I love a good IPA. I love that sour punch in the face. The refreshing, light taste reminds me of summer. Of beaches on the best day ever. Sun on my face and being outside.
Lately I have ramped up the activity level in my lifestyle and find that sipping a beer doesn’t fit into my daily routine like it once did. So I’ve found myself searching for alcohol-free options.
You know. “Near Beer.” “Fake Beer.” I’m reminded of the episode of “The Simpsons” that showed Homer asking Apu, the convenience store clerk, for non-alcoholic beer. Apu pointed to the lone six pack in the fridge that was covered in spider webs.
But the microbrew industry has been embracing non-alcoholic brews in recent years, and there are quite a few really goods ones available now. Take the offerings from Best Day Brewing. I came across these brews at The Running Event in Austin a few months ago. Here’s the lineup:
Best Day Brewing Hazy IPA
- Vibrant aromas
- Soft bitterness
- Tropical fruit notes
- Pairs well with: Surf, mountains, barbeques
- 53 calories
Best Day Brewing KÖLSCH
- Crisp
- Refreshing
- Lightly hopped
- Pairs well with: Sunshine, trailheads, fish tacos
- 55 calories
Best Coast Brewing West Coast IPA
- Citrus aroma
- Aggressively hopped
- Long finish
- Pairs well with: Road trips, picnics, beach days
- 68 calories
Best Day Brewing’s Story
A look at the above descriptions provided by Best Day Brewing should give you a hint of where they are based – the brews pair with surf, beaches, mountains. The northern-California company began as a search for a solution to a problem. Tate Huffard, a craft-beer-loving outdoor sports enthusiast and new parent, was looking for ways to cut back on drinking alcohol. The increasing demands of work, early morning surf sessions, and really early morning baby wake-ups, prompted Tate to search for alternatives. Though he enjoyed alternatives like sparkling waters and kombuchas, they weren’t at all like cracking open an ice-cold, full-flavored craft beer – especially in social situations.
Seeing his favorite craft beer in his fridge with 4-, 6- and 9-percent alcohol, he wondered why the same great beers didn’t exist with no alcohol. So, with that simple idea the adventure started. After five years of experimenting, tinkering, testing, and tasting the team was finally able to create non-alcoholic craft beers that met their incredibly high standards – beers that they were truly proud of. Best Day Brewing was born, and the resulting beers are now Best Day’s flagship products.
Brews for “Adventure-Seeking Thirsty Souls”
Best Day Brewing now aims their offerings at “those who rise before the sun, blaze trails, build things, and appreciate what it means to crack open a great beer and savor life’s special moments.” Also, They have dedicated themselves to making the world’s best-tasting craft beer, without the alcohol. And the result is beer for the fun-loving, hard-charging, adventure-seeking thirsty souls for whom good is just not good enough.
And it’s better than good. I’ve had the Kolsch, and it’s a pale, clear and bright hoppy brew. I also dig the West Coast IPA. It’s very hoppy and very citrusy. Just the way I like it.
Here’s the deal Outsiders … right now the Best Day Brewing products aren’t available in the Tennessee River Valley. The company says it’s coming soon to Georgia, but for now you can order in Alabama and Tennessee from their website.
