Brew the Best Non Alcoholic Beer Using These 5 Trending Hops

Want to attract new customers and increase sales? Brew the best NA beers with the full flavor and aroma of trending hops!

We won’t mince words. It’s time to add a Non Alcoholic Beer (or two!) to your menu.

Recent data from the Beer Institute shows a 22% category growth between January and April of this year and 57% of those surveyed said they would stay longer at a bar or restaurant if they had a wider NA beer selection.¹ 

Unlike hop waters, which are also growing in popularity, non alcoholic beers are meant to provide the same flavors, aromas, and textures as traditional beers – without the hangover. People shop for NA beer to practice moderation, support wellness goals, and simply because they taste GREAT.

Taste is kind of the whole point of this category! Consumers might not want the alcohol, but they still want a delicious drinking experience. So, give the people what they want! 

Attract new consumers, create taprooms that encourage longer visits (plus higher sales), and give them the FULL flavor experience without the alcohol! 

Want to know what flavors and aromas consumers crave in NA beers? Discover 5 hop varieties trending in popular non alcoholic beers!

1. Cascade

If you read Kitchen & Dining articles from Forbes³ or publications like Food & Wine⁴, then you already know NA beers from Best Day Brewing and Deschutes Brewery are winning hearts, minds, and awards. The NA West Coast IPA from Best Day Brewing⁵ was the runner-up for Forbe’s Best Non Alcoholic IPA, and Deschute’s NA Black Butte⁶ has won eight international awards on top of accolades closer to home.

What do these non alcoholic beers have in common? They’ve got the bright, zesty citrus of Cascade. In all honesty, we’re not surprised that Cascade-forward beverages are doing well. 

This hop played an integral role in beer culture’s evolution toward big hoppy flavors in the 1980s and 90s. Plus, it’s got BIG notes of grapefruit complemented by sweet florals, pine, and earthy spice. So, not only is it fun and nostalgic, it’s positively delicious.

2. Citra®

Citra® officially hit the scene in 2008 and it began winning awards almost immediately. In 2018, it overtook Cascade as the hop with the most US acreage, and by 2019, it amounted to 15.4% of all US hop acreage. With that in mind, it’s no surprise that consumers also love it in NA beers.

The unique tropical citrus flavor and aroma is what makes Citra® one of the most popular hop varieties. Common aroma descriptors include grapefruit, lime, orange, peach, melon, passionfruit, lychee, and more. This wide range of tropical citrus aromas allows brewers to get really creative.

For example, Athletic Brewing Company's Non Alcoholic Free Wave Hazy IPA uses a blend that includes Citra® to “generate bodacious aromatics of tangerine and grapefruit.”⁷ Forbes listed it as their Best Non Alcoholic Hazy IPA in July, and it’s not hard to see why.

3. Mosaic®

Named for its complex array of flavors and aromas, Mosaic® is distinctly fruity and floral without being overly sweet. Notes of earthy pine ground these characteristics for a well-rounded profile that’s truly unforgettable. 

It also has more than enough star power to shine in a single hop beer. Such is the case in Athletic Brewing Company’s NA Blueberry Mosaic IPA. The name alone really sells it, but their description of this limited beverage has us drooling. “Luscious, nuanced, and wonderfully distinct, it’s what poetry tastes like in IPA form.”⁸

This hop can also add depth when paired with other hops, and we’re specifically looking at Samuel Adams and their NA Just the Haze IPA. Using a blend of Citra®, Mosaic®, Sabro®, and Cascade, this special beverage has won multiple World Beer awards, taken home Gold at the Great American Beer Festival, and won Silver at the World Beer Cup.⁹ Trust us, you want to try this NA beer!

4. Amarillo®

The diverse array of flavors produced by Amarillo® have cemented it into the hearts and minds of craft brewers everywhere. Depending on when it’s harvested, you can experience a wealth of unique characteristics that make it extremely versatile.

