Athletic Brewing: The Complete Guide
Athletic Brewing has become one of the most important names in the entire alcohol-free beer industry.
What started as a niche American startup has grown into arguably the world’s most recognisable dedicated alcohol-free craft brewery. Unlike traditional beer companies that later added a low or no-alcohol option, Athletic Brewing was built entirely around non-alcoholic beer from day one — and that focus shows in the quality of the beers.
Today, Athletic Brewing is:
- the leading non-alcoholic craft beer brand in the US
- stocked in over 75,000 locations
- hugely popular with runners, cyclists and fitness communities
- one of the biggest drivers behind the modern alcohol-free beer movement (porchdrinking.com)
And importantly:
the beers actually taste good.
I tried an Athletic Brewing beer a few years back and have gone on to review many more. That said, this page looks at the wider Athletic Brewing range, what makes the brand so popular, and which beers are most worth trying.
What is Athletic Brewing?
Athletic Brewing was founded in Connecticut in 2017 by Bill Shufelt and John Walker with a simple idea:
“create alcohol-free beer that craft beer drinkers would actually want to drink.”
At the time, the alcohol-free beer category was still dominated by:
- watery lagers
- poor supermarket alternatives
- “functional” beers with little craft credibility
Athletic Brewing approached things differently by:
- building recipes specifically for alcohol-free brewing
- focusing on hops and flavour
- targeting active lifestyles
- positioning the brand around adventure and wellness rather than restriction
That combination proved hugely successful.
Are All Athletic Brewing Beers Amazing?
Some drinkers feel:
- certain IPAs taste similar
- limited releases are stronger than core beers
- some beers still have slight “NA sweetness”
Athletic Brewing Beers Ranked
| DRINK | BEST FOR | STYLE | ABV % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run Wild IPA | Best Overall Athletic Beer | IPA | 0.5% |
| Free Wave IPA | Best Hazy IPA | IPA | 0.5% |
| Athletic Brewing Lager | Best Easy-Drinking Lager | Lager | 0.5% |
| Upside Dawn | Best Everyday Golden Ale | Golden Ale | 0.5% |
| Athletic Lite | Best Low-Calorie Option | Light Beer | 0.5% |
| Atlética | Best Mexican-Style Lager | Copper Lager | 0.5% |
| All Out | Best Dark Beer | Dark Beer | 0.5% |
| Wit's Peak | Best Wheat Beer | Belgian-Style White | 0.5% |
| Ripe Pursuit | Best Radler | Radler | 0.5% |
| Raspberry Sour | Best Sour Beer | Sour | 0.5% |
| Tucker's West Coast IPA | Best West Coast IPA | IPA | 0.5% |
| Fancy Like | Best American Pale Ale | American Pale Ale | 0.5% |
How We Review Alcohol-Free beers
Every alcohol-free beer, whether from Athletic Brewing or not, on MyDryBar is reviewed based on taste, body, aroma, drinkability, realism and value.
Unlike many review sites, all beers are personally tested and scored to help readers genuinely discover the best alcohol-free drinks available.
Run Wild IPA – The Flagship Beer
Run Wild IPA is arguably the beer that made Athletic Brewing famous.
This is a proper American IPA with:
- pine bitterness
- citrus hops
- light malt sweetness
- genuine craft beer character
Importantly, it doesn’t feel like a “health beer”.
It feels like a real IPA first and an alcohol-free beer second.
That’s why it remains one of the strongest alcohol-free IPAs on the market overall.
Best for: Craft IPA drinkers.
MyDryBar score – 63 /100
Review:
Run Wild IPA Review
Cerveza Atletica – Best Summer Beer
Cerveza Atletica is Athletic Brewing’s Mexican-style alcohol-free lager.
It’s lighter, crisper and designed for:
- hot weather
- BBQs
- beach drinking
- lime wedges
- social occasions
Very approachable and refreshing.
Best for: Summer drinking.
