Non Alcoholic Beer Types & Styles You Can Brew at Home

Interested in brewing your own non-alcoholic beer, but uncertain which styles are best suited to it? We share a list non-alcoholic beer types and styles that you can home brew, with considerations and notes for each one.

Non-alcoholic beers used to come in only a few different types and styles. However, a lot of amazing changes have occurred in the brewing industry that has given way to a wide variety of different non-alcoholic beer styles, each with its own unique flavors, aromas, and characteristics.

No longer are low-alcohol and zero-alcohol beer drinkers restricted to bland, watery lagers as we once were. These days, the selection of non-alcoholic beer types are pretty much as diverse as the range of alcoholic beers. In this article, we share the different non alcoholic beer types and styles you could brew at home, with a few brewing considerations to make your job of choosing the best one a bit easier.

How to Choose Non Alcoholic Beer Types to Home Brew

Brewing Considerations

Home Brewing

No two types of beer are created equal. Some types of non-alcoholic beer are more challenging to brew at home and can range between moderate and advanced, depending on how complex the overall brewing process is. As with regular home brewing, some types of non-alcoholic beer require more advanced techniques and harder-to-find ingredients than others.

Alcohol Content

Ale and beer types that are typically renowned for their high alcohol content such as Bock, IPAs and Belgian Ales are going to be harder to replicate in a non-alcoholic beer/ale format, since it is the fermentation process and alcohol itself that adds much of the character and appeal to these styles. If you are tossing up between different non alcoholic beer types and styles to brew at home, look at the alcohol content of the original. It is easier to create non alcoholic variations of beers and ales that are already naturally lower in alcohol, so you don’t deviate too far from the original character and recipe.

Enjoyment Considerations

Aroma

The aroma of a beer refers explicitly to how the beer smells when you bring the glass to your nose. Non-alcoholic beers can range from sweet and malty, to hoppy, spicy, chocolatey, and fruity, as well as roasted.

Flavor

Not to be confused with taste, the flavor of a non-alcoholic beer refers to the balance of flavors that begin with the initial tasting, and continue through the aftertaste. It is crucial to ensure that the flavor is well-balanced so that no individual element of the drink dominates the others.

Appearance

The appearance of a non-alcoholic beer refers to the color and visual aesthetics of the drink when it is poured into a glass. Beer can range from a pale gold to a dark round. Some beers may be crystal clear, while others can be hazy or even cloudy in appearance.

Taste

The taste of a non-alcoholic beer refers to the specific sensations that you experience when you sip the beverage. Different types of beers offer a wide array of varying tastes such as sour, sweet, salty, bitter, umami, or even fruity.

Feel

The feel of the beer refers to the body or thickness of the beverage. Consider the feeling of a milk stout versus a pilsener in your mouth; the stout has much more body and substance to it. The body can range from light to full-bodied and includes a level of carbonation that can go from flat to fizzy. The term feel generally refers to how smooth or dry the beer feels when it’s in the mouth.

Non Alcoholic Beers List of Styles

Below is a non alcoholic beers list of styles, that you may be thinking about home brewing. For a detailed discussion of each alcohol-free beer variation in this list, head to the next section of this article.

Detailed Description and Names of Non Alcoholic Beer Styles

Non-Alcoholic Pale Lager

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Low-Moderate (3.0-5.8% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Non-alcoholic pale lager has a clean yet mild malty aroma with a subtle note of the hops.
• Flavor: You’ll find that non-alcoholic pale lager is crisp and refreshing and has a balanced sweetness from the malt, with a slight hint of bitterness from the hops
• Appearance: The pale lager gets its name from the pale gold color, that usually accompanies it. You’ll find that the appearance of the non-alcoholic pale lager is almost crystal clear.
• Taste: The initial taste of a non-alcoholic pale lager is mildly bitter, but it features a sweet and clean finish.
• Feel: Pale lagers are known to have a medium body with a moderate amount of carbonation. This makes them smooth and easy to drink.

