Find non-alcoholic drinks for parties, concerts, cookouts and other social events.
Skipping drinking does not mean skipping the party.
Whether you are heading to a backyard cookout, concert, wedding, game night or crowded summer festival, the non-alcoholic drink for you is one that fits into the occasion.
Here is how to choose one.
What makes a good non-alcoholic drink for a social event?
A strong option usually checks four boxes:
It feels festive
Part of enjoying a drink is the ritual: opening it, raising it for a toast and sharing the experience with the people around you.
It has flavor
A well-made non-alcoholic beer or cocktail-inspired brew gives you something more interesting to sip throughout an event.
It’s fit for the occasion
The right non-alcoholic option should feel like a genuine choice, not a consolation prize retrieved from the back of the refrigerator.
Non-alcoholic beer for a backyard party
Cookouts call for drinks that are refreshing and versatile enough to work with many different foods.
A golden such as Upside Dawn works well with grilled chicken, vegetables and lighter fare. For burgers, barbecue or spicy dishes, the hop character of Free Wave Hazy IPA can stand up to stronger flavors.
For especially hot afternoons, Athletic Lite or Athletic Lite Lime & Salt provide a crisp, lighter-bodied option.
What to drink at a concert when you want something non-alcoholic
Concerts require a slightly different strategy.
Choose something:
- Sessionable
- Flavorful
- Available in a portable can or cup
A light-bodied non-alcoholic beer is a dependable choice for a long show. An IPA works when you want something bolder, while a cocktail-inspired brew can provide a bright alternative.
Check the venue’s current beverage options before attending, since selection and outside-beverage policies vary.
Non-alcoholic options for weddings
Weddings are marathons disguised as parties. You may want something crisp during cocktail hour, a versatile brew with dinner, and a crisp option when the dancing begins.
Good choices include:
- Cocktail-inspired brews during cocktail hour.
- Golden with appetizers
- IPA with spicy or rich entrées
- Light-bodied brews during dancing
When you are hosting, offer more than one non-alcoholic option and display it as prominently as the alcoholic selections. Guests shouldn’t have to ask multiple people where the NA drinks are hiding.
How to bring non-alcoholic beer to a party
A few practical rules make sharing easier:
- Bring enough to offer other people one.
- Chill it before you arrive whenever possible.
- Choose a variety pack when you do not know everyone’s taste.
- Bring a style that complements the food.
-
Do not assume you will be the only person who wants one.
Non-alcoholic beer is no longer reserved only for people who do not drink. Guests may choose it because they are driving, pacing themselves, or simply prefer it that evening.
Your Privacy Choices