Score on Athletic Brewing site (as of May 2026) – 4.7/ 5 – 1,821 reviews
Read more about Cerveza Atletica
The Athletic Club: Why Athletic Brewing Feels More Like A Craft Beer Community
One of the things that makes Athletic Brewing different from almost every other alcohol-free beer brand is that it doesn’t just operate like a brewery — it behaves much more like a modern craft beer community.
That’s where the Athletic Club comes in.
Unlike mainstream alcohol-free brands that largely focus on supermarket sales and core products, Athletic Brewing has built an ecosystem around discovery, limited releases and community engagement. Their Athletic Club membership gives fans access to:
- exclusive member-only beers
- pilot brews
- limited seasonal releases
- early product access
- discounts and rewards
- merch offers
- special collaborations
This is a huge part of why the brand has developed such a loyal following among craft beer drinkers.
For many people, Athletic Brewing isn’t simply about “not drinking alcohol” — it’s about still participating in beer culture.
That distinction matters.
Traditional alcohol-free beer was often marketed around restriction or compromise. Athletic Brewing instead positions itself around:
- exploration
- flavour
- outdoor lifestyles
- moderation
- adventure
- community
And the rotating beer lineup reinforces that.
Alongside core beers like Run Wild IPA and Upside Dawn, Athletic regularly releases:
- seasonal IPAs
- sour beers
- radlers
- dark beers
- limited experimental brews
- collaborations
- fruit-forward summer releases
That constant innovation keeps the brand feeling much closer to a genuine craft brewery than a typical alcohol-free beer company.
Free Wave IPA – Best Hazy IPA
Free Wave takes a softer and juicier approach than Run Wild.
This beer leans heavily into:
- tropical fruit
- hazy New England IPA vibes
- lower bitterness
- smoother mouthfeel
It feels modern and very much aimed at current craft beer trends.
One of the best alcohol-free hazy IPAs available.
Best for: Fans of juicy craft beer.
MyDryBar score – 75 /100
Review:
Free Wave IPA Review
Athletic Lite – Best Low-Calorie Option
Athletic Lite targets the “light beer” market while still retaining more flavour than most mainstream light lagers.
Low calorie.
Easy drinking.
Very sessionable.
This is clearly aimed at:
- fitness-conscious consumers
- moderation-focused drinkers
- active lifestyles
Score on Athletic Brewing site (as of May 2026) – 4.7/ 5 – 1,770 reviews
Read more about Athletic Lite beer
Athletic Brewing Lager – Best Mainstream Option
Athletic’s lager is cleaner, lighter and more straightforward than the hop-heavy IPAs.
This is the easiest entry point into the Athletic Brewing range for:
- lager drinkers
- mainstream beer fans
- casual drinkers
Crisp, refreshing and highly sessionable.
MyDryBar score – 65 /100
Soul Sour – Most Interesting Beer
Soul Sour beers show Athletic Brewing experimenting beyond traditional lager and IPA territory.
Flavours include raspberry, tropical, blackberry and mango.
It introduces:
- tart citrus
- sourness
- refreshing acidity
This won’t be for everyone, but it highlights how far the alcohol-free category has evolved.
Score on Athletic Brewing site (as of May 2026) – 4.8/ 5 – 465 reviews for tropical.
Read more about Athletic’s Tropical Sour
Why Athletic Brewing Became So Popular
Athletic Brewing exploded in popularity because it arrived at exactly the right cultural moment.
The brand sits perfectly at the intersection of:
- moderation culture
- fitness
- wellness
- outdoor lifestyles
- premium craft beer
- younger drinkers reducing alcohol consumption
But importantly:
the beer quality also backed up the hype.
Unlike older alcohol-free beers that often felt like compromises, Athletic Brewing’s beers feel intentionally crafted.
That’s why the brand now dominates US alcohol-free craft beer conversations online and repeatedly appears in “best non alcoholic beer” discussions. (reddit.com)
Upside Dawn Golden Ale – Best Everyday Beer
Upside Dawn has become one of Athletic Brewing’s most widely available beers in the US.
Compared to the IPAs, it’s:
- smoother
- lighter
- easier drinking
- less bitter
This is probably the beer most likely to appeal to mainstream drinkers wanting a dependable alcohol-free alternative.