Non-Alcoholic Pilsner

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Moderate (4.5-5.0% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: The aroma of a non-alcoholic pilsner is slightly malty, with a pinch of herbal and floral undertones.
• Flavor: You will find that the flavor of a non-alcoholic pilsner is slightly biscuity, with a perfect blend of floral sweetness and hoppy bitterness.
• Appearance: Non-alcoholic pilsners are gold in color and are generally crystal clear.
• Taste: The initial taste of a pilsner is slightly bitter but features a dry yet clean finish.
• Feel: A non-alcoholic pilsner has a light to medium body which features a lively amount of carbonation. This leaves the Pilsner feeling crisp and refreshing to the palette.

Non-Alcoholic Wheat Beer (Weissbier)

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

Alcohol Content of Original: Moderate (4.3-5.6% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Wheat beer is a popular choice due to its clove, banana, and citrusy aroma that is surrounded by a slightly wheaty background.
• Flavor: Non-alcoholic wheat beer is extremely refreshing and has the perfect balance of sweetness that matches with the bitterness of the hops and clove undertones.
• Appearance: Wheat beer is known for its golden yet hazy color and its extremely fluffy white head.
• Taste: You will find that the taste of a wheat beer is slightly sweet while at the same time being mildly bitter. Non-alcoholic wheat beers also feature a very smooth finish.
• Feel: Wheat beer is known for its medium body and its effervescent carbonation. It offers a silky yet creamy feel to the palette.

Non-Alcoholic Belgian Witbier

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

Alcohol Content of Original: Moderate (4.5-5.5% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: A non-alcoholic Belgian witbier is a popular option due to its zesty orange peel aroma and the slight hint of spice.
• Flavor: The citrusy and slightly tart flavor of a non-alcoholic Belgian is perfectly matched with its undertones of coriander and wheat.
• Appearance: Belgian witbier has a pale to light gold appearance, that is often cloudy and features a frothy yet satisfying head.
• Taste: The taste of a Belgian has the perfect balance of mild sweetness and slight bitterness, that finishes off nicely thanks to its zesty citrus flavor.
• Feel: Non-alcoholic Belgian beers have a medium body with a lively amount of carbonation. The combination offers a crisp yet refreshing sensation.

Non-Alcoholic Amber Ale

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Moderate (4.5-6.2% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: The aroma as a non-alcoholic amber ale features a wonderful toasted malt smell mixed with a hint of floral hops and some caramel.
• Flavor: You will find that the flavor of an amber ale is rich and multi, with a sweet caramel flavor that is perfectly balanced with the bitterness from the hops.
• Appearance: Amber ale can range from reddish-brown to a golden amber color, with good clarity throughout.
• Taste: The initial taste of a non-alcoholic amber ale features a sweet maltiness coupled with a slight bitterness, that finishes off clean and smooth.
• Feel: A non-alcoholic amber ale features a medium body with a moderate amount of carbonation that feels smooth yet slightly dry to the palette.

Non-Alcoholic India Pale Ale (IPA)

Home Brewing Difficulty: Advanced

Alcohol Content of Original: Strong (5.0-9.5% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: India pale ales are known for their strong hoppy aroma and slightly citrusy, pine, and floral undertones.
• Flavor: The prominent pine and citrus character of an India pale ale is perfectly balanced with the sturdiness thanks to the multi backbone.
• Appearance: Since it is a pale ale, it is relatively pale in color and features a varying amount of clarity throughout the body.
• Taste: The taste of an India pale ale is dominated by the bitterness from the hops, yet still finishes with the perfect amount of dryness and crispness.
• Feel: India pale ales are medium to full body and generally feature a moderate amount of carbonation. They feel very crisp to the palette.

Non-Alcoholic Stout

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

Alcohol Content of Original: Variable (4.0-12.0% ABV) due to large number of varieties

Tasting notes

• Aroma: The aroma of a non-alcoholic stout is chocolatey yet dominated by the roasted smell of coffee and features a hint of caramel.
• Flavor: The non-alcoholic stout has a rich and roasted flavor that is dominated by chocolatey coffee undertones and a subtle sweetness.
• Appearance: Stout beers are known for their dark brown opaque appearance.
• Taste: The initial taste of a non-alcoholic stout features the perfect balance between a roasted bitterness and a mild sweetness. The beer finishes off smoothly and leaves a lingering aftertaste.
• Feel: Stout beers are known for their full body and low carbonation levels. You will simply enjoy the velvety and creamy feel on your palette.

