Athletic Brewing Review 2026 - Taste, Ingredients & Honest Verdict

Q: Is Athletic Brewing completely alcohol free?

Athletic Brewing products are <0.5% ABV, which is classified as alcohol-free under UK and US regulations. They are not 0.0%.

Q: How many calories are in Athletic Brewing beer?

Varies by product. Athletic Lager: 25 calories. Run Wild IPA: 65 calories. Free Wave Hazy IPA: approximately 70 calories.

Q: Is Athletic Brewing gluten free?

No. Brewed with malted barley, wheat, and oats. Contains gluten.

Q: Where can I buy Athletic Brewing in the UK?

Online at uk.athleticbrewing.com, Wise Bartender, and Dry Drinker. In-store at Whole Foods. Not currently in major UK supermarkets.

Q: What does Athletic Brewing taste like?

Depends on the product. Run Wild IPA has solid hop character with citrus and pine. Athletic Lager is extremely light and crisp. Free Wave is tropical and hazy. The IPA range is the stronger offering - the Lager is too light for some.

Q: How does Athletic Brewing compare to IMPOSSIBREW?

Athletic focuses on replicating craft beer styles without alcohol. IMPOSSIBREW goes further with 375mg of functional ingredients (L-Theanine, Ashwagandha, Vitamin B1, Magnesium) designed to replicate the relaxation of a real drink. If you want a craft AF IPA, Athletic is worth trying. If you want the calm as well as the taste, IMPOSSIBREW is designed for that.

Quick Facts

Brand	Athletic Brewing Company
Products Reviewed	Run Wild IPA, Athletic Lager, Free Wave Hazy IPA
ABV	<0.5%
Calories	25–65 per can (varies by product)
Sugar	Low (varies by product)
Gluten Free	✗ (contains barley, wheat, oats)
Vegan	✓
Price (approx)	£12.99 per 6-pack (~£2.17 per can)
Available	uk.athleticbrewing.com, Whole Foods, Wise Bartender, Dry Drinker
Trustpilot	3.5/5 (very few reviews)

What Is Athletic Brewing?

Athletic Brewing Company is a US-based non-alcoholic brewery founded in 2017 by Bill Shufelt and John Walker in Stratford, Connecticut. They claim to be the world’s largest dedicated non-alcoholic brewery and have won over 185 awards.

The brand entered the UK market in 2025, selling online and through a growing number of specialist retailers. As of early 2026, UK distribution is expanding - they secured listings at Whole Foods and Wise Bartender - but they remain far less accessible than homegrown UK options.

Athletic’s positioning is premium craft AF beer for active lifestyles. The branding leans heavily into fitness, outdoor activities, and the idea that not drinking should not mean missing out on good beer. It works in the US market. Whether it translates to UK drinking culture is another question.

Product Range (UK)

Athletic Lager - A light, malt-forward lager. 25 calories per can. The lightest product in their range.

Run Wild IPA - Their flagship. Five Northwest hops give it citrus, pine, and floral notes. 65 calories per can. This is the product that won most of their awards.

Free Wave Hazy IPA - Tropical and citrusy with Amarillo, Citra, and Mosaic hops. Newer to the UK market.

Geralt’s Gold Hoppy Helles - Online-only. Limited availability.

The US range is much larger (50+ brews annually), but only the core four are consistently available in the UK.

Ingredients & Brewing Process

Athletic uses a proprietary brewing process with 10–12 modifications across standard brewing stages to retain full-strength body, aroma, and flavour without producing alcohol. They do not dealcoholise after the fact - the process is designed to prevent significant alcohol formation while preserving craft beer character.

Core ingredients: - Malted Barley (premium, organic, from US and Germany) - Wheat and Oats (for body and mouthfeel) - Hops (variety depends on product - Northwest blends, Citra, Mosaic, Amarillo) - Water - Yeast

All products are vegan-friendly and contain no artificial additives. They are not gluten-free.