Best for: Everyday drinking.
MyDryBar score – 54 /100
All Out Extra Dark – Best Dark Beer
All Out is Athletic Brewing’s darker beer offering and feels closer to a porter than a classic stout.
Expect:
- roasted malt
- coffee notes
- chocolate bitterness
- fuller body
It’s one of the more interesting beers in the Athletic lineup because dark alcohol-free beer remains surprisingly difficult to do well.
Best for: Fans of darker beers.
Score on Athletic Brewing site (as of May 2026) – 4.6/ 5 – 2037 reviews
Read more about Athletic’s All Out
Frequently Asked Questions About Athletic Brewing
What is Athletic Brewing?
Athletic Brewing is a US brewery focused entirely on alcohol-free craft beer including IPAs, lagers, stouts and seasonal releases.
What is the best Athletic Brewing beer?
Run Wild IPA is widely considered Athletic Brewing’s flagship beer thanks to its balance of bitterness, flavour and drinkability.
Is Athletic Brewing actually alcohol-free?
Most Athletic Brewing beers contain 0.5% ABV or less and are classified as non-alcoholic beer.
Does Athletic Brewing taste like real beer?
Yes. Athletic Brewing is widely regarded as one of the closest alcohol-free alternatives to traditional craft beer.
Is Athletic Brewing gluten-free?
Most Athletic Brewing beers are not gluten-free because they are brewed using barley.
Why is Athletic Brewing so popular?
Athletic Brewing became popular because it combined genuinely good craft beer flavour with strong wellness, fitness and outdoor lifestyle branding.
Is Athletic Brewing healthier than normal beer?
Athletic Brewing beers are generally lower in calories and contain little or no alcohol compared to traditional beer.
Where can you buy Athletic Brewing?
Athletic Brewing is widely available across the United States and increasingly internationally through supermarkets, specialist alcohol-free retailers and online stores.
beer.
How does Athletic Brewing make alcohol-free beer?
Athletic Brewing does not simply brew a normal beer and remove the alcohol afterwards. Instead, the brewery uses a specialist brewing process designed to create full-flavoured beer while keeping the alcohol level below 0.5% ABV. This helps preserve more of the hop character, body and craft beer flavour that many alcohol-free beers struggle to replicate.
Is Athletic Brewing Healthy?
Compared to traditional beer, Athletic Brewing beers are generally:
- lower calorie
- alcohol-free
- moderation-friendly
- easier to fit into active lifestyles
That doesn’t necessarily make them “healthy”, but they are often chosen by people:
- reducing alcohol intake
- balancing fitness goals
- moderating drinking habits
Best Athletic Brewing Beers By Style
| STYLE | BEST ATHLETIC BEER | BEST FOR |
|---|---|---|
| IPA | Run Wild IPA | Classic IPA fans |
| Hazy IPA | Free Wave IPA | Juicy craft beer drinkers |
| Golden Ale | Upside Dawn | Everyday drinking |
| Lager | Athletic Brewing Lager | Easy refreshment |
| Light Beer | Athletic Lite | Lower-calorie drinking |
| Mexican-Style Lager | Atlética | Summer drinking |
| Dark Beer | All Out | Roasted malt fans |
| Wheat Beer | Wit's Peak | Belgian-style beer drinkers |
| Radler | Ripe Pursuit | Fruit-forward refreshment |
| Sour | Raspberry Sour | Tart beer fans |
Final thoughts
Athletic Brewing has arguably done more than any other company to modernise perceptions around alcohol-free beer in the United States.
Rather than positioning non-alcoholic beer as a compromise, Athletic helped make it feel:
- premium
- craft-led
- active
- modern
- lifestyle-oriented
And crucially:
the beers themselves are genuinely enjoyable.
Run Wild IPA remains one of the best alcohol-free IPAs available, while beers like Free Wave and Upside Dawn show just how broad and sophisticated the category has become.
Even if you normally associate alcohol-free beer with bland lagers, Athletic Brewing is one of the brands most likely to completely change your perception of the category.
Images courtesy of https://athleticbrewing.com