Non-Alcoholic Porter

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

Alcohol Content of Original: Variable (4.0-9.5% ABV) due to large number of varieties

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Non-alcoholic porter is a popular choice due to its dark chocolaty coffee aroma with a slight undertone of roasted malt.
• Flavor: The flavor of a porter is dark and malty with a hint of coffee and chocolate that is perfectly balanced by the bitterness of the hops.
• Appearance: The appearance of a non-alcoholic porter is dark brown to black, with excellent clarity.
• Taste: Porters are known for their initial sweet and roasted bitterness that finishes off clean and dry every single time.
• Feel: Non-alcoholic porters feature a medium to full body and can range in carbonation levels from low to moderate. The porter feels smooth yet robust to the palette.

Non-Alcoholic Blonde Ale

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Low-Moderate (3.8-5.5% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: The aroma of a non-alcoholic blonde ale is mildly malty with just a touch of citrus and floral.
• Flavor: Blonde ales are known for their light and crisp flavor that features a clean malt profile and a subtle bitterness from the hops.
• Appearance: As with most pale ales, the non-alcoholic blonde ale is a pale gold to light amber color with excellent clarity.
• Taste: The taste of a blonde ale is mildly sweet which is balanced perfectly with a bitter hoppy finish.
• Feel: Most blonde ales have a light to medium body and a medium amount of carbonation. This results in a beer that is smooth and easy to drink.

Non-Alcoholic Fruit Beer (Various Varieties)

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Variable (4.0-8.0% ABV) due to different fruits and their sugar content

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Fruit-flavored beers come in a wide variety of options, and the aroma of a non-alcoholic fruit beer can vary depending on the specific type of fruit that is used in its brewing.
• Flavor: The flavor of a fruit beer is the perfect combination of the beer’s fruit flavor and the slight bitterness of the hops.
• Appearance: Depending on the fruit that is used for the non-alcoholic beer, the appearance may vary. This appearance can also be emphasized through the addition of coloring after the brewing process.
• Taste: For the most part, non-alcoholic fruit beer is sweet and tart but finishes off perfectly thanks to the balance of the bitter hops and sweet fruits.
• Feel: The feel of a fruit beer can vary, and can range from light to medium in body that is generally accompanied by a moderate amount of carbonation. All of this leaves your mouth feeling fruity and refreshed.

Non-Alcoholic Amber Lager

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Moderate (4.4-6.0% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Amber lagers feature a toasted malt aroma that is emphasized by a bit of caramel and hop undertones.
• Flavor: The flavor of a non-alcoholic amber lager is malty yet smooth and is perfectly balanced with just the right amount of caramel sweetness and bitter hops.
• Appearance: Amber lagers feature a reddish-brown or amber color with good clarity.
• Taste: You will find that the taste of a non-alcoholic amber lager is slightly bitter thanks to the hops, but is perfectly matched with the sweetness of the malt. These beers finish cleanly every single time.
• Feel: Most amber lagers have a medium body with a moderate amount of carbonation that leaves your mouth feeling smooth and slightly dry.

Non-Alcoholic Bock

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Very Strong (6.3-14.0% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: A bock has an extremely rich and toasty malt aroma with a hint of fruit and caramel.
• Flavor: The flavor of a non-alcoholic bock is a robust blend of caramel, dark fruit, toffee, and malt which is balanced by subtle bitterness from the hops.
• Appearance: Non-alcoholic bocks can range from amber to dark brown but generally have a good clarity
• Taste: The sweet and malty initial taste of bock is offset perfectly with a balanced yet clean finish.
• Feel: Non-alcoholic bocks feature a full body with a mild amount of carbonation that leaves the mouth feeling slightly sweet and smooth.

