Athletic Brewing Review: The Craft Beer That Lets You Have Your Brew and Drink It Too

Hey there beer lover! If you‘re anything like me, there‘s nothing quite like kicking back with a cold craft brew after a long day. That crisp smell of floral hops, the cool kiss of condensation on the can, that first sip of bold, bubbly bliss – it‘s a simple pleasure that never gets old.

But as much as we enjoy knocking back a few pints, I think many of us are also trying to live a bit healthier these days. Whether you‘re cutting calories, trying to get better sleep, or going hard on your fitness grind, the effects of alcohol don‘t always jive with an active lifestyle.

What if I told you there‘s a way to get all the rich, complex flavors of craft beer you crave, without the hangover, the extra carbs, or the morning-after regrets? No, I‘m not talking about some nasty "near beer" your grandpa drank. I‘m talking about the new wave of craft non-alcoholic beers that are making the impossible possible.

And there‘s one brand that‘s leading this NA beer revolution: Athletic Brewing. I‘ve been hearing the buzz about these booze-free brews for a while now. How they‘re nailing all my favorite beer styles – from dank IPAs to roasty stouts – with all of the taste and none of the alcohol. So I finally decided to see what the hype was about and try them for myself.

Spoiler alert: Athletic Brewing isn‘t just making the best non-alcoholic beer I‘ve ever had. They‘re making some of the most flavorful and satisfying craft beer, period. And in this ultimate Athletic Brewing review, I‘m going to tell you exactly why these NA beers deserve a place in your fridge, and in your life. No cap.

What Is Athletic Brewing?

Before we crack into the good stuff, let me give you the quick and dirty on Athletic Brewing. Founded in 2017 by Bill Shufelt and John Walker in Stratford, CT, Athletic is the first brewery and tap room fully devoted to the production of non-alcoholic craft beer.

But this isn‘t your average big beer corporation churning out bland, soulless suds. Bill and John are legit craft beer geeks who love the culture, creativity, and community around brewing. The only difference is, after discovering the performance and health benefits of going alcohol-free, they made it their mission to bring those same craft flavors and experiences to the NA category.

Fast forward a few years, and Athletic has absolutely exploded. From 2018 to 2021, the brewery achieved a jaw-dropping 13,071% revenue growth rate, making them one of the fastest-growing companies in America (Inc. 5000). They‘ve expanded distribution to all 50 states and 8 countries, with big name retailers like Whole Foods, Trader Joe‘s and Target carrying their brews.

Athletic‘s meteoric rise mirrors the overall boom in the non-alcoholic beer category. Over the past 5 years, NA beer has grown from a sliver of the market to an over $25 billion global industry (Global Market Insights). And craft NA beers like Athletic are the hottest sector, with 35% year-over-year growth (Nielsen).

So whether you‘re sober curious, a more mindful drinker, or just a beer nerd who loves exploring new flavors, Athletic Brewing is one of the most exciting names in the NA game. Now, onto the brews!

Tasting Notes: Athletic Brewing‘s Best Sellers

It‘s time for the main event – cracking open these cans and seeing how they stack up to the classic craft beers we know and love. For this review, I‘m diving deep into a few of Athletic‘s core offerings:

Run Wild IPA

Run Wild is the beer that put Athletic on the map – a West Coast IPA that balances five different PNW hop varietals with a backbone of organic Vienna and Munich malts. Pouring a slightly hazy gold with a fluffy white head, it looks every bit the part of a proper IPA.

But the real magic is in the aroma. Huge notes of grapefruit, lemon peel, and dank pine leap out of the glass, with some light peppery spice and honey underneath. On the sip, a rush of citrusy hops washes over the palate, mellowing into ripe mango, fresh cut grass, and a hint of caramel. The finish is crisp with a firm but balanced bitterness that lingers.

I‘ve had my share of regular IPAs with less personality and zing than Run Wild brings to the table. For hopheads who thought they‘d never be satisfied with an NA beer, this is a revelation. Hands down the best non-alcoholic IPA on the market.

Upside Dawn Golden Ale

Don‘t sleep on a classic! Upside Dawn may look like your basic lawnmower beer, but this golden ale is a master class in subtlety and nuance. In the glass, it shines a brilliant straw gold with a snowy head that laces the glass.

Upside Dawn opens with delicate aromas of Saltine cracker, fresh breads, and a hint of spring flowers. The soft, rounded malt flavors take center stage, with notes of honey, Nilla wafer, and a whisper of noblehops providing balance. An added touch of oats gives the beer a silky, plush mouthfeel that belies its featherlight body.

Clean, refreshing and endlessly drinkable, this is a beer made for easy sipping. The perfect complement to a round of golf, a day on the water, mowing the lawn, or just soaking up some sun. All the easygoing flavors of a golden ale or light lager with a bit more malt character to keep things interesting.

Free Wave Hazy IPA

Forget the fruit smoothie, Free Wave is a glass of pure tropical goodness. This trendy hazy IPA erupts with juicy fruit flavors from Amarillo, Citra and Mosaic hops, anchored by a pillowy soft malt base. It pours the color of fresh squeezed OJ with a creamy meringue head.

As soon as you open the can, an intoxicating wave of pineapple, passion fruit, guava and mandarin orange leaps out. Like sticking your nose in a freshly cut bag of Starbursts. The sip is ridiculously soft and lush, coating the palate with a swirl of mango, tangerine, and lightly herbal hop notes. Not a hint of bitterness – just a juicy smack of hoppy goodness.

No disrespect to the original New England haze makers, but Free Wave can go toe to toe with any hazy IPA in terms of pucker-inducing juiciness. The fact that you can crush a few of these totally guilt free makes it that much sweeter. Or juicier, in this case.

