The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Beer in Taprooms: What the Craft Beer Community Is Saying
Since 2019, we’ve been asking a simple question:
“Are you offering non-alcoholic beer in your tasting room?”
It’s been fascinating to watch how the answers have changed. In just six years, more taprooms are embracing non-alcoholic options, and the shift says a lot about how our industry continues to grow and adapt.
I still remember posting that first poll. Around that time, I was starting to notice more headlines about emerging N/A brands. Then my doctor put me on a short-term medication and casually added, “Oh, and you can’t drink any alcohol for a couple months.” That moment sent me to the non-alcoholic beer aisle for the first time, and I started paying closer attention to what was out there.
Since then, we’ve continued to check in with the community. Here's what the numbers show.
What the Polls Say
Craft Beer Professionals has tracked industry sentiment on N/A beer through a series of polls over the past several years:
October 2019: A whopping 67 percent of respondents said they did not offer any non-alcoholic beer. Only 4 percent brewed their own, while 17 percent offered N/A beer made by someone else.
September 2022: Things started to shift. “Nope,” meaning they do not offer a non-alcoholic beer, dropped to 37 percent. Nearly half of respondents (46 percent) offered a non-alcoholic option not brewed in-house.
April 2025: The latest poll makes the trend impossible to ignore. Just 10 percent still say they don’t offer N/A beer. A full 80 percent now carry one made elsewhere. Only 7 percent brew their own.
Taprooms are over 370 percent more likely to offer a non-alcoholic beer from another producer today than they were in 2019.
Why It Matters
Offering N/A beer is about more than checking a box. It’s about taking care of your guests.
Taprooms today are about more than just alcohol. They’re community gathering places for all kinds of people. People who drink, people who don’t, people who eat, people with kids, people with dogs. People looking for unique experiences.
Not everyone who visits your taproom is there to drink alcohol. Some are the designated driver. Some are taking a break. Some are like me, happy to enjoy a couple of your delicious West Coast IPAs, then sip on something just as flavorful without the high ABV. Whatever their reason, they chose your space.
And here’s the thing. You do not have to personally love non-alcoholic beer to offer one. This is not about your preferences. It is about creating an experience for the people who walk through your doors. When you shift your thinking from what you like to what they need, the decision becomes a lot clearer.
When you have a thoughtful non-alcoholic option on your menu, you’re telling those guests they are just as welcome as everyone else.
The Business Case
This isn’t just about hospitality. It’s smart business.
N/A beer gives guests more reasons to stay longer and spend more
The more people in a party you can keep happy, the longer they all stay
It can boost check averages without adding labor
It positions your brand as one that listens and adapts
And no, you don’t need to brew it yourself. (Though shoutout to how impressive N/A brewing tech has become.) You can still reap the benefits just by bringing in a quality non-alcoholic brand your team and guests enjoy.
So, What Do I Do?
Non-alcoholic beer is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s becoming an expectation. In just six years, the jump in the number of taprooms offering an N/A option is mind-blowing.
Taprooms are built on community. They’re about creating an experience that makes every guest feel seen. If you’re not offering an N/A beer yet, it’s time to ask why not.
This isn’t a conversation about whether people are drinking less. It’s a conversation about what people are drinking. And if we do not innovate or simply stock a few tasty N/A options, someone else will.
Poll data was collected from Craft Beer Professionals community members: 112 responses in 2019, 182 in 2022, and 244 in 2025.