Non-Alcoholic Czech Pilsner

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Moderate (4.0-5.0% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: When it comes to a non-alcoholic Czech pilsner, you’ll find that the aroma features a light amount of maltiness, that is complemented by the spicy herbal undertones of the hops.
• Flavor: Czech pilsners feature a crisp and refreshing flavor that balances the sweetness of the malt with the noticeable bitterness of the hops.
• Appearance: Most Czech pilsners are very clear and feature a pale gold appearance.
• Taste: The taste of a Czech pilsner starts off moderately bitter but finishes with a slightly sweet yet clean aftertaste.
• Feel: The feel of a pilsner is light to medium with a lively amount of carbonation that leaves you feeling satisfied with each sip.

Non-Alcoholic Scottish Ale

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

Alcohol Content of Original: Variable. Typically Low-Moderate (3.0-5.0% ABV), although some styles are much higher (7% and above)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Non-alcoholic Scottish ales are known for their rich malty aroma with a hint of caramel and toffee.
• Flavor: The sweet maltiness is perfectly complemented by the caramel and toffee flavor that is balanced with the gentle bitterness of the hops.
• Appearance: Scottish ales are amber to dark in color and generally have good clarity.
• Taste: The taste of a non-alcoholic Scottish ale is moderately sweet and finishes off with a clean malty finish.
• Feel: The medium body of a Scottish ale has a moderate amount of carbonation that leaves the mouth feeling full and smooth.

Non-Alcoholic Kölsch

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Moderate (4.4-5.2% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: When it comes to a non-alcoholic beer that has a mild malty flavor with a subtle fruity and herbal undertone, the kölsch is a perfect choice.
• Flavor: The flavor of a non-alcoholic kölsch is clean and crisp and features a delicate malt characteristic that is complemented by a touch of bitterness.
• Appearance: Kölsch beers are known for their pale gold color and excellent clarity.
• Taste: You will find that the taste of a kölsch beer is the perfect balance of sweet malt flavor and bitter hops that will leave your pallet feeling clean and dry every single time.
• Feel: Non-alcoholic kölschs have a medium body with a moderate amount of carbonation that is both crisp and easy to drink.

Non-Alcoholic California Common (Steam Beer)

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

Alcohol Content of Original: Moderate (4.5-5.5% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: California common steam beers are known for their roasted malt aroma that is lightly fruity and blends perfectly with the woodiness of the hops.
• Flavor: The flavor of a California common beer is perfectly balanced and refreshing. It features a mild caramel sweetness and earthy bitterness that complement one another perfectly.
• Appearance: In general, California common beers are light brown and appearance and have good clarity throughout.
• Taste: You will find that California common beers are moderately sweet and leave your mouth with a crisp yet clean finish.
• Feel: The medium body of a non-alcoholic California common beer is complemented by a moderate amount of carbonation which leaves your mouth feeling smooth.

Non-Alcoholic Irish Red Ale

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Low-Moderate (3.8-5% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Irish red ales are known for their roasted malt aroma, caramel flavor, and light toffee undertones.
• Flavor: The smooth yet malty flavor is a perfect balance of toffee sweetness and bitter hops.
• Appearance: While most non-alcoholic Irish red ales future a deep red color, some can appear more amber in color.
• Taste: The taste of a non-alcoholic Irish ale starts off with a sweet maltiness and finishes clean and balanced.
• Feel: You will simply love the medium body and moderate carbonation of an Irish ale, which will leave your mouth feeling slightly dry and smooth after every sip.

Non-Alcoholic American Amber Ale

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Strong (4.5-6.2% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma : For most, the American amber ale is the most commonly non-alcoholic beer brewed at home. If features a caramel maltiness aroma, that is perfectly offset by the moderate hops.
• Flavor: The flavor of an American amber ale is a perfect balance of caramel sweetness and hop bitterness.
• Appearance: American ambers feature a reddish-brown color with good clarity.
• Taste: The initial taste of an American amber ale is balanced by mild sweetness and bitterness of the ingredients. The ale finishes off cleanly leaving your mouth slightly dry.
• Feel: Thanks to its medium body and moderate carbonation, the American amber ale is smooth yet flavorful.

