11 Low and No Alcohol Beers Ranked Best to Worst

If you like beer but want to drink less alcohol, you’re in luck. The low and no-alcohol beer market has improved fast, with options that actually taste like the real thing: crisp, hoppy, and full of flavor. Still, not every brand gets it right. Some manage a balanced, satisfying flavor profile, while others come off thin or overly sweet. To help you skip the misses and go straight for the good stuff, here’s a ranked list of 11 low and no-alcohol beers, from truly great to the ones better left on the shelf.

1. Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA

Athletic Brewing’s Run Wild IPA sets the bar high. It nails the hop-forward bite you expect from a craft IPA, balanced with citrus and pine notes that feel full-bodied, not watered down. Brewed with a blend of five Northwest hops, it keeps a smooth bitterness without the alcohol burn. You can sip it at a barbecue or after a workout and still feel like you had a real beer. It’s also widely available, which makes it an easy go-to. Among non-alcoholic beers, this one feels like the closest thing to the real deal.

2. Guinness 0

Guinness 0 surprised skeptics by keeping the brand’s signature roasted malt flavor. It’s creamy, smooth, and still has that deep, dark color with a dense head. You get coffee and cocoa undertones without the heaviness of a full-strength stout. The flavor lingers just enough to remind you of the original. If you enjoy rich, malty beers but want to skip alcohol, this one actually works year-round. It’s a strong second-place contender and easily one of the best low-alcohol dark beers available.

3. Heineken 0.0

Heineken 0.0 is one of the easiest-drinking non-alcoholic lagers out there. It tastes nearly identical to the original: crisp, slightly sweet, and refreshing. There’s a clean malt backbone with subtle hop bitterness that makes it ideal for casual sipping. The carbonation is just right, and it doesn’t leave that syrupy aftertaste common in some competitors. This is the kind of beer you can hand to a friend, and they might not even notice it’s alcohol-free. It’s consistent, reliable, and perfect for social occasions.

4. Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects

Brooklyn Brewery’s Special Effects amber lager brings caramel malt sweetness with a slight hop finish that gives it balance. The aroma is pleasant, with a hint of toast and fruit. It pours beautifully, too, with a golden-amber hue that looks like a regular craft lager. Flavor-wise, it’s light but flavorful, great for people who prefer malt-forward beers over bitter IPAs. The name fits this beer genuinely surprises you with how close it feels to a standard brew. It’s flavorful without being heavy, and very drinkable.

5. Sam Adams Just the Haze

Sam Adams Just the Haze offers a strong case that hazy IPAs can work without alcohol. You get juicy citrus and tropical fruit notes with a soft mouthfeel that mimics a full-strength hazy beer. The aroma alone of orange, pineapple, and grapefruit makes it stand out. It’s crafted with care, using a dry-hopping technique similar to the brand’s alcoholic versions. This one works best chilled and poured into a glass to appreciate its body. It’s flavorful, aromatic, and hard to believe it’s non-alcoholic.

6. Clausthaler Original

Clausthaler has been around for decades, and its Original brew remains a staple in the alcohol-free category. It’s a traditional German lager with a malty, slightly sweet taste and a faint herbal hop character. What makes it appealing is its balance it’s neither too thin nor too heavy. While newer craft-style options have more complexity, Clausthaler still delivers a nostalgic, classic beer flavor. It’s ideal for anyone who enjoys European lagers and wants something consistent without surprises.

7. Erdinger Weissbier Alkoholfrei

Erdinger’s alcohol-free wheat beer blends a hint of banana and clove, just like its traditional counterpart. It’s slightly cloudy, smooth, and has a nice foamy head. The flavor leans toward bready and yeasty, with a crisp finish that makes it refreshing after exercise or a meal. It’s also marketed as isotonic, appealing to those who see it as a post-workout recovery drink. While a bit sweeter than expected, it’s still one of the better wheat-style options on the market.

8. Budweiser Zero

Budweiser Zero feels like it’s trying to replicate the original, but it doesn’t quite get there. The flavor is mild and somewhat grainy, with a thin mouthfeel that fades fast. It’s drinkable when ice-cold, but lacks the richness of top contenders like Heineken 0.0. On the plus side, it’s calorie-friendly and easily found almost anywhere. It’s fine for casual settings when you just want something bubbly and familiar, but it won’t impress dedicated beer drinkers.

9. Coors Edge

Coors Edge doubles up on malt and sweetness, which makes it heavier than most low-alcohol beers. The result is a slightly syrupy taste that feels artificial. The aroma hints at corn and cereal, which might appeal to fans of old-school macro lagers, but it lacks crispness. It’s drinkable in a pinch but best served ice-cold to mask its sweetness. Overall, it’s not offensive, but it falls short of the refreshing balance that modern non-alcoholic options have achieved.

10. O’Doul’s Amber

O’Doul’s Amber still holds a place in beer history, but taste-wise, it’s been outpaced by modern non-alcoholic options. The pour looks promising rich amber with a foamy head but the flavor doesn’t live up to the look. It’s mild, slightly sweet, and gone almost as soon as it arrives. The malt backbone feels thin, with little aroma or depth. It’s fine if you just want something familiar, but next to today’s craft-style non-alcoholic beers, it feels dated. Try it for nostalgia, not for flavor.

11. Beck’s Non-Alcoholic

Beck’s Non-Alcoholic lands at the bottom of this list for a reason. It has a metallic aftertaste and a sharp, unpleasant bitterness that doesn’t mellow out. The body is thin, and the malt profile feels hollow. It might look crisp in the glass, but the flavor doesn’t hold up. While Beck’s makes solid full-strength lagers, this one misses the mark. It’s worth skipping unless you have absolutely no other options available.