From many years working in the restaurant industry, I grew a deep appreciation for food and drink. I love crafting a great cocktail and tasting wine, beers, and liquors. I decided on an no alcohol September (it isn’t just for January). No particular reason; I just wanted to see how I felt. It gave me time to try out some alcohol-free options. I was impressed. Here are some I tried and one of my own recipes. With the wedding and barbecue season moving quickly upon us, these are some excellent options for alcohol-free guests or yourself.
Kombucha
Kombucha is a lightly sparkling beverage made by fermenting black or green tea and sugar with a culture of various bacteria and yeasts. It is fermented but considered to contain no alcohol, coming in under .5%. It has a unique taste, is effervescent and refreshing, somewhere between fruit juice and a sour beer. You can drink it alone or mix half kombucha and sparkling water and garnish it with a lemon, lime, or orange slice.
PROS
- There are lots of different flavors to choose from, spanning from ginger, berry to Turmeric.
- Relatively low in calories. Most are around 90 calories, and mixing with sparkling water cuts that down even more.
- Depending on the kombucha you get, there can be health benefits to drinking it. Some may include (but aren’t limited to) antioxidants, a potential source of probiotics and could be detoxifying.
CONS
- It has a unique flavor that isn’t for everyone.
- You can drink too much, which could cause issues. Stick to 12oz or less per day, no pounding kombucha.
- All kombucha is not the same. Check for sugar content and other unnecessary additives.
Some of my favorite kombuchas are Aqua Vitea’s, Hibiscus Ginger Lime, or Health–Ade. But there are so many others!
Shrubbly
Shrubbly is a sparkling shrub drink with no alcohol. What is a shrub, you ask? A shrub (also known as drinking vinegar) is sugar, vinegar, and fruit. Shrubbly makes theirs with apple cider vinegar and organic fruit grown in Vermont and mixed with bubbly water. Shrub + Bubbly = Shrubbly. There are two flavors Lemon Ginger and Aronia Berry Pomegranate.
PROS
- A refreshing bubbly flavor that isn’t too sweet.
- Made locally in New England, I met the owner at the tasting where I first found Shrubbly.
- Apple cider vinegar and the organic honey used to sweeten it are known to have some health benefits.
- It is canned, so convenient to serve at parties, BBQs, or tailgates.
- Free shipping!
CONS
- if you don’t like apple cider vinegar, this may have too much tang for you, but I loved it.
Curious Elixirs the Craft Cocktail With No Alcohol
Curious Elixirs are specialty craft cocktails containing no alcohol. In their own words, they are “Curiously complex booze-free cocktails infused with adaptogens to help you unwind.” Old school cocktails like the Negroni and Margarita inspired them. World-class bartenders, herbalists, and food scientists create the recipes.
PROS
- I felt like I was drinking a specialty drink, right down to the garnishing notes.
- I loved the herbaceous and botanical flavors, which reminded me of an old-school cocktail.
- There are other health benefits to each drink recipe, like boosting energy, relaxation, or aphrodisiac.
- In addition to no alcohol, they contain no refined sugars, and all ingredients are organic.
- I LOVE the vibe of this company. They understand that people don’t drink for many reasons and want more than a club soda. And whoever thought of “shaken, not slurred” is genius.
CONS
- Only available online and pay to ship.
- It may not be for you if you don’t enjoy a herbaceous, botanical, or complex cocktail.
- They are a little spendy at about $36 for eight 6 oz servings (a little less if you purchase more or get a subscription) Which I did!
Order here.
Beer with No Alcohol
This one is pretty self-explanatory. It is beer sans the alcohol (or less than .5%, to be exact)
PROS
- They are perfect for barbeques, tailgating, and get-togethers. It will be cold and refreshing in a cooler.
- The taste was decent.
- Some have fewer calories than alcoholic beer, and you probably won’t drink as many.
CONS
- The flavor was decent, but it didn’t knock my socks off; not all the flavors I tried were great.
- To my knowledge, there are no other health benefits.
My favorite was Sam Adams, Just the Haze, Non-Alcoholic IPA. I also liked Brew Dog, Hazy AF.
There are so many drinks without alcohol if you are taking a break from drinking, are alcohol-free, or want to be clear-headed all night and bright-eyed in the morning. As a host, it is best practice to have options for all your guests. This coming wedding and barbecue season season is the perfect time to try some.
Comments are closed