Taste & Drinking Experience

Run Wild IPA: - Solid hop character - citrus and pine come through clearly - More bitter than most AF IPAs, which is either a pro or con depending on your taste - Good body for an AF beer - it does not feel watery - The closest thing to a “real” IPA flavour in the AF category

Athletic Lager: - Extremely light - bordering on flavoured water for some palates - Clean, crisp, inoffensive - At 25 calories, it is clearly targeting the fitness crowd over beer enthusiasts - Fine served ice-cold, unremarkable at room temperature

Free Wave Hazy IPA: - Tropical fruit and citrus are more pronounced than Run Wild - Hazy mouthfeel adds body - The most interesting flavour profile of the three

Athletic’s Trustpilot profile shows 3.5/5 but with very few reviews (mostly US-based). One noted: “By far the best non-alcoholic beer I’ve found. Downside, it’s kind of expensive.”

The price criticism is consistent. At ~£2.17 per can before shipping, Athletic is among the more expensive AF options in the UK, especially considering you are paying for US import logistics.

Nutrition Breakdown


Per can	Athletic Lager	Run Wild IPA	Free Wave Hazy IPA
Calories	25	65	~70
ABV	<0.5%	<0.5%	<0.5%
Vegan	✓	✓	✓
Gluten Free	✗	✗	✗

Athletic Lager’s 25-calorie count is notably low. Run Wild and Free Wave are in the standard AF range.

What Customers Say

Athletic has a 3.5/5 on Trustpilot with very few reviews, mostly from US customers:

Positive:

“I have tried a few of Athletic’s brews, and have to say, by far the best non-alcoholic beer I’ve found. Their Upside Dawn is really pretty good.” - Trustpilot, 5 stars, March 2021

“25,000+ five-star reviews” - claimed on Athletic’s own site (unverified independently)

Mixed:

“Kind of expensive. However I’ve found the price is cheaper at the liquor store than buying directly from them.” - Trustpilot, 5 stars

Common themes from broader reviews:

Run Wild IPA is consistently praised as a credible AF IPA globally
Price is the main complaint - premium even by AF standards
UK availability is frustratingly limited compared to the US
The Lager is seen as too light by some - more of a wellness drink than a beer

Pros & Cons

Pros

Run Wild IPA has genuine hop character - a credible AF IPA available
Proprietary brewing process retains flavour without dealcoholisation
185+ awards - credible recognition, not just marketing
Very low calorie options (Athletic Lager: 25 cal)
All-natural ingredients, vegan friendly
Strong brand with authentic fitness/active lifestyle positioning

Cons

Expensive - ~£2.17/can before shipping, premium even for AF
Limited UK availability - online and select specialists only, not in major supermarkets
US import means longer delivery times and higher environmental footprint
The Lager is too light for many beer drinkers
Not gluten free
No functional ingredients - a craft beer experience, nothing more
Trustpilot presence is minimal (few UK reviews to verify quality)
UK range is only 4 products vs 50+ in the US

Who Is Athletic Brewing Best For?

Athletic suits a specific niche in the UK:

IPA fans - Run Wild and Free Wave are genuinely good AF IPAs
Fitness-focused drinkers - the 25-calorie Lager targets this directly
US craft beer fans who already know the brand
People willing to order online - you will not find this in Tesco

How Does Athletic Brewing Compare?

Athletic is positioned as premium US craft in a market dominated by UK and European brands.

Lucky Saint is more widely available, cheaper, and better suited to lager drinkers. Less interesting for hop-forward fans.
Days Brewing offers true 0.0% with Scottish craft credentials. Polarising taste but similar DTC-only positioning.
Big Drop is the closest UK equivalent - a dedicated AF brewery with a wider style range. More accessible for UK buyers.
IMPOSSIBREW approaches the category differently. Beyond craft brewing quality, IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager contains 375mg of the Social Blend - L-Theanine, Ashwagandha, Vitamin B1, and Magnesium - designed to promote genuine relaxation. Athletic gives you a well-brewed AF beer. IMPOSSIBREW gives you the feeling of having had a drink. [→ Compare with IMPOSSIBREW]

Athletic makes credible AF craft beer, especially in the IPA space. But in the UK, the high price, limited availability, and US-import logistics put it at a disadvantage against homegrown alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Athletic Brewing completely alcohol free?

