The best alcohol-free beers wines and spirits for Dry January

What was once a niche corner of the drinks aisle has rapidly evolved into one of its most creative and competitive spaces.

Gone are the days when “not drinking” meant warm lime and soda or a flat, apologetic lager substitute. Today’s no- and low-alcohol — or “NoLo” — offerings are carefully crafted, beautifully packaged and designed to deliver flavour, complexity and occasion without the hangover.

From sophisticated spirits alternatives to crisp beers and elegant sparkling options, there’s now something to suit almost every palate and pour.

Whether you’re simply looking to try something new or committing to a longer-term break from alcohol, the choice has never been better. It’s worth noting the labels, though: while some drinks are genuinely zero per cent, others contain up to 0.5 per cent alcohol. For anyone avoiding alcohol for religious, medical or personal reasons, sticking to zero-alcohol options is the safest bet.

For the rest of us, the appeal lies in flexibility. NoLo drinks allow you to enjoy the ritual of a drink — the glassware, the flavours, the social moment — without compromising on clarity the next morning. They also invite experimentation, encouraging drinkers to rethink what they actually want from their glass.

Over the past month, I’ve been tasting my way through a wide range of alcohol-free and very low-alcohol drinks, from supermarket staples to more premium pours. Some impressed, some surprised, and a few have earned a permanent place in my fridge. These are my standout NoLo favourites from Dry January — and the ones I’ll happily keep drinking long after it ends.

Beers

There is a low-or-no version of pretty much every major brand lager on the market from the wonderfully crisp Stella Artois to the fresh and clean Corona and the thirst-quenching Bud (which I actually prefer to its alcoholic equivalent), but – as yet – nothing in the realm of John Smiths or Bombardier or Boddingtons to be seen.

While the range of alcohol-free lagers and pils and IPAs is expanding at an incredible rate, it can be a challenge to find a suitable unleaded alternative for bitters and darker ales.

There are, thankfully, a number of very impressive low-alcohol or alcohol-free stouts around.

The dark beers and stout options

Galactic Milk Stout by Big Drop has a smoky finish to it courtesy of some warm coffee notes, and their Reef Point is packed with deliciously satisfying malt flavour.

Nirvana Brewery was founded by Becky Kean in 2016 and was the UK’s first-ever dedicated non-alcoholic brewery. 

She produces beers in the most popular styles (and without ridiculous names or bubblegum-syle flavours!) including three lagers (such as ‘Cloudy Lemon’ – based on the German ‘radler’ style; much akin to our shandy) and a stout. They also produce seasonal specials such as this month’s Chocolate Milk Stout – one of the best I’ve tasted. 

For those who want bolder flavours still, Mash Gang ’s Lesser Evil Chocolate and Cherry stout is a very palatable option – no surprise it picked up ‘Non-alcoholic Beer of the Year’ ahead of the likes of Guinness 0.0.

Jump/Ship’s Stoker’s Stout is also something special. It’s a deep, dark colour, and has a great finish. While descriptions tend to lean on the coffee, vanilla and chocolate tones, none is so pronounced as to be overpowering. It’s made at Scotland’s first and only non-alcoholic brewery, founded by Sonja Mitchell. 

Sonja and her team of five produce five core beers – Yardam lager, Jackstaff IPA, Stocker’s stout, Flying Colours pale ale and Steamboat hazy pale ale  – with seasonal brews throughout the year (Haar, a New England IPA is always a hit).

There are some alcoholic stouts on the market that are so overly chocolatey or vanilla-ery as to be unpleasant and difficult to finish. But the Stoker’s Stout manages to balance its flavours well and there’s a smokiness that is a nice nod to the idea of men toiling to load coal into a ship’s boiler furnace.

It’s a lot thinner than Guinness 0.0%, so while it’s not a meal in a glass, it’s certainly a substantial mouthful.

For those who might prefer a fuller-bodied bitter as their alcoholic tipple, alcohol-free alternatives are not easy to come by.

Nirvana’s Best Amber Ale is probably the closest thing to a pint of bitter you’ll get in the alcohol-free world, with a warm, faintly caramel aftertaste and very little of the fizziness of the lagers and IPAs.

