Basqueland Alcohol-Free Beers

Basqueland is a craft brewery in Hernani, just outside San Sebastián, founded in 2015 by two Americans living in the city. Its alcohol-free beers carry the Hero name, and two of them, both IPAs, are in our directory.

Who are Basqueland?

Kevin Patricio and Ben Rozzi, two Americans living in San Sebastián, started Basqueland in 2015. It brews in an industrial estate in Hernani, and its brewmaster is Oscar Saenz, who has worked at BrewDog and Camden Town. Basqueland had brewed more than 300 different beers by 2022, and trade press put its output at over 800,000 litres in 2024.

The Barcelona Beer Challenge, an international competition that, Basqueland says, drew nearly 200 breweries from 16 countries in 2026, has named Basqueland best brewery four times: in 2021, 2022, 2024 and 2026. Basqueland also runs Izakaia, a tavern near Zurriola beach in San Sebastián serving Asian food with its beer.

Is Basqueland independent?

Not any more, by the usual definition. In April 2025 Corporación Hijos de Rivera, the family group that owns Estrella Galicia, bought into Basqueland. Basqueland called it an alliance; the size of the stake hasn’t been published, but Alimarket reported that Hijos de Rivera had joined the shareholders, and Just Drinks and other trade outlets reported a majority stake. Basqueland says it has Hijos de Rivera’s backing, and Inside.beer reported that it keeps operational independence in brewing. Because a large brewing group now owns part of it, we’ve removed our Independent badge.

The Hero range

Hero Hazy IPA was Basqueland’s first alcohol-free beer, in 2024: an unfiltered, unpasteurised hazy IPA with Vic Secret and Cashmere hops and, Basqueland says, “aromas of mango, ripe stone fruit, and hints of citrus”. Hero West Coast IPA followed, with Citra and Mosaic for “subtle citrus notes” and “that dry finish we love”; Basqueland says it won gold in the alcohol-free category at the 2026 Barcelona Beer Challenge.

Basqueland also sells Hero Tostada, a 0.5% amber ale, and Hero Stout. It doesn’t say how it keeps the strength to 0.5%, and it doesn’t publish nutrition figures; a German retailer’s label listing gives the West Coast IPA 26 kcal per 100ml.

The Basqueland beers in our directory

Both 0.5% ABV, from Basqueland’s shop, checked October 2026. Basqueland doesn’t publish nutrition figures.

Where to buy Basqueland in the UK

Dry Drinker lists both Hero IPAs in cases of 6, 12 and 24 cans, from about £25.75 for six, but both were sold out, marked “Back Soon”, when we checked on 26 October 2026; that’s an affiliate link. Wise Bartender doesn’t sell Basqueland. In Spain, Basqueland sells them from its own shop.

For more Spanish alcohol-free beer, see our guide to Spanish alcohol-free beer, and for the two IPA styles side by side, our hazy vs West Coast IPA guide.

Facts checked against Basqueland’s website and shop, the Barcelona Beer Challenge, Alimarket, Just Drinks, Inside.beer, Brewers Forum, Beyond Beer and Dry Drinker, October 2026.