Hey everyone, per usual my daily reviews/news/round ups likes this can be found below on IG:
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
September 2026 is in the books. 53 new to me brews. A special shout out to Go and Athletic (despite Athletic Black IPA achieving a top 5 here) they had multiple brews that were truly phenomenal.
What have you loved this month? Anything here that is a surprise?
As usual, you can find much more of content here:
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
Daily review, best of lists, news, etc.
Pumpkin beers!
There's something in here for lots of people this year depending on how you might prefer your pumpkin brews.
There was one additional NA pumpkin brew from Departed Soles in NJ but was taproom only and sold out quickly. These other 4 have varying levels of distribution with Athletic being the widest and Baxter being the smallest.
Which have you tried this year?
Welcome to the largest ever blind NA Oktoberfest tasting ever held. As of the time this was organized, this was every American produced NA Oktoberfest.
As usual my content can be found below for a daily NA beer review, news, and posts like this.
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
These were judged using the BJCP scoring system for the BJCP styles of Fesbier and Marzen. Since these style guidelines are based on full strength ones, the scores may be lower than expected. Judge them relative to one another. :)
Festbier scores out of 50 (average):
Sierra Nevada - 39
Athletic - 33
Untitled Art - 30
Woodland Farms - 26
Marzen scores out of 50 (average):
Sam Adams - 34
Go Brewing - 29
Point Brewing - 28
Atmos - 26
Best Day - 26
Founders - 25 *(see note at end)
You'll note that the slightly heavier and fuller style, Marzen, seemed a bit harder to pull off in NA form for us. However, outside of Sam's at top, the competition was a lot closer.
Sierra Nevada in fesbier style generally hit top in the categories for appearance, aroma, and flavor.
Sam's did the same for marzen.
This was a blast for us to run. As a group of big beer nerds, we took the task seriously and spent a lot of time judging and rating each of the beers within the style guidelines and our overall enjoyment.
Have you found a go to Oktoberfest style brew for you this season?
***Founders is the only brewery that does not list which Oktoberfest style it is. However, their full strength version is a marzen and the descriptions and tasting notes are near identical. We all felt this was so far out of style for a marzen, although a solid beer.
Welcome to the largest ever blind NA Oktoberfest tasting ever held. As of the time this was organized, this was every American produced NA Oktoberfest.
As usual my content can be found below for a daily NA beer review, news, and posts like this.
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
These were judged using the BJCP scoring system for the BJCP styles of Fesbier and Marzen. Since these style guidelines are based on full strength ones, the scores may be lower than expected. Judge them relative to one another. :)
Festbier scores out of 50 (average):
Sierra Nevada - 39
Athletic - 33
Untitled Art - 30
Woodland Farms - 26
Marzen scores out of 50 (average):
Sam Adams - 34
Go Brewing - 29
Point Brewing - 28
Atmos - 26
Best Day - 26
Founders - 25 *(see note at end)
You'll note that the slightly heavier and fuller style, Marzen, seemed a bit harder to pull off in NA form for us. However, outside of Sam's at top, the competition was a lot closer.
Sierra Nevada in fesbier style generally hit top in the categories for appearance, aroma, and flavor.
Sam's did the same for marzen.
This was a blast for us to run. As a group of big beer nerds, we took the task seriously and spent a lot of time judging and rating each of the beers within the style guidelines and our overall enjoyment.
Have you found a go to Oktoberfest style brew for you this season?
***Founders is the only brewery that does not list which Oktoberfest style it is. However, their full strength version is a marzen and the descriptions and tasting notes are near identical. We all felt this was so far out of style for a marzen, although a solid beer.
Hello, my usual content including a daily review, news, and roundups can be found here:
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
This is a slightly revised and updated version of what I posted early in the year.
There are different ways to create a non-alcoholic (NA) or alcohol-free (AF) beer. They vary quite a bit in techniques and equipment requirements.
Any surprises here? Which type do you tend to prefer?
I definitely land in the camp of preference to special yeast/modified fermentation. I find with alcohol removal I can often pick up a bit of a metallic off-flavor in the finish of those brews. There are exceptions to that.
I run an NA Beer instagram account found below. I post a daily review, plus best of lists, news, and other posts like this.
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
This was a lot of fun to host! A belated 40th birthday NA beer share and tasting here at my place. This same group of beer friends used to get together regularly to have a bottle share and crack open cans and bottles that we traded for online or went to breweries to retrieve... now an NA edition!