Also worth mentioning is Nirvana’s lovely Hefweizen wheatbeer, which has all the fragrant, wheaty flavours of any traditional German or Austrian wheat bear.

But what of all those lagers, pils and IPAs?

Well, the good news is some of these are virtually indistinguishable from their alcoholic counterparts.

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Bero is a low-alcohol brand with a bit of star power behind it. It was jointly formed by Superman actor Tom Holland (perhaps Bero is a pun on hero?) who went teetotal after Dry January in 2022. Its repertoire of four crisp, fresh beers that don’t feel like all fizz with little body, as some can. And unlike some other ranges, it’s not been tempted – yet – to stray into flavourings that are too exotic or verge on making the beer taste more like pop. There are two IPAs, a pils, and a wheat beer. Served ice cold, they’re refreshing and light.

Lucky Saint is really starting to break through into the pubs in a way some others aren’t – particularly on tap. It is genuinely hard to distinguish it from an alcohol beer when served on a bar top in a tall pint glass. In bottle or can form it’s available as a mixed lager, IPA and lemon lager. While a citrus twist doesn’t sit well with everyone, it’s just subtle enough as to add to its level of refreshment without tasting like shandy.

Firebrand Brewing Co’s Shorebreak is full of zesty, refreshing hoppiness to it (their Little Wave is also excellent), and Athletic Brewing Co’s Upside Dawn Pale Ale is a similarly crisp, lively drink, of which a good gulp ice-cold from the fridge will provide a little energising shiver.

Purity Brewing Co’s Point Five has a copper orange appearance and sweet malt backbone. Hopped and dry hopped again with organic nelson sauvin, mosaic, citra and wakatu hops, it has citrus notes of grapefruit and lime.

Similarly Adnam’s Ghost Ship is a bright and flavourful mouthful that’s starting to make an appearance in more and more bars now.

Impossibrew helps drinkers unwind naturally, using natural nootropics and  adaptogens. Its lager and pale both scooped prizes at the World Beer Awards and won a Great Taste Award.

Collider is, like Impossibrew, an alcohol free beer that says it has mood-enhancing qualities. It claims to provide a “buzz without the hangover,” and while for various reasons it’s not always possible to tell if something has indeed given you a buzz, it’s certainly possible to establish that it has, indeed, not give you a hangover.

The lager with a hint of peach could have been in danger of being a little on the weird side, but the floral note was actually very pleasant on the palate. Definitely on to try.

Wines

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These days, there are almost as many non and low sparkling whites on the shelves as their regular counterparts.

La Gioiosa 0.00% alcohol free sparkling (£6.50) has been created by the Moretti Polegato family, experts in viticulture, in Treviso in the heart of ‘Prosecco country’ for generations. It’s a pale straw yellow with intense, fine bubbles and a fruity aroma with clear hints of ripe golden apple, exotic fruit salad. We drank it as an aperitif, and it worked well as a light and fruity drink to start the evening.

Freixenet 0.0% Alcohol Free Sparkling White (£5) is clean and fruity, with a standout freshness. It has a smooth, rounded mouthfeel that reflects the excellent quality of the base wine. Freixenet Alcohol Free Sparkling 0.0% pairs beautifully with a wide range of dishes, especially light appetizers.

They also do an excellent Alcohol Free Sparkling Rose, again for £5 from ASDA, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons.

ASDA Extra Special Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc Low Alcohol Wine, 0.5 is light and easy to drink. If one of the reasons to forego booze in the leanest month of the year is saving money, try this reasonably priced own-brand fizz, based on a sauvignon blanc. 

Nozeco Sparkling is another affordable and very drinkable light zero-alcohol fizz, dominated by white flowers and muscat white grapes. It’s a refreshing choice to enjoy as an apéritif, perfect for celebrations. 

At the other end of the price spectrum, Bolle, 0.5% ABV from Bolledrinks.com were some of the first to introduce secondary fermentation, and you can certainly taste it. The wines capture the essence of traditional wine, offering a non-alcoholic option that offer a real depth, and complexity. Both have plenty of fine bubbles, with flavours of crisp apple, juicy pear, zesty citrus, and a touch of minerality. These aren’t cheap, but are great for a treat.