Its early sweeter side contains notes of candy, floral lemon, and grapefruit, while mid harvests often bring out orange, stone fruit, and even savory elements. Late Amarillo® harvests have been known to include herbal qualities, cheese, and… fruit punch? Yep! This hop kind of has it all, which is part of the reason it’s so popular in NA beers.

It can also pair beautifully with other hop varieties, like in Sierra Nevada’s Trail Pass IPA. Using Amarillo® and CTZ varieties, this non alcoholic IPA is an exploration in hoppy notes of citrus and pine. “The silky malt body and clean hop bitterness are just what you’d expect from a world-class Sierra Nevada IPA….”¹⁰ Wow, is anyone else thirsty all of a sudden?

5. Simcoe®

It’s sometimes called “Cascade on steroids,” and the nickname fits. Simcoe® does a lot of heavy lifting, and it’s easy to see why people call it “dank” with such pungent aromatics. 

It’s powerfully piney and resinous with vibrant, balanced notes of fruit. Think black currants, berries, and tropical notes of passionfruit, grapefruit, and citrus zest. It’s arguably one of the most intense American hop varieties in terms of aroma, and brewers always come back for more despite a love/hate relationship with the word dank.

Honestly, it’s the kind of tasting experience you really need to have first-hand. For that, we recommend checking out Nada’s IPA . Nada is a collection of award-winning NA craft beer from Community Beer Company in Texas, and this particular NA beer gets a LOT of flavor from blending Simcoe®, Sabro®, and Mosaic®.¹¹

Brew the Best-Tasting NA Beers with Abstrax

At Abstrax, we provide novel solutions for beverage manufacturers of all sizes looking to streamline, innovate, and gain a competitive edge. With our knowledge, technology, and extensive resources, we’ve crafted our collections to provide recognizable flavors and aromas that consumers love.

Contact us today, and let’s create the best-tasting Non Alcoholic Beer to round out your beverage portfolio!

1. Non-Alcohol Beer Growth Trends . Beer Institute. (2025, June 24). https://www.beerinstitute.org/data-economic/non-alcohol-beer-growth-trends/

2. Kaczorowski, Mikolaj. (2024, February 16). A Year of Innovation in Beer and Cider, 2024. [Market Report]. Mintel. https://www.mintel.com/

3. John, S. (2025, July 25). Best Non-Alcoholic Beers 2025 - Forbes Vetted. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/article/best-non-alcoholic-beer/

4. Holl, J. (2025, March 21). These Are The Best Nonalcoholic Beers in America, According to the Best of Craft Beer Awards. Food & Wine. https://www.foodandwine.com/best-nonalcoholic-beers-in-america-best-of-craft-beer-awards-2025-11699944

5. West Coast IPA. Best Day Brewing. (n.d.). https://bestdaybrewing.com/products/west-coast-ipa

6. Black Butte Non-Alcoholic. Deschutes Brewery. (n.d.). https://deschutesbrewery.com/collections/non-alcoholic/products/black-butte-non-alcoholic

7. Free Wave: Non-Alcoholic Hazy IPA. Athletic Brewing Company. (n.d.). https://athleticbrewing.com/products/free-wave?irclickid=14KU633BXxycUYYwfPz0twisUkp2%3A%3AU9w37NVM0&utm_source=impact&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=10078&utm_content=10078_Online+Tracking+Link_889587&irgwc=1

8. Athletic Brewing Blueberry Mosaic Non-Alcoholic 6-pack. Athletic Brewing Company. (n.d.-a). https://athleticbrewing.com/products/blueberry-mosaic

9. Non Alcoholic Just The Haze. Samel Adams. (n.d.). https://www.samueladams.com/our-beers/non-alcoholic/just-the-haze

10. Shop Trail Pass IPA: Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (n.d.). https://sierranevada.com/brews/trail-pass-ipa

11. Nada IPA. NADA Non-Alcoholic Beer. (n.d.). https://www.nadabrews.com/products/nada-ipa?variant=44156362064149