This group of us have all traveled far and wide for beer in our times. Multiple trips to VT for Hill Farnstead, to Belgium for Cantillon, and many other places around the globe.
There were some surprises to be sure. The top handful are a testament to the massive increase in options and quality of NA beer over the past few years.
Are you NA curious? That could be because you want to cut back alcohol. It could be that you want to still enjoy a beer when your on parent duty or have a big day coming up. It could even be that you just want to get even more Untappd ticks. 🤣
You can find me on Instagram for a daily review, news, and best of lists:
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
I had 58 new brews in the month of August. :) One day (maybe!) I'll start to run out of new ones to try... but today is not yet that day.
Honorable mentions to ENAY and Kirkstall brewery as all 4 of those brews were very very good.
Any surprises? Anything you're desperate to get your hands on?
You can find me on Instagram for a daily review, news, and best of lists:
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
I had 58 new brews in the month of August. :) One day (maybe!) I'll start to run out of new ones to try... but today is not yet that day.
Honorable mentions to ENAY and Kirkstall brewery as all 4 of those brews were very very good.
Any surprises? Anything you're desperate to get your hands on?
As usual, my Instagram page has a daily review, news, and best of lists:
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
This non-alcoholic (NA) beer is from Athletic Brewing Company, the largest NA brewery in the United States
Today we're looking at a just launched limited release, their Black IPA. This brew has been out once before in early 2022 and had rave reviews.
The beer is nearly black with a light khaki head. The look shows it's going to be something a little different from the endless stream of hazy IPAs currently around.
The aroma is outstanding. Roasted malt, coffee, and pine, creating the perfect bridge between a dark beer and a hop-forward IPA.
The flavor delivers exactly what the aroma promises. Roasted malt and coffee form the foundation, while classic West Coast-style pine and citrus hops provide balance and complexity. The citrus remains subtle, allowing the roast and pine character to work together rather than compete.
The light and medium body feels appropriate for the style. It provides enough substance to support the darker malt flavors while keeping the beer quite drinkable.
The finish is one of my favorite aspects of the beer. Moderately dry and pleasantly bitter, it encourages another sip and helps the beer avoid the sweetness that can sometimes creep into NA dark beers.
For those who have been drinking craft beer for a while, this beer feels like a wonderful callback to the era when Black IPAs, also known as Cascadian Dark Ales (CDAs), were everywhere. While the style may no longer dominate tap lists, Athletic has done an excellent job capturing what made those beers so appealing in the first place.
The blend of roasted dark malts and classic piney, citrus-forward hops is exceptionally well executed. Nothing feels forced, and every component works together beautifully.
This is a beer that immediately made me wish more breweries would produce Black IPAs.
An absolute must-buy for fans of the style and one of the better hop-forward NA beers currently available.
STOCK IT!
Have you tried Athletic's Black IPA? And where do you stand on the great Black IPA/CDA debate?
As always, you can find my content with daily reviews, news and roundups like this at:
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
As we get into Oktoberfest season, did you know that what is usually called 'Oktoberfest' style, is actually two different kinds of lagers?
Read above to learn the differences and which NA brews are actually of each type.
Which of the styles do you prefer?
As always, you can find my content with daily reviews, news and roundups like this at:
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
As we get into Oktoberfest season, did you know that what is usually called 'Oktoberfest' style, is actually two different kinds of lagers?
Read above to learn the differences and which NA brews are actually of each type.
Which of the styles do you prefer?
Hello all, I run the Instagram account NA.Beer.Nerd
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
I've been into craft beer heavily since about 2010. I've been to about 200 breweries, mostly in the US, but also quite a few internationally. I homebrewed for around 10 years in addition. I was a beer nerd through and through. Whether it was making trips to Vermont for Hill Farmstead or to Belgium for Cantillon... or driving hours and waiting in line for barrel aged stouts releases... or trading online frequently via BeerAdvocate.
I've been into NA beer since the tail end of 2020. Though my first NA brews I tried were back in the early 2010s. Since late 2025, I've pivoted to be completely NA focused and began running the Instagram account.
Looking for recommendations on beers you'd enjoy? Want to know where to buy certain types online? Where to import internationally? Questions about the process of making it?
AMA!
Hello all, I run the Instagram account NA.Beer.Nerd
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
I've been into craft beer heavily since about 2010. I've been to about 200 breweries, mostly in the US, but also quite a few internationally. I homebrewed for around 10 years in addition. I was a beer nerd through and through. Whether it was making trips to Vermont for Hill Farmstead or to Belgium for Cantillon... or driving hours and waiting in line for barrel aged stouts releases... or trading online frequently via BeerAdvocate.