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Zonin Cuvee Zero 0% has been made by one of Italy’s oldest wine families from Glera – the grape variety used to make Prosecco, and it’s a dry, alcohol-free glass of fizz with a creamy mousse of pear and green apple, with light citrus and florals and a long finish that gives a nod to the sensation of alcohol. 

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For the non-sparkling whites, Not Guilty Zero Alcohol Pinot Grigio NV (Virgin Wines ) is a good option. Packed with notes of citrus and pear, it worked well with food, and while very much on the lighter end of the wine spectrum, it would be perfect served very cold on a summer day.

Moderato is now sold in Majestic stores up and down the country, as well as online. Created to be enjoyed with food, it comes in red and white, and has been de-alcoholised and blended, starting with a vinted wine. The Moderato Cuvee Revolutionaire Colombard was really good served very cold with dinner, a zesty and refreshing accompaniment to a meal. 

Getting red wine right is tricky. They all seem to be thinner and lacking the depth of a true red. But Eisberg has the right idea with its Pinot Noir, 0%, which is juicy and light, with flavours of blackcurrant, cherry and sweet spices. We tried it with pasta, and it was easy to drink and enjoyable. 

Della Vite Zero (£14.99, Selfridges)  is a French rosé-style 0% sparkling wine. Made from selected Grenache grapes, it is carefully de-alocholised to retain all of the flavour and texture. With just 2.7g of sugar and 12kcal per 100ml, it is your one-stop-shop for showing up 100%, with 0% of the hangover.

Mocktails and aperitifs

Della Vite Aperiti-No Spritz (£20 for pack of 8) is part of Della Vite’s new range of canned Spritzes, the Aperiti-No is an alcohol-free Aperitivo Spritz – citrusy and herbal for a sophisticated sip. Each cocktail is inspired by Italy’s most iconic serves and are been blended with the flavours and ingredients found in its region of origin, promising bar-quality cocktails on-the-go.

Kombucha

Kombucha is a fermented drink made from tea, sugar and a bacterial culture called a scoby. It might not sound hugely appetising, but it’s a great alternative to alcohol, and unlike many drinks, it’s actually good for you, thanks to its good bacteria. It has a grown up flavour, and tastes a bit like alcohol, so is often served in its place.

LA Brewery Sparkling English Blush NV (Virgin Wines ) feels like a celebratory drink, and comes packed with fresh rhubarb and subtle strawberry leaf on the nose, followed by a burst of peachy sweetness on the palate.

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Try Dry (Counter Culture Amazon or Wise Bartender) the Bristol-based kombucha brand, has launched this light and naturally tangy, citrus-packed organic kombucha drink. With punchy yuzu, this citrus explosion is perfect for anyone craving something zesty and refreshing. It’s good to see that 5% of all sales from Try Dry go straight to Alcohol Change UK to support their vital work to tackle alcohol harm.

Spirits

Aldi is giving shoppers even more reasons to raise a glass (without the alcohol) with the launch of its Greyson’s 0% can range in Pink Berries Lemonade and London Dry and Tonic (both 79p). The ready-to-drink cans offer a convenient and refreshing alternative to alcohol, for a bargain price.

There’s a great sense of occasion about ANON (£12 for 20cl or £20 for 70cl, from Anon ) non-alcoholic spirits, flavoured with distilled botanicals which have been filtered to remove the alcohol.

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The Bittersweet Aperitif fills the space in my life left by a negroni, with its blend of bitter wormwood, vermouth, orange, gentian and quassia extracts. The English Garden is good too – like a non-alcoholic Pimms, perfect for a sun-kissed summer afternoon in the garden (I can dream).

Similarly, CleanCo founded in 2019 by entrepreneur Spencer Matthews, CleanCo includes a Clean T (Tequila), Clean G (Gin), Clean G Rhubarb (Rhubarb Gin), Clean R (Rum), and Clean W (Whiskey). While you wouldn’t mistake any of them for alcohol, they all work well in cocktails or with a mixer, served with a fancy glass and lots of ice.

Whatever your tipple, there’s plenty of choice. I found so many that I liked that I don’t think I’ll be rushing back to alcohol any time soon. Here’s to a dry February and beyond.