Explore the Tastes of Non-Alcoholic Beer
Historically, non-alcoholic beer hasn’t been known for its quality. But thanks to brewing innovations, all that’s changed. Learn how modern non-alc craft beer brings bold hops, rich malts, and balanced flavor to every style.
What does non-alcoholic beer taste like?
Today, high-quality non-alcoholic beer tastes like regular craft beer. It comes in a wide variety of styles from dark and roasty malt-forward brews to beachside crushers to IPA-inspired hop bombs.
Why Brewing Method Shapes Taste
The secret is in the brewing method. Non-alcoholic beers used to be made by stripping alcohol from beer, which often took much of the flavor and aroma with it. The result was usually watery—a far cry from a full-flavored beer. But brewing innovations now allow us to brew non-alcoholics that taste just as good as the real thing.
Take Trail Pass, for instance. Our line of non-alcoholic beers uses a special yeast that produces only a minimal amount of alcohol (less than 0.5%), meaning we can use traditional brewing methods without stripping any alcohol—or flavor—away.
It took us five years to perfect our recipe, ensuring Trail Pass stood up to our very high standards. But it was worth the wait: our Trail Pass Hazy IPA won the gold medal at the 2025 World Beer Cup. And our other Trail Pass brews—IPA, Golden, Brewveza, and limited offerings like Fest Brew and Extra Dark—are just as tasty.
Flavor Profiles Across Non-Alcoholic Beer
- • Crisp and Refreshing: For those seeking a crisp and refreshing option, look no further than our Trail Pass Golden or Trail Pass Brewveza. Golden is smooth and malt-forward with a kiss of hops for bright floral and citrus flavor. Inspired by the Mexican lager, Brewveza is brewed with a hint of sea salt and lime—the perfect beer for a beach state-of-mind.
- • Hop-Forward: Hopheads, rejoice. Our Trail Pass Hazy IPA is danky, hazy, and hopped to the max with El Dorado and Mosaic—all reasons it won the gold medal at the 2025 World Beer Cup! If West Coast-style IPA is your favorite, try our Trail Pass IPA. It bursts with resinous citrus and pine flavors thanks to Amarillo and CTZ hops.
- • Dark and Roasty: When winter brings the chill, we dream of a warm fire and a cold can of Trail Pass Extra Dark. Brewed with roasted malt, it’s full-bodied and chocolately, inspired by the classic Stouts of winter.
FAQs About the Taste of NA Beer
Does non-alcoholic beer taste like regular beer?
Yes. Modern non-alcoholic beer tastes very similar to regular beer, with malt body, hop flavor, and aroma preserved. The only difference is the lack of alcohol.
Why did NA beers taste bad?
Early non-alcoholic beers often lost flavor because alcohol removal stripped away aroma and body. Newer methods like brewing with special yeast as we do with Trail Pass preserve hop oils and malt character, creating NA beers that taste full and authentic.
What styles of non-alcoholic beer have the most flavor?
Non-alcoholic beers brewed with maltose-negative yeast such as Trail Pass tend to have the most flavor because nothing is removed from the beer. When it comes to styles, IPAs tend to deliver the boldest hop character, while stouts and porters bring roasted coffee and chocolate notes. Lager-inspired styles provide a clean and refreshing taste and a crisp finish.
Does non-alcoholic beer still have body and aroma?
Yes. Body and aroma come from malt, hops, and yeast, all of which remain in Trail Pass. Quality NA beers still pour with a head, deliver balanced mouthfeel, and offer full flavor and aroma.
