Two New Seasonal Irish Brews For St. Patrick's Day

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Guest contributor Laura Silverman tries out two new Irish-style brews from Athletic Brewing Co.

With a solid lineup of flagship brews, Athletic Brewing Co. is always doing something different like new seasonal releases, pilot brews for monthly subscribers and collab brews with aligned celebrities. While Athletic has their year-round All Out Extra Dark and their seasonal release, Lodge Life (see my reviews to both here), their nitro-infused Emerald Cliffs is a brand new seasonal addition to the lineup, along with their Irish Red. All of this just in time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, minus the hangover.

Athletic Brewing Co. is the most popular non-alcoholic beer brand with the most sales volume for a craft brewery in the U.S. (and Canada too).  Co-founded by Bill Shufelt and John Walker (head brewer) in 2017, Athletic Brewing Co. quietly started out in Stratford, CT as a hyperlocal craft brewery. I first heard about them from a friend in early 2018, and at that time it was nearly impossible to get a hold of a can if you weren’t local to Connecticut. Fast forward to 2026, Athletic produces out of two massive breweries: one in Milford, Connecticut and the other in San Diego. Nationally and internationally distributed, the brand has become the world’s largest brewing company focused solely on non-alcoholic beer. 

It’s always a treat to try out their seasonal brews, so here is a short review of both. 

Athletic Brewing - Emerald Cliffs (Irish-Style Dry)

Emerald Cliffs is Athletic’s answer to an Irish-Style Dry like Guinness 0.0, but is just a touch sweeter. Clocking in at 90 calories with 21g of carbs, this decadent brew is certainly a dessert-like treat, but a much better caloric bargain than its alcoholic counterpart (which usually can clock in at 150 calories for 12oz, on average).

I have to say, this nitrogen-infused brew is smooooooooth pouring into a glass, getting good head (foam) retention - it’s even smoother going down the hatch. Let’s talk nitrogen though, and what that does. Instead of just being carbonated by CO2 (carbon dioxide), this brew is carbonated with a mix of CO2 and N2 (nitrogen). Nitrogen is less soluble in water, which allows for smaller and more abundant bubbles, resulting in a creamier, velvety texture and mouthfeel and giving us that signature nitro foam when poured.

The science gets even cooler, though. Nitrogen helps reduce acidity and bitterness, which are so often part and parcel with beer, especially IPAs. Because of this cheat code, warm flavors like cocoa and coffee get amplified in the Emerald Cliffs brew. I give this a solid 9/10. 


Athletic Brewing - Irish Red (Irish-Style Red)

You know you’re having an Irish-style red brew when you see that gorgeous dark copper color in the glass. I’ll admit I’m a little less familiar with this style of beer than with a stout (you know I love me some dark beers), but a simple Google search tells me that while this style may look a lot like an amber ale, it tastes quite different. Amber ales are more bitter and hop forward, while Irish-style reds are more malt-forward and favor caramel and maybe even dark stone fruit notes. So right away, I’m getting a smoother, toastier aroma and flavor profile. Did you know that amber ales typically use American hops and malts while Irish-style reds use ingredients sourced from the other side of the pond? I’d say Athletic nailed this brew based on what my expectations were. If you’re looking for a non-alc beer that’s not a stout this St. Paddy’s day, then reach for this Irish red, clocking in at 80 calories and 16g of carbs. I give this an 8/10.

What will you be trying this St. Patrick's Day? Leave a comment below or share and tag @thelaurasilverman and @somegoodcleanfun on Instagram! 

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.