In case you haven’t noticed, the non-alcoholic craft beverage sector has undergone quite the glow up as of late. No longer just a token offering for designated drivers, it’s now a fast-growing segment of the beverage industry – redefining what it means to enjoy a cold one – from NA craft beer and ciders to hop water, seltzers and mocktails. The sober curious movement is in full swing, and a number of local breweries are taking notice.

Non-alcoholic beer is brewed just like traditional beer, using water, malt, hops, and yeast and must contain less than 0.5% ABV. And while you might be sitting there reading this and scoffing at the idea of NA beer, rest assured that this new wave of NA isn’t anything like your dad’s NA beers – you can find non-alcoholic versions of stouts, IPAs, hefeweizens, and more. These aren’t flavorless fizzy lagers anymore.

While modern-day movements like Dry January and Sober October have certainly helped spur on the non-alcoholic resurgence, the reasons behind it are actually plenty. In addition to improved taste, expanded offerings and enhanced brewing techniques, drinkers are more mindful and conscious about what they consume.

The global non-alcoholic beer market is projected to exceed $40 billion by 2030, according to some forecasts. While major brands like Heineken, Budweiser, and Guinness have launched their own zero-alcohol lines and dedicated NA brands like Athletic Brewing and Go Brewing are thriving, the local non-alcoholic scene is booming, and here are a handful of options to quench your sober curiosity.

NA Trainwreck Amber and NA Sabre’s Edge Double IPA

Pearl Street Grill & Brewery – 76 Pearl St., Buffalo

Pearl Street is embracing the art of NA craft beer with Trainwreck, a German Amber Ale, and Sabre’s Edge, a Double IPA. The former is light-bodied, smooth and malty with a cereal note, while the latter is hoppy and light, so light in fact, you will not know you are actually drinking a Double IPA. Both are available on draft, while Trainwreck is available in cans.

Hella Fresh Hop Water

Riverworks Brewing – 359 Ganson St., Buffalo

Hop water is basically sparkling water flavored with hops, but unlike beer, it has no alcohol, no malt, and usually no calories or sugar. And Riverworks’ Hella Fresh is one of the best around locally. Brewed with Mosaic and Citra hops, it’s refreshing, thirst-quenching, actually flavorful and hydrating, all at the same time. Hella Fresh is available in cans.

NA Blueberry Wheat

Ellicottville Brewing – 28 Monroe St., Ellicottville

EBC’s non-alcoholic version of their flagship Blueberry Wheat Ale is everything you’d expect from this beer, just minus the alcohol. It’s light, crisp and refreshing with notes of blueberry. Like I said, this beer offers everything you’ve come to expect from the more traditional Blueberry Wheat, without the booze. NA Blueberry Wheat is available in cans.

NA Burner

Big Ditch Brewing – 55 E. Huron St., Buffalo

When it was first released in late 2024, NA Burner marked Buffalo’s first canned non-alcoholic beer in nearly a century. It’s light-bodied and closer in nature to Dayburner Session IPA with notes of citrus, orange peel and melon. This beer finishes clean. NA Burner is one of the standard bearers of local NA offerings. You can find it in cans.

Hop Falls Hop Water

Butera’s Village Brew House – 32 Main St., Hamburg

Butera’s Village Brew House non-alcoholic Hop Water is hopped with New Zealand Superdelic hops, lightly carbonated and crushable with a soft fruit note and light bitterness. According to head brewer Andrew Hardin, the use of pelletized hops, as opposed to extracts, provides a more natural and less refined flavor. He adds that the brewery may expand to use more hops in the future in their hop water. Butera’s Hop Water is available in cans.

Downshift IPA

Southern Tier Brewing – 2072 Stoneman Circle, Lakewood, 7 Scott St., Buffalo

Southern Tier Brewing’s first non-alcoholic beer, Downshift IPA, features all of the hallmarks of a traditional American IPA, just without the alcohol. This is a West Coast-style NA that’s crisp, clean and hoppy with notes of citrus and berry. Downshift IPA is on draft at all of Southern Tier’s taprooms, as well as in 6-pack 12oz. cans wherever great beer is sold.

All In IPA

Other Half Brewing Buffalo – 1 Seneca St., Buffalo

Other Half Brewing has released a new non-alcoholic IPA, All In, brewed with Citra, Simcoe, and Centennial, to drink like a real Other Half IPA. “You asked for it, we answered: All In Hazy Non-Alcoholic IPA. No shortcuts. No compromises. It’s not like any NA IPA you’ve tried before. Because it actually tastes good,” the brewery said. All In is available in 6-pack 12oz. cans at all Other Half taprooms, select retailers, and online for at-home delivery.

Tropical & Citrus Hop Waters

New York Beer Project – 6933 S. Transit Rd., Lockport, NYBP Beer Lodge, 245 Windward Rd., Orchard Park

New York Beer Project is getting in on the action with a pair of hop waters. Tropical Hop Water is brewed with Galaxy and Idaho 7 hops with passion fruit and guava. It’s fruit forward, dry, clean and crisp. Citrus Hop Water is brewed with Motueka and Citra hops with combination with lemon, Lime and grapefruit. It’s hop forward, dry, clean and crisp. In addition to no alcohol, hop water has no calories, carbs, sugar or gluten. These are both available on draft.

Betty AF & Brewers Water

Brazen Brewing – 5839 Genesee St., Lancaster

Brazen’s Betty AF is an alcohol free version of their hard seltzer Total Betty (passion fruit, peach, strawberry and orange) and Brewers Water is a hop water brewed with Citra hops. Both are on draft at the brewery.

Non-alcoholic beer is no longer just a compromise—it’s a choice. Whether you’re sober, sober-curious, or just want to enjoy a beer without the buzz, the non-alcoholic revolution means you no longer have to sit on the sidelines. You’re drinking beer—just differently.

Brian Campbell is co-founder and Brand Manager of the Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on X (@buffbeerleague), Instagram, Threads and Untappd (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).