5 of the best non-alcoholic stouts and dark beers for St. Patrick’s Day
/It’s almost St. Patrick’s Day and that means reaching for a dark or stout beer. If you’re living a life with less alcohol, guest contributor Laura Silverman has you covered with a list of five of the best non-alcoholic stouts to add to your cart this year, and demonstrating there really is something for everyone!
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Why are stouts such a big deal in Ireland?
The origin story* of what we now know as a stout beer takes us on a few twists and turns before landing in Ireland. We begin this lesson in un-drunk history in the UK, traveling back several hundred years to the Middle Ages. Then, “stout” meant “strong” (as in a higher ABV) and the word could apply to any color or type of beer: you could ask for a dark stout or a pale one, like an ale. Their common thread? Both would get you tipsy, and fast. Stouts were popular with olde English porters (i.e., the guys who transported all sorts of stuff by foot) because they were cheap, took longer to spoil, were mostly unaffected by heat, and were strong. So popular were they with porters that stouts took on a whole new name: porter stout. Large amounts were being imported into Ireland; so some guy named Arthur Guinness became a brewer (and maybe you’ve heard of him?). And while iIn England, people preferred sweeter milk stouts, but in Ireland, they tended to be brewed dryer and less sweet. Fast forward many years, and this is what is now known as the Irish stout.
What is a non-alcoholic stout?
A non-alcoholic stout is a dark, full-bodied beer that has been brewed to contain 0.5% ABV or less. It retains the rich, roasted malt flavors of coffee, chocolate, and caramel found in traditional stouts.
How is alcohol-removed from stout beers?
When making non-alcoholic stout, brewers either adjust the mash temperature to keep alcohol levels very low in the tank, or remove the alcohol after brewing through methods like vacuum distillation or filtration. Since alcohol adds body, many breweries adjust the recipe with specialty malts or add nitrogen carbonation to maintain a smooth and creamy texture. The result is a dark beer that delivers the depth and character of a classic stout without the alcohol.
And now, here are four non-alcoholic stouts and a dark beer you should try for this St. Patrick’s Day.
Guinness 0.0
Best if you just want a classic Guinness without the alcohol
Remember that guy, Arthur Guinness? I think he was onto something. When you think of Irish beer, and especially stouts, Guinness immediately comes to mind. What I love about Guinness 0.0 (FYI - I’ve never actually had the leaded version) is how smooth of a pour it is, and we can thank the can’s nitro contraption for that. It’s been five minutes since I poured the beer into my pint glass and I’m here to report that there is still a foamy head! The power of nitro! The color is a gorgeous dark brown with a cream-colored head. On tasting, there’s some sweetness tempered by the bitterness, which is par for the course when talking about an Irish stout. Malty, toasty and roasty, this brew is both a splurge and a nutritional steal, clocking in at only 60 calories for the whole can. Thank you, Arthur!
Editor’s Note: I HAVE had the leaded version and it DOES taste like a dead ringer for the real thing!
2. Athletic Brewing Lodge Life
Best if you’re looking for a classic stout experience
Freshly poured, the head on this delectable limited edition dark non-alcoholic brew from Athletic is so deliciously creamy it’s almost like a gooey campfire s’more, which is exactly the vibe that this beer is going for. Notes of vanilla, cinnamon, chocolate (from cacao nibs), honey, and yep - you guessed it - marshmallow mingle with the maltiness from the barley. It’s sweet, but well balanced. And while there are hops (because, beer), what I love about stouts is that the hops are milder and pack less of a bitter gut punch. So if a cold beer could actually warm you up on a chilly winter’s night, this is the one to choose.
3. Athletic Brewing All Out Extra Dark (formerly All Out Stout)
Best for fans of bitter and hoppy beers
This Extra Dark has the same color as Lodge Life, and the same parent brewer, but I’ll be honest, it’s just not as good. and that’s because I’ve been spoiled by Campfire in a Can. I will say that All Out Extra Dark (in the olden days it was called All Out Stout, and I love a rhyme) delivers on bittersweet (definitely more bitter than sweet) chocolate notes with a whisper of coffee. The verdict? If you’re into more bitter stouts, this one’s for you. And certainly if it’s the only one available, you can’t go wrong. I just won’t grab it first.
4. Fair State Brewing Hyper Cold NA Dark Lager Style
Best if you want a lighter, lager-style dark beer
Based out of Minneapolis, MN, Fair State Brewing brews beer with alcohol and without it, alongside hop waters and low dose THC seltzers. I love a craft brewery that looks at NA options not as afterthoughts – but instead, as valid options for customers choosing to drink less booze or none at all. Their NA dark lager style looks like a stout and smells like one too, but drinks a lot like the lighter bodied beer that it is. Fermented with cold-fermenting yeast rather than a stout’s warm-fermenting one, this dark lager incorporates malts used in both lagers (pilsners) and in stouts (carafa) - the former because this is a lager and the latter to create deep color, body, and aroma. The brew also contains perle hops – a German hop that provides a good bittering agent paired with an herbaceous and spice-filled aroma. I was surprised that this lager was so bitter, because I often think of a dark beer as being slightly sweeter, smoother, and dessert-like. But Fair State’s non-alcoholic dark lager is, well, a lager. When you want a dark beer without residual heaviness, this is now your new go-to.
5. Three Kings Non-Alcoholic Lunar Pareidolia Stout
Best if you want dark beer taste combined with a functional drink and a sprinkle of magic
I’m in love. Three Kings is a tiny craft brewery in Denver specializing in kombucha, non-alcoholic beers, and a healthy dose of “woo” – the founder, Ben, lovingly goes all in (rather than all out – see above) on infusing all his beverages with adaptogens, crystals, Tibetan singing bowls, and more. His Lunar Pareidolia Stout is exquisite. On the nose, I’m getting notes of burnt caramel, chocolate, and coffee. The color is slightly lighter than some of the other stouts, almost like a very dark amber. There’s good head retention too. On first taste, I’m not sure if it’s the infusion of spirituality and functionality or just damn good flavor, but I pick up on so much nuance. I taste chocolate, coffee, caramel (just like the nose) but I’m also picking up on some kind of fruited magic. Cherry? It’s Cherry isn’t listed as an ingredient, but I’m definitely getting some dark cherry notes. It’s hoppy, it’s bitter, it’s sweet, it’s deliciously smooth. And with infused adaptogens like maca, ashwagandha, and shilajit (not sure about the amount of functionals in each brew?), my taste buds are happy, mellow campers.
Now you know the history of stout beer and some of my favourite non-alcoholic options. What will you be trying this St. Patrick's Day? Leave a comment below or share and tag @thelaurasilverman , @zeroproofnation and @somegoodcleanfun on Instagram!
About Laura Silverman
Laura Silverman is an alcohol-free trailblazer, digital cartographer, and founder of Zero Proof Nation (ZPN), a platform and resource hub (est. 2019) devoted to highlighting non-alcoholic beverage culture. She’s been booze-free since 2007 (long before it was trendy), kicking off her sobriety at just 24. Laura has served in advisory roles to for- and non-profits, bringing her expertise and lived experience to the table. She is a two-time judge at the World Alcohol Free Awards in London, head judge of The Daily Pour’s inaugural Zero Proof Choice Awards in New York City, a non-alc beverage workshop leader and collegiate guest lecturer, and recipient of Sans Bar Academy’s Leader and Innovator of the Year (2023) and NA Hall of Fame (2025) awards.
