Celebrate the Long Weekend Without the Hangover

Memorial Day weekend means backyard grills, mountain sunsets, good friends, and cold drinks on the patio. But in 2026, more people than ever are reaching for non-alcoholic beer while still wanting the full craft beer experience.

The good news is today’s NA beers are nothing like the watered-down versions from years ago. Modern brewing techniques have completely changed the category, creating non-alcoholic beers with real flavor, aroma, and body. Whether you’re training for a race, cutting back on alcohol, staying sharp for the weekend, or simply wanting to feel great the next morning, there are now outstanding options available.

The non-alcoholic beer market continues to explode in popularity heading into summer 2026, and Memorial Day is the perfect time to stock the cooler with a few new favorites.

Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA

One of the biggest names in the non-alcoholic beer movement continues to dominate for a reason. Athletic Brewing’s Run Wild IPA remains one of the best-reviewed NA beers on the market.

This beer delivers piney hops, citrus notes, and a crisp finish that genuinely tastes like a true craft IPA. It pairs perfectly with burgers, grilled vegetables, barbecue, and spicy foods.

Even longtime craft beer drinkers are often surprised by how authentic this one tastes. It’s refreshing, balanced, and easy to drink all afternoon without feeling weighed down later.

Best Day Brewing Kölsch

For Memorial Day afternoons in the sun, Best Day Brewing’s Kölsch-style ale is one of the cleanest and most refreshing options available.

Light malt flavors, subtle fruit notes, and a smooth finish make it incredibly easy to pair with grilled chicken, fish, pasta salads, or lighter barbecue fare.

This is the type of beer that feels perfect sitting outside with friends after a long hike or backyard cookout.

Athletic Brewing Lite and Upside Dawn Golden

If you want easy all-day patio drinking, Athletic Lite and Upside Dawn Golden both deliver.

Athletic Lite keeps things simple with clean lemon-lime notes, low calories, and a crisp finish that feels especially refreshing on warm days. Upside Dawn adds slightly more body and floral hop character while still staying incredibly approachable.

Both work extremely well for long weekends where pacing yourself matters.

Samuel Adams Just the Haze

Samuel Adams made a major splash in the NA category with Just the Haze, a hazy IPA packed with grapefruit, tropical fruit, and juicy hop flavor.

This beer comes remarkably close to the flavor profile of a traditional hazy IPA and pairs especially well with wings, barbecue ribs, tacos, and grilled sausages.

For people skeptical about non-alcoholic beer, this is often one of the easiest gateway options because the flavor feels familiar and modern.

Guinness 0.0

Dark beer fans no longer have to miss out.

Guinness 0.0 has become one of the most impressive non-alcoholic recreations on the market. It maintains the roasted coffee, chocolate, and creamy mouthfeel that made the original famous worldwide.

It’s especially good paired with steak, mushrooms, grilled portobello burgers, or even chocolate desserts after dinner.

Many reviewers say it’s one of the closest-tasting NA versions of any major beer currently available.

Local Boulder Favorite: Upslope’s Non-Alcoholic Offerings

Boulder’s craft beer scene continues to embrace the growing NA movement as well.

Upslope Brewing has introduced non-alcoholic offerings that fit perfectly with Colorado’s active outdoor lifestyle. Expect crisp, refreshing flavors designed for afternoons on the trail, backyard gatherings, or relaxing with views of the Flatirons after a long day.

For Boulder locals wanting to support hometown breweries while skipping alcohol, this is an easy choice.

Heineken 0.0 and Corona Cero Continue to Grow

Mainstream non-alcoholic beers have also improved dramatically over the last few years.

Heineken 0.0 remains one of the most widely available and approachable options for casual beer drinkers, while Corona Cero has become increasingly popular for beach days, cookouts, and warm-weather gatherings.

Served ice cold with lime, Corona Cero especially captures that classic summer beer feeling without the next-day sluggishness.

Perfect Memorial Day pairings done right — cold drinks, smoky barbecue, summer flavors, and zero regrets.

Perfect Memorial Day Pairings

Burgers and Brats

Run Wild IPA or Just the Haze pair beautifully with rich grilled meats and smoky barbecue flavors.

Grilled Chicken or Fish

Best Day Kölsch and lighter lagers work perfectly with seafood, grilled vegetables, and salads.

Steak or Ribs

Guinness 0.0 brings enough depth and roasted flavor to complement heavier dishes.

Spicy Foods

Hazy IPAs help cool down spicy wings, tacos, or jalapeño-heavy barbecue sauces.

Why Non-Alcoholic Beer Is Booming

People increasingly want balance. They want to enjoy social gatherings, stay active, sleep better, and still wake up feeling energized the next morning.

Thanks to advancements like vacuum distillation and modern brewing technology, today’s non-alcoholic beers — typically containing less than 0.5% ABV — finally deliver the flavor people expect from real craft beer.

The result is a category that no longer feels like a compromise.

Final Hosting Tips

For Memorial Day gatherings, variety matters. Stock a few IPAs, a couple crisp lagers, and at least one darker option for guests who prefer richer flavors.

Serve everything ice cold in real pint glasses rather than cans whenever possible. Add sparkling waters, hop waters, or alcohol-free mocktails to round out the drink station.

This Memorial Day, you no longer have to choose between enjoying great beer and feeling your best. The non-alcoholic options available in 2026 are genuinely impressive, and more people are discovering that the experience can be every bit as enjoyable.

Fire up the grill, grab a few six-packs, and enjoy the long weekend with great flavor, good company, and zero regrets.

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