Athletic Brewing products are <0.5% ABV, which is classified as alcohol-free under UK and US regulations. They are not 0.0%.

How many calories are in Athletic Brewing beer?

Varies by product. Athletic Lager: 25 calories. Run Wild IPA: 65 calories. Free Wave Hazy IPA: approximately 70 calories.

Is Athletic Brewing gluten free?

No. Brewed with malted barley, wheat, and oats. Contains gluten.

Where can I buy Athletic Brewing in the UK?

Online at uk.athleticbrewing.com, Wise Bartender, and Dry Drinker. In-store at Whole Foods. Not currently in major UK supermarkets.

What does Athletic Brewing taste like?

Depends on the product. Run Wild IPA has solid hop character with citrus and pine. Athletic Lager is extremely light and crisp. Free Wave is tropical and hazy. The IPA range is the stronger offering - the Lager is too light for some.

How does Athletic Brewing compare to IMPOSSIBREW?

Athletic focuses on replicating craft beer styles without alcohol. IMPOSSIBREW goes further with 375mg of functional ingredients (L-Theanine, Ashwagandha, Vitamin B1, Magnesium) designed to replicate the relaxation of a real drink. If you want a craft AF IPA, Athletic is worth trying. If you want the calm as well as the taste, IMPOSSIBREW is designed for that.

Verdict

Athletic Brewing makes credible AF craft beer - particularly in the IPA space. Run Wild is competent: hoppy, bitter, and flavourful.

But for UK consumers, the practical barriers are real. It is expensive, hard to find, and you are paying a premium for US import logistics. The brand has huge recognition in America but is still establishing itself here. If you can get it at a reasonable price, the IPAs are worth trying. The Lager, however, is more of a wellness beverage than a beer.

And like every brand on this list, Athletic removes the alcohol but stops there. It does not attempt to replace the relaxation, the wind-down, or the social ease of having a real drink. It is an excellent craft AF beer - and that is both its strength and its ceiling.

→ See our full IMPOSSIBREW vs Athletic Brewing

Looking for More Than Just a Beer?

IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager - the alcohol-free beer with 375mg of functional ingredients designed to help you relax. 84% of IMPOSSIBREW customers report feeling genuinely relaxed.

Shop IMPOSSIBREW

Impossibly Relaxing Alcohol-Free Beer

Next Generation Alcohol-Free Beer

IMPOSSIBREW®: The Enhanced Non-Alcoholic Beer designed as an alternative to full ABV beers using science-backed ingredients.

Enjoy a healthier daily wind down with the beer that matches the taste and feeling of traditional alcohol.

Keep the pleasure and ritual of drinking without worrying about your health.

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Next Generation Alcohol-Free Beer

IMPOSSIBREW®: The Enhanced Non-Alcoholic Beer designed as an alternative to full ABV beers using science-backed ingredients.

Enjoy a healthier daily wind down with the beer that matches the taste and feeling of traditional alcohol.

Keep the pleasure and ritual of drinking without worrying about your health.

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Got Questions?

Find our most commonly asked questions below or ask our AI Brewer for instant answers.

What is IMPOSSIBREW®?

IMPOSSIBREW® is a pioneering non-alcoholic beer brand based in the UK that aims to create the world's most complete alcohol alternative.

Founded by Mark Wong in 2021 and working with some of the world's best professors, scientists and expert brewers, IMPOSSIBREW® specialises in expertly crafted non-alcoholic beers designed to match full ABV beers in both taste and feeling.

Product Range

IMPOSSIBREW® offers a range of enhanced non-alcoholic beers, including:

Enhanced Lager (0.5% ABV)
Enhanced Pale Ale (0.5% ABV)
Limited Editions (Seasonal)

Key Benefits

The key feature that sets IMPOSSIBREW® apart is its proprietary "Social Blend™" - a combination of active botanical ingredients and nootropics designed to recreate the relaxing effects of alcohol without the negative side effects.