All Out Stout

Last but not least, we come to Athletic‘s deepest, darkest, most decadent brew. All Out is an imperial stout lover‘s dream, delivering huge flavors of dark chocolate, espresso and toasted nuts, without the dizzying 10% ABV.

This one pours like black coffee with a creamy mocha head. The aroma is all fresh roasted single origin beans, baker‘s cocoa, and charred oak. Sipping it is like biting into an 85% cacao bar – wave after wave of bittersweet chocolate builds on the palate, accented by notes of toffee, toasted almond, and some earthy noble hop. Full, luscious, and warming, this is a beer to linger over.

With All Out Stout, Athletic proves that even the biggest, boldest beer styles can get the NA treatment without losing depth and complexity. This is the beer to reach for on a chilly fall night, to pair with a juicy burger, or to savor with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for an adult root beer float. Luxurious and surprisingly light.

Nutrition Facts: How Athletic‘s NA Beers Stack Up

I know what you‘re thinking – all this flavor has to come with a price tag. Time for a little real talk on what‘s really under the cap nutrition-wise for these Athletic Brewing beers:

Beer	Calories	Carbs	Protein	Fat
Run Wild IPA	70	16g	>1g	0g
Upside Dawn Golden	50	12g	>1g	0g
Free Wave Hazy IPA	70	16g	>1g	0g
All Out Stout	90	17g	2g	0g

For comparison, your typical regular craft beer clocks in around 200-300 calories and 20-30g carbs per serving. Even light macro beers pack about 100-150 cals and up to 15g carbs each.

So while Athletic‘s NA offerings aren‘t exactly "healthy" per se – they‘re still beer after all – they give you a lot more wiggle room to enjoy the flavors you love without totally blowing up your macros.

Plus, these beers have some other unique benefits over their boozy cousins:

• Naturally isotonic and rich in electrolytes like potassium and magnesium for superior hydration
• Anti-inflammatory polyphenols from hops and malts that may support cardiovascular and cognitive function
• Promotes better sleep quality compared to alcohol, which disrupts your circadian rhythm

Of course, they also have that whole no-getting-drunk thing going for them too. Whether you‘re a teetotaler, have to DD, or just not feeling a buzz, Athletic‘s NA beers mean you never get FOMO when your friends are throwing a few back.

How Athletic Compares to Other NA Craft Beers

Athletic may have been one of the first movers in the craft NA space, but they‘re far from the only player on the scene nowadays. In just the past few years, more and more micro and regional craft breweries have started putting out their own non-alcoholic options alongside flagships.

So how does Athletic stack up to some of their top competitors? Here‘s my take after pitting them head to head:

• Surreal Brewing – Fellow West Coast operation making waves with their gluten-reduced NA beers. I dig Surreal‘s Chandelier Red IPA, but found their Juicy Mavs Hazy lacking compared to Athletic‘s Free Wave.

• Bravus Brewing – SoCal‘s first dedicated NA craft brewery. Their Raspberry Gose is a summer crusher, but their core lineup isn‘t quite as dialed as Athletic‘s IMO. Still props to the pioneers!

• Partake Brewing – Up and coming Canadian outfit expanding fast in the US. Their Pale Ale is a solid go-to, but Athletic has them beat in overall depth and range of styles.

• WellBeing Brewing – Midwest NA standout making a name in the active lifestyle space. WellBeing‘s Victory Wheat is a refreshing post-workout gulp, but Run Wild and Upside Dawn offer more flavor complexity.

At the end of the day, taste is subjective. But having done a fair amount of field research, I have to give Athletic the edge in terms of overall consistency, stylistic variety, and just nailing those classic craft flavors NA drinkers have been missing.

Final Thoughts: Should You Try Athletic Brewing?

By now it should be pretty clear I‘m a fan of what Athletic Brewing is bringing to the non-alcoholic beer game. These beers aren‘t just good "for NA" – they can stand proudly alongside any of their alcoholic peers in terms of flavor, aroma, and body. From crispy IPAs to velvety stouts, there‘s an Athletic brew for every kind of craft fan.

But beyond the actual liquid, what I really admire about Athletic is their commitment to building a more inclusive beer culture for all. As someone who‘s had to take breaks from drinking over the years for my own health and wellness, it‘s refreshing to see a brand that celebrates the social ritual of cracking a cold one, without any of the pressure or stigma.

Athletic isn‘t out to kill your buzz – they just want you to be able to choose your own adventure. Whether that means subbing in a few NA beers on a weeknight, supporting your sober friends, or taking a break from booze to level up your fitness, Athletic gives you the freedom and flexibility to drink on your own terms.

Plus, with their focus on sustainability, community give-back, and health-conscious ethos, you can feel good knowing every sip is making an impact. From donating 2% of all sales to trail and park cleanups, to being one of the only breweries to achieve B Corporation status, Athletic is clearly about more than just selling suds.

At the end of the day, I drink Athletic for the same reasons I drink any great craft beer – to relax, socialize, and explore all the incredible flavors the wide world of brewing has to offer. The fact that I can do all that and still wake up feeling fresh is just a bonus.

So here‘s my challenge to you – next time you‘re looking to stock the beer fridge, swap in a 6-pack of Run Wild or Upside Dawn. Crack one open and see how it hits. I think you‘ll be pleasantly surprised by just how much flavor and soul these little NA beers contain.

Thirsty for more? Head on over to AthleticBrewing.com to snag a mixed 12-pack for yourself. Your first one ships free, and you can cancel anytime. Just tell Bill and John the Beer Snob sent you!

Now if you‘ll excuse me, I‘ve got a few Stouts to use for ice cream floats tonight. Until next time, keep drinking those hops, but hold the hangover. Cheers!