Low-Alcohol Beers Are Trending Like Never Before — Here Are 10 to Try

Demand for nonalcoholic beer is booming, but despite all of the discussion about the “low-to-no” alcohol movement, the “low” portion of the conversation gets left out. Beers that fall between 2% ABV and 5% ABV, generally considered the “low” alcohol share, make up less than half of the growth of “low-to-no” segment in the total U.S. beer market.

Moderation is often categorized by the idea that drinkers can simply have fewer alcoholic drinks to limit their intake. But with popular macro and craft beers falling around 5% ABV or lower, there’s a growing opportunity for low-alcohol options to satisfy the desire to have your beer and drink it too.

Beers with less alcohol can still offer flavor and excitement, similar to their NA counterparts as well as the big, bold imperials that can hit double-digits in alcohol content. Now that millennials and Gen-Z drinkers have embraced paying a premium for NA options, breweries have begun also to dabble in that in-between space.

Related: The Rise and Fall of Pilsner, the Original Pale Lager

A growing number of craft examples can be found across the country. Brands like San Diego’s Deft Brewing, Austin’s Jester King Brewery, and Denver's TRVE Brewing make excellent examples that fall between 3% and 4% ABV. And more commercially available low-ABV beers like Pabst Blue Ribbon (4.7% ABV), Montucky Cold Snacks (4.1% ABV), and Bell's Light Hearted (4% ABV) pop up regularly on grocery and beer store shelves.

With all the buzz around drinking less, low-ABV beers are another option for moderation-minded consumers. From session IPAs to grisettes, here are the 10 low-ABV options reached for by beer experts.

Related: Do You Know the Difference Between Pilsners and Lagers?

Little Lager by Alvarado Street Brewery (3.2% ABV)

When Kyle Roderick, chief product officer at Untappd in Hollister, California, wants something a little lighter, he reaches for a leichtbier like Alvarado Street’s Little Lager. “It’s not an American light beer, it’s something totally different,” he says. “Refreshing, hyper-carbonated, and citrusy herbaceous bitterness that evoke an almost West Coast Pils flavor. Quality ingredients from Admiral Maltings lend enough body to elevate it well above an overly crushable Lipton Iced Tea to a beer worthy of a 16-oz. package and the ASB name.”

Plus, Roderick says, it’s not a terribly common style. “I almost never see a leichtbier around here, so when this went into local accounts, I’d always grab a pack. By design, it’s a low-ABV beer, and it makes it all that much easier to make the decision to keep it around and enjoy one whenever.”

Grisette by Side Project Brewery (4% ABV)

"Side Project's Grisette is my go-to, after-shift beer — the true champagne of beers,” says Alex Brosseau, tasting room manager at Side Project Brewery in Maplewood, Missouri. Grisettes are a Belgian-style beer very similar to a saison.

But grisettes generally fall between 3% and 4% ABV, rather than a saison’s typical range of 5% to 7%. Side Project ages its Grisette in wooden barrels, which adds depth and complexity to the citrusy beer. “At just 4% ABV, it’s light and easy to drink, but you’re not sacrificing any flavor. It’s bubbly, refreshing, and the perfect way to wind down after a long day,” says Brosseau.

Pils by Notch Brewing (4% ABV)

Small differences separate Czech/Bohemian, German, and American pilsners. Bryan Doran, former head brewer at Cambridge Brewing Company in Cambridge, Massachusetts, prefers the slightly more biscuity maltiness of Czech pilsners. “When I'm out after work, my go-to, lower-ABV beer is Notch Pils. I am fortunate to live where it is readily available on draft. It is a well-crafted Czech-style pilsner that is light, easy to drink, and full of flavor. Just the kind of beer that you want to enjoy as you relax and have a bit of food,” he says. Pilsners are great to pair with seafood, another New England specialty.

Related: Guinness Created a Non-Alcoholic Version of Its Iconic Stout

Guinness Draught (4.2% ABV)

Guinness, an Irish Dry Stout, is a fantastic example to disprove a common misconception, that dark beers are higher in alcohol. Malt has nothing to do with alcohol content. That’s the yeast’s job during fermentation.

“I love Guinness because it's available almost anywhere, and it has a light but creamy mouthfeel while still full of flavor. It's the perfect way to wind down post-shift because it almost feels like a sweet treat,” says Clare Thomas Allen, New York City-based digital marketing manager and beer influencer at @AmericanBlondeAle.

Lionshead Deluxe Pilsner by Lion Brewery (4.5% ABV)

Often considered a lower-ABV alternative to wine, cider has enjoyed a resurgence for a multitude of reasons, including its alcohol content. But that doesn’t stop cider makers from picking up a light beer like Lionshead Pilsner. Stephen Kelly, cider maker at Old Town Cidery, Winchester, Virginia, says that his habitual post-pressing beverage tends to be this American pilsner. “Throughout all of my time bartending and producing, I’ve always enjoyed Lionshead Pilsner. Very affordable and flavorful. That's hard to find these days,” he says.

Related: From IPAs to ESBs, Here's the Ultimate Guide to Beer Abbreviations

Miller High Life by Molson Coors (4.6% ABV)

Even craft brewers aren’t always opposed to macro brews. “At the end of the day, I typically reach for a High Life,” says Mat Sandoval, co-owner/brewer at Living Häus Beer Company in Portland, Oregon. It’s easy, cheap, and consistent. What’s not to like? “I can find it anywhere, it's insanely crushable, and I kind of treat it like my little reward for the day. Like, ‘Hey buddy, you've earned this one.’”

Hamm’s by Molson Coors (4.7% ABV)

“Hamm’s is originally a Minnesotan beer,” says Amanda “AJ” Tussing, senior tasting room lead at Eppig Brewing Company, and bartender at Bottlecraft/Bock in San Diego. First brewed in 1865, it hasn’t changed much since then, other than its acquisition by Molson Coors in 1999. Still brewed in the Land of Sky Blue Waters, “[it] reminds me of my home state,” she says.

Postcard Pils by Green Bench Brewing (4.7% ABV)

Joanne Mumbey, certified cicerone and beertender at Green Bench Brewing Company in St. Petersburg, Florida, doesn’t have to look far for her low-ABV beer of choice. “After a long and tiring shift, especially in the heat of a Florida summer, a crisp, refreshing cold lager is the perfect way to close out the night. Green Bench Brewing’s Postcard Pils fits the bill perfectly,” she says. Its crisp and dry finish, floral hop notes, and hints of sweet grainy malt (plus the low alcohol content, of course) are reasons why she keeps coming back. “Whether I choose to savor it slowly to appreciate its beautiful flavors or casually enjoy it, it’s always a delightful treat after a shift.”

Gretel by Side Project Brewery (5.3% ABV)

"At the end of a busy shift behind the bar, there is nothing more satisfying than a slow-poured Side Project Gretel,” says Tabitha Smith, tasting room manager at The Side Project Cellar in Maplewood, Missouri. The slow side pour ensures a thick layer of foam at the top of the glass, the traditional way to enjoy this Munich Dunkel, a German-style beer. “It hits all the right notes. It’s malty and chocolatey, but light-bodied with a beautiful frothy head that you are meant to savor,” she says.

K58 by Kilowatt Brewing (5.5% ABV)

“[It’s an] easy drinker, nice and crisp and perfect after a shift to chill and unwind,” says Esthela Davila, president of the San Diego Brewers Guild. Mexican lagers often contain corn in the malt bill, and Kilowatt’s is no exception, brewed with Vienna malt and flaked corn for the classic Mexican lager flavor. “I grew up drinking Mexican lagers, so it's only fitting. You can drink it all day long if you want.”

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