I've been into NA beer since the tail end of 2020. Though my first NA brews I tried were back in the early 2010s. Since late 2025, I've pivoted to be completely NA focused and began running the Instagram account.
Looking for recommendations on beers you'd enjoy? Want to know where to buy certain types online? Where to import internationally? Questions about the process of making it?
AMA!
As always my NA Beer Instagram is below where I post a daily NA review, news, round ups ans best of lists:
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
What an amazing sight to see that there are FOURTEEN different fall themed releases in NA beer this year. Absolutely love to see the growth in the segment!
Which are you most excited about? Or what have you already had?
As always my NA Beer Instagram is below where I post a daily NA review, news, round ups ans best of lists:
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
What an amazing sight to see that there are FOURTEEN different fall themed releases in NA beer this year. Absolutely love to see the growth in the segment!
Which are you most excited about? Or what have you already had?
As always, my NA Beer instagram is found below. I post a daily review, plus best of lists, news, and other posts like this.
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
This was a lot of fun to host! A belated 40th birthday NA beer share and tasting here at my place. This same group of beer friends used to get together regularly to have a 'bottle share' and crack open cans and bottles that we traded for online or went to breweries to retrieve... now an NA edition!
There were some surprises to be sure. The top handful are a testament to the massive increase in options and quality of NA beer over the past few years.
As always, my NA Beer instagram is found below. I post a daily review, plus best of lists, news, and other posts like this.
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
This was a lot of fun to host! A belated 40th birthday NA beer share and tasting here at my place. This same group of beer friends used to get together regularly to have a 'bottle share' and crack open cans and bottles that we traded for online or went to breweries to retrieve... now an NA edition!
There were some surprises to be sure. The top handful are a testament to the massive increase in options and quality of NA beer over the past few years.
As always, you can find my Instagram below where I post daily NA beer reviews, news, and roundups.
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
The month of July 2026 is now in the books. I tried 53 new to me non-alcoholic (NA) / alcohol-free (AF) beers in total in July.
Shout outs to Go Brewing and Athletic as their July releases were all very tasty. All of their new brews could so easily be in a top 5 if there weren't such fierce competition here.
Let's keep this Renaissance of non-alcoholic beer going!
As always, you can find my Instagram below where I post daily NA beer reviews, news, and roundups.
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
The month of July 2026 is now in the books. I tried 53 new to me non-alcoholic (NA) / alcohol-free (AF) beers in total in July.
Shout outs to Go Brewing and Athletic as their July releases were all very tasty. All of their new brews could so easily be in a top 5 if there weren't such fierce competition here.
Let's keep this Renaissance of non-alcoholic beer going!
Hello friends, as always my IG account where I post a daily review can be found here:
https://www.instagram.com/na.beer.nerd
This non-alcoholic (NA) / alcohol-free (AF) beer is from Best Day Brewing. I've generally enjoyed their seasonal releases to date, so I was genuinely excited to crack open their new summer seasonal, Endless Mango IPA.
Unfortunately, this one didn't land for me. I absolutely love mango so this is not what I expected.
Pouring it into a glass, the beer has amber color, though the head dissipates almost immediately.
The nose is dominated by mango. Not fresh mango, not juicy tropical fruit, but an artificial mango character that immediately reminded me more of candy or a flavored beverage than a beer.
That same mango note completely takes over the flavor. Huge waves of artificial mango dominate from start to finish. Underneath, there is some malt character and a touch of bitterness, but any hop presence is almost entirely buried beneath the fruit flavoring.
The body is fairly light, which doesn't do much to help matters. I kept searching for the hop character that would justify the IPA designation, but it never really arrived. Instead, this drinks much more like a mango-flavored amber ale than an IPA.
Even viewed through that lens, I still struggled with it. The biggest issue isn't the concept, I enjoy fruit-forward beers, including IPAs with mango from Mash Gang and Athletic. The problem is that the mango tastes artificial enough that it becomes difficult to ignore. Rather than complementing the beer, it overwhelms everything else.
What makes this particularly disappointing is that Best Day's seasonal releases have often been among their strongest offerings. I went into this one with fairly high expectations based on previous experiences.
Endless Mango IPA is a beer I wanted to like far more than I actually did. The artificial mango character dominates the aroma and flavor to such a degree that the beer never really gets a chance to shine.
SKIP IT.