Non-Alcoholic American Brown Ale

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

Alcohol Content of Original: Strong (4.3-6.2% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: The aroma of a non-alcoholic American brown ale is the perfect blend of roasted malt, sweet caramel, nutty undertones, and subtle hop bitterness.
• Flavor: American Brown ales are malty and rich, featuring a caramel and nutty sweetness that is gently balanced by the bitterness of the hops.
• Appearance: Generally, American brown ales are brown to dark brown but have a good level of clarity.
• Taste: The taste of a non-alcoholic American brown ale starts off moderately sweet and finishes off with a clean malty goodness.
• Feel: Most American brown ales are full-bodied with a moderate amount of carbonation leaving your pallet feeling smooth and full.

Non-Alcoholic American Wheat Ale

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Moderate (4.0-5.5% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Non-alcoholic American wheat ales are known for their light maltiness and subtle fruit aromas.
• Flavor: You will find that the wheat ale is crisp and refreshing, featuring a clean malt profile with just a slight hint of citrus.
• Appearance: Most non-alcoholic American wheat ales are a pale golden color and have a clear appearance.
• Taste: The initial taste of an American wheat ale is mildly sweet but finishes off slightly bitter.
• Feel: American wheat ales have a light to medium body with a lively amount of carbonation that makes them fun and easy to drink.

Non-Alcoholic American Blonde Ale

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate

Alcohol Content of Original: Low-Moderate (3.8-5.5% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: American blonde ales have a light maltiness, with a subtle amount of floral and citrus undertones.
• Flavor: The flavor of a blonde ale is clean and approachable, featuring a balanced sweetness from the malt and a bitterness from the hops.
• Appearance: American blonde ales are pale gold in color and future an excellent amount of clarity.
• Taste: The taste of a non-alcoholic American blonde ale is mildly sweet and finishes with a slight bitterness from the hops.
• Feel: The light to medium-bodied blonde ale has a mild amount of carbonation that is both smooth and refreshing.

Non-Alcoholic American Porter

Home Brewing Difficulty: Moderate to Advanced

Alcohol Content of Original: Strong (4.8-6.5% ABV)

Tasting notes

• Aroma: Non-alcoholic American porters have a roasted malt aroma that is balanced with a subtle amount of coffee, chocolate, and caramel undertones.
• Flavor: The flavor of a non-alcoholic American porter is rich and robust with a prominent coffee flavor that is balanced with a caramel sweetness and the bitterness of the hops.
• Appearance: American porters are dark brown to black in appearance and have good clarity.
• Taste: The taste of a non-alcoholic porter is moderately sweet with a pronounced bitterness from the hops, that leaves your mouth with a smooth and lingering finish.
• Feel: Non-alcoholic American porters have a full body with a moderate amount of carbonation that leaves your palette feeling creamy.

Final Words on Non Alcoholic Beer Types for Home Brewing

After scrolling through this list of non alcoholic beer types, you may still be wondering what the best option for you is. In which case, I’d perhaps ask – what do you like? What style would you enjoy drinking?

As mentioned above, it is generally easier to choose a non alcoholic beer type that is already lower in alcohol, as it means that you don’t need to make too many changes to the original brewing process for that particular style. Have a look at the table earlier, to help you quickly identify the styles that naturally have a higher alcohol content, and consider avoiding those, at least for your first few non alcoholic brews.

I have personally had good success with brewing low alcohol pilsners and lagers, and I don’t feel the flavor is impacted. The light, crisp nature of these beers seems to work well in a low alcohol format. Many commercial brewers sell non alcoholic beers in these types too, which highlights the suitability of these styles for low- or zero-alcohol beers.

Almost no style is off-limits, however, if you’re willing to experiment and accept a few mess-ups along the way. In future articles, we’ll post some recipes for brewing non-alcoholic variations of these beers.

Until then, cheers!

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