Non-alcoholic drinks are booming

N/A beverages grew 22% in 2025. But 92% of people who buy them also purchase regular alcohol.

Americans still drink, just less

54% of Americans drink alcohol, unchanged from last year. Only 13% report overdrinking now, down from 35% in 1989.

The N/A quality problem

While some non-alcoholic options are great, most aren't. This gap leaves drinkers wanting something better.

Enter mid-strength beer

Ultra low-alcohol beers range from 2.5 to 3.5% ABV. They're lower than session beers but higher than N/A options.

Sierra Nevada launches Go-Two

The brewery released a 2.8% ABV IPA about a month ago. They avoid the term "mid-strength" on labels to not limit appeal.

“What we didn't want to do was limit people's willingness to try it by putting too big of a category on it.”

Brewing them is tricky

Making stable, good-tasting beer below 3% requires skill. Alcohol above 4% helps with flavor, quality, and stabilization.

“To make a a stable, good tasting beer below 3 percent is actually very tricky.”

They taste like real beer

Sly Fox's 2.5% IPA and Pils are crisp and flavorful. Alcohol elevates beer flavors in ways N/A versions can't match.

“When I tell people that we made a 2.5 percent ABV IPA that tastes great, they just kind of look at me.”

Not quite lite beer

Mid-strength beers contain around 120 calories and more carbs than lite beers. But they're far lighter than 300-400 calorie double IPAs.

Multiple breweries are jumping in

Beyond Sierra Nevada and Sly Fox, Saranac, Founders, and Dad Strength are all making ultra low-ABV beers.

Targeting the dad market

Brewers aim at guys who won't drink 7.5% IPAs anymore because they have to work and parent the next morning.