Athletic Brewing Alcohol-Free Beers

Athletic Brewing is the single most important alcohol-free brewery of the last decade. Founded in Connecticut in 2017, they've done more to prove that non-alcoholic beer can be genuinely world-class than anyone else — and their UK expansion has brought that craft-first philosophy to British drinkers.

Who are Athletic Brewing?

Athletic Brewing was founded by Bill Shufelt and John Walker with a radical idea for the time: an entire brewery dedicated only to alcohol-free beer. Not a side project. Not a bolt-on to an existing lineup. An NA-only craft brewery. Every decision — grain selection, hop varieties, yeast strains, fermentation profiles — optimised for making the best possible alcohol-free beer.

It worked. Athletic grew from a small Connecticut startup to the most recognisable alcohol-free craft brand in North America, with a valuation approaching unicorn status. Their flagship Run Wild IPA has won comparisons to full-strength session IPAs from established craft breweries. They're now stocked across the UK and have built genuine cult status among runners, cyclists and health-conscious drinkers.

What makes Athletic Brewing different?

NA-only specialism

Because Athletic makes nothing but alcohol-free beer, every grain bill, every hop selection, every brewing decision is optimised for the NA format. That single-focus expertise shows up in the glass — their beers don't taste like stripped-down versions of alcoholic beers. They taste like they were designed to be what they are.

Craft-first positioning

Athletic's branding, pricing and pub presence is unapologetically craft. They compete with mid-tier IPAs and lagers from established breweries, not with mass-market lager brands. That positioning has lifted the whole alcohol-free category — Athletic proved drinkers would pay craft prices for craft-quality NA beer.

Endurance-sport culture

Athletic has leaned hard into an active, outdoorsy brand identity. Their sponsorships, partnerships and content are built around runners, trail cyclists, and adventure athletes — the original demographic that drove early NA beer adoption. It's authentic, and it's brought a new audience into the category.

The Athletic Brewing range: our top picks

Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA (0.5%)

The flagship. An American-style IPA with grapefruit, pine and citrus hop character, a firm bitter finish and enough body to hold its own next to any session IPA. If you've doubted that alcohol-free IPA can deliver, Run Wild is the beer that settles the argument. Widely considered the best NA IPA in the world.

Athletic Brewing Upside Dawn Golden (0.5%)

A clean, refreshing golden ale — lower bitterness than Run Wild, softer malt character, and a crisp dry finish. Athletic's gateway beer for drinkers coming from lager backgrounds. Pairs well with food and sessions brilliantly.

Athletic Brewing Free Wave Hazy IPA (0.5%)

The hazy alternative to Run Wild. Juicier, softer, more tropical. If you drink full-strength NEIPAs and want an alcohol-free equivalent that doesn't compromise on mouthfeel or aroma, Free Wave is it.

Is Athletic Brewing worth the hype?

For IPA drinkers, absolutely. Athletic has genuinely solved the problem of making world-class hoppy beers without the alcohol, and their consistency across releases is remarkable. Run Wild in particular is a beer every serious NA drinker should try at least once.

For further context, see our in-depth Athletic Brewing review or browse the full alcohol-free IPA category.