholic beers I’ve tried, Athletic Brewing is probably the closest to tasting like real beer. Not just that, it tastes good. I had so many different nonalcoholic drink copycats that tasted bad. We want something that tastes decent. I’m definitely interested in trying the stout as that is my usual type of beer.