by Libation Staff |
Last Updated: June 8, 2021 For all the beer lovers who are after a healthy, alcohol-free lifestyle, we suggest you give non-alcoholic beer a try. But, of course, not all things are created equal, and that goes for non-alcoholic beers as well. Drinking non-alcoholic beer is an exciting way to satisfy your beer cravings while maintaining a healthy alcohol-free lifestyle. And you’ll be surprised at how deliciously inventive and satisfying these are. That is why today we’ve selected Athletic Brewing, an innovative craft beer company with some fantastic products.
What You Must Know About The Athletic Brewing Company
The Athletic Brewing Company (company site) began as an idea by Bill Shufelt, a beer enthusiast who realized that non-alcoholic craft beers are an excellent option for the people who drank their share of alcohol but still like the taste of beer.
Bill was like any young man who liked to party and enjoy one-to-many drinks with friends. But his lifestyle caught up with him, and he changed his eating and drinking habits, cutting alcohol from his life. However, he still enjoyed hanging out with friends, visiting bars/restaurants, and many other social events. But, when he looked closely, there were so few healthy refreshing drinking options.
Realizing the gap in the market, he started his craft beer company in 2017, naming it Athletic Brewing. He later joined forces with John Walker, an accomplished craft brewer, and produced non-alcoholic craft beers. The idea was to offer refreshing non-alcoholic beers that taste good, and people enjoy.
The home base is in Stratford, Connecticut, where their taproom can be visited. Any beer enthusiast can get a tour around the facility and meet the team behind Athletic Brewing.
The Brewing Process
To bring healthy, non-alcoholic craft beers to the consumers, the Athletic Brewing Company has set up a craft beer production process. Bill and John, the founder and co-founder, respectively, made over 100 recipes using small, home-brewing equipment to refine and perfect their product.
After they found the perfect blend, they built the production facility, customizing each aspect to fit the brand’s needs. At first glance, the production process does not seem any different than any other brewery. Like all other beer production, they use barley, water, yeast, and hops, but they use mostly certified organic grains.
However, looking closer, the Athletic Brewing production process involves a careful de-alcoholization process –10+ steps to carefully remove the alcohol, leaving the delicate ferments and compounds responsible for its unique, refreshing flavor.
We need to note here that the Athletic Brewing Company’s beers are considered non-alcoholic, as they contain about 0.2 to 0.3% ABV, which is below the rating for non-alcoholic drinks of 0.5% ABV. This amount of alcohol is so low that it’s nearly impossible to get intoxicated while drinking these drinks.
Because these beers are made from healthy, organic ingredients, they are considered healthy drinks. Beer naturally is rich in vitamins, minerals, and fibers; it is also rich in electrolytes and has excellent hydrating properties. In addition, because it has almost no alcohol, the non-alcoholic beer has a low-calorie count, making it a perfect refreshing option to support a healthy lifestyle.
The Athletic Brewing Company’s Products
The Athletic Brewing Company produces several non-alcoholic beers and seltzers. Here is an overview of all their products.
Non-Alcoholic Beers
Here is a list with descriptions for all the Athletic Brewing Company’s non-alcoholic beers:
Run Wild Ipa – This is among the best non-alcoholic IPA craft beers on the market today. This beer is crafted with a blend of different hops and has an appealing bitterness and malty body.
Upside Dawn Golden Age – This beer has a refreshing, balanced light body, floral and earthy aroma, and is made from Vienna Malt and English and American hops. It is crafted to remove gluten.
Cerveza Athletica – This is a refreshing Mexican Light Copper Lager, a beer made with Vienna and Munich malts. It has a coppery hue, bread aromas, and spicy and floral notes. It is an excellent option for summertime refreshment, and it pairs well with salsa and tacos.
Free Wave Hazy IPA – This is a tasty IPA made from a blend of hops that provide recognizable flavors and aroma, and it’s an excellent option for free-spirited people who enjoy the open sky.
All Out Stout – a dark beer blend with a full-body and roast-y finish, with coffee and bittersweet chocolate notes. It is recommended for cold weather and pairs well with savory dishes and sweet desserts.
Downwinder Gose – This is a light, refreshing, light-bodied beer with soft wheat and crisp tart flavors and sea salt, coriander, and lime leaf scents. A great option for satisfying your thirst on hot days.
Wit’s Peak Witbier – Made as an homage to the traditional Witbier, this beer has a refreshing flavor and fresh aroma of citrus, coriander, and wheat.
Rainbow Wall – This beer is produced as the 2021 Pride Month Brew and was made in collaboration with LGBTQI+ pro-climber Alex Johnson. It reminds slightly of Blood Orange IPA, and it has recognizable citrusy, crisp aromas.
Seltzers
The Athletic Brewing Company has a few seltzers that they offer as well. These drinks are refreshing – sparkling water infused with hops and fruit flavors. These are named DayPack for the pack hikers and other outdoor adventurers take on their day tours.
The seltzers come in four flavors: lemon-lime with hops, mango with hops, blood orange with hops, and black cherry with hops. You can order a single flavor 6-pack or in a “Don’t get back before sunset” mixed pack.
Athletic Brewing Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Non-alcoholic beers with an impressive taste
- Good selection of seltzers
- US-based ingredients and production
- Relatively affordable price
- Free shipping on larger orders
Cons:
- A bit on the pricey side for some
- No international shipping
The Bottom Line: Athletic Brewing Is A Great Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer
The founder of Athletic Brewing, Bill Shufelt, believes in a healthy lifestyle, but at the same time, wants to enjoy a beer. So he created the company and focused his efforts on making fantastic craft beers with less than 0.5% ABV for a guilt-free, healthy option for all beer lovers.
From everything we’ve seen, read, and tried about the Athletic Brewing Company, we can say that they’ve filled a gap in the market with excellent non-alcoholic beers that taste great. So many people agree with us and have turned to drink healthy, non-GMO, non-alcoholic beers made by Athletic Brewing. Perhaps you should as well!