The following article appeared in the December 6, 2025, edition of The Charlotte Ledger, an e-newsletter with smart and original local news for Charlotte. We offer free and paid subscription plans. More info here.
A longtime craft-beer fan breaks down his go-to zero-proof choices for game days, from sturdy stouts to hoppy hazy IPA
Thinking about Dry January? Now might be the time to start sampling non-alcoholic beers, such as Guinness 0, Partake Brewing’s range of different styles (upper right) or Sierra Nevada’s Trail Pass options (lower right). (Photos: Guinness from Shutterstock; Partake and Sierra Nevada courtesy of those companies)
by Jay Ahuja
The new year is here, and if you’re like me, you might be eyeing Dry January. I first tried it in 2023. I went cold turkey — not easy during NFL playoff season, when weekends with friends and a drink in hand had been a lifelong ritual.
For years, I’d traveled to craft breweries around the country — Rogue in Oregon, Russian River and Lagunitas in California, 3 Floyds in Indiana. But when I was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, the calories and carbs in craft beer made giving it up a no-brainer.
So Dry January wasn’t as tough as I expected. What I missed wasn’t alcohol — it was the routine of holding a cold drink while watching a game. That first year, I swapped in ice water. And I did notice a difference: better sleep, a few pounds lost, less fog on Monday mornings. I celebrated a successful month by returning to bourbon on the rocks for the Super Bowl.
The next year, I experimented. I tried a non-alcoholic bourbon — a bust. Then a former boss suggested Guinness 0, Guinness’ non-alcoholic beer. I doubted it but picked up a four-pack. To my surprise, it tasted like a stout, was filling and scratched the itch on game days. I stocked up, and January flew by.
Last year, I branched out. Guinness 0 remains my benchmark — 60 calories, 13.5 carbs — but I found other NA options that actually taste like beer and satisfy like craft brews, all with less than 0.5% alcohol.
A few standouts:
◼️ Athletic Brewing
Upside Dawn Golden: 45 calories, 10 carbs. Smooth, hoppy, wheat-like.
Free Wave Hazy IPA: 70 calories, 16 carbs. A nice bite; my favorite of the three.
Athletic Lite: 25 calories, 5 carbs — bland but serviceable, especially after a workout.
◼️ Sierra Nevada
Trail Pass IPA: Citrus and pine, 95 calories, 20 carbs. Higher-cal, but a solid IPA.
Trail Pass Golden: Malty with a fruity aroma. Similar nutrition numbers, plus a surprising 1g fat. I preferred the IPA.
◼️ Partake Brewing
I first tried a Partake Blonde last summer on Bald Head Island — the only NA option at the bar. Light but flavorful for a 15-calorie beer. Partake brews exclusively NA beers, all under 30 calories, with styles ranging from Pilsner to Hazy IPA. Worth exploring.
◼️ Resident Culture
If you are regular at local microbreweries, fear not. There are options available. Resident Culture offers at least three nonalcoholic options, all labeled N.A.R.C. for Non Alcoholic Resident Culture.Their Hop Water is a sparkling mineral water, hopped with Citra, Mosaic and Centennial hops. It’s more like a seltzer water than a beer. Very refreshingLime and Sea Salt is a non alcoholic malt beverage. Light, but tastes like a Mexican beer.Their IPA is non-alcoholic IPA hopped with Citra and Mosaic hops. Of the three Resident Culture NA beers I tasted, this is my favorite.
Taste is personal, of course. If stouts aren’t your thing, start with a Golden or an IPA. But for my money, Guinness 0 is still the standard — great taste, reasonable calories, and often reasonably priced.
The good news: Breweries big and small have stepped up their NA game. Just in time for the playoffs.
Jay Ahuja has lived, worked and played in Charlotte since 1986. He has one wife, two stepsons and one dog. He’s had two sports travel guidebooks published and produced a documentary film, “Live From The Double Door Inn.” He serves on the Charlotte advisory Board of North Carolina Outward Bound School and recently retired from WDAV 89.9FM, the region’s classical public radio station.
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