Along with record-breaking quality flavour that comes from a unique process without removing alcohol.

Social Blend™ Ingredients

Developed with leading scientists in top UK universities, Social Blend™ includes:

L-Theanine
Ashwaghanda
Soluble Plant Fibres
Vitamin B1
Various Plant Extracts.

These ingredients are chosen for their potential to boost serotonin, promote relaxation, and create a calming effect similar to the "one or two pint feeling" without hangovers.

See more details on our very own research paper, with over 1,000 participants:

More than 70% said they felt relaxed after consuming IMPOSSIBREW®.
88% have reduced alcohol consumption since discovering IMPOSSIBREW®.
95% have told a friend about IMPOSSIBREW® after trying.
3/4 say that IMPOSSIBREW® is "the most complete alcohol alternative currently available on the market today".

Recognition

IMPOSSIBREW® has received several notable achievements:

Featured on BBC's Dragons' Den
Awarded the first and only Gold Medal in the No/Low beer category from the London Beer Competition
Received multiple industry Gold awards in categories against Full-ABV beers
Most followed No/Low Alcohol brand on TikTok globally.

Mission and Vision

IMPOSSIBREW® is on a mission to redefine non-alcoholic drinking by creating better-than-alcohol alternatives for those who love beer but want to avoid the health risks associated with alcohol consumption.

The company aims to become the global leading alcohol alternative brand, focusing on helping people transition to a healthier mode of relaxation without the traditional issues and side effects of alcohol.

Production and Ingredients

IMPOSSIBREW® combines traditional brewing methods with their proprietary Social Blend™ .

The beers are made with traditional brewing ingredients such as water, malted barley, wheat, hops, and yeast, in addition to the Social Blend™ components - leveraging their unique cryogenic fermentation process, which means no alcohol is ever removed from the product - ensuring the most authentic quality taste you've come to expect.

Who is it for?

IMPOSSIBREW® caters to consumers who:

Are busy professionals and parents who would like to unwind with a drink but don't want the hangovers.
Enjoy the taste and relaxing experience of beer
Are looking for healthier alternatives to alcohol, with lower calories, carbs and sugar
Want to avoid hangovers and other negative effects of alcohol consumption
Are interested in functional beverages with potential mood-enhancing properties

By offering a unique product that aims to replicate both the taste and feeling of alcoholic beer, IMPOSSIBREW® is positioning itself at the forefront of the growing non-alcoholic beverage market.

Get Started Today

Give it a try today with our Welcome Bundle and get 2 Free Beers with your first purchase. Get it delivered straight to your door, risk-free with our 30-day money-back guarantee.

We hope you enjoy them as much as we do and we can't wait for you to try.

How does 'Social Blend™' work?

Social Blend™ is our proprietary alcohol alternative made from a blend of science-backed ingredients.

Designed to replicate the sensory and social relaxing experience of drinking, minus the headaches (and bad decisions).

Developed with Dr Paul Chazot, Bioscience Professor and Chair of Pharmacology at Durham University.

Key Components and Mechanisms

L-Theanine:
Ashwagandha Root:
Vitamin B1 (Thiamine):
Various nootropic herbs:

Benefits

Relaxation: The blend promotes a state of relaxation without the sedative effects typically associated with alcohol.
Mental Calm: By boosting alpha brain waves and serotonin levels, it helps maintain a calm and focused mental state.
Stress Relief: The combination of L-Theanine, Ashwagandha, and Vitamin B1 helps mitigate stress and anxiety.
Mood Enhancement: The inclusion these ingredients and other botanicals supports mood regulation and overall positive outlook.

IMPOSSIBREW®'s Social Blend™ is a carefully crafted combination of nootropic and adaptogenic ingredients designed to offer a relaxing and mood-enhancing experience without the drawbacks of alcohol. It leverages the natural properties of its components to promote relaxation, reduce stress, and enhance mood, making it a unique alternative to traditional alcoholic beverages.

(Read our latest research paper here)

Do you ship overseas?

We ship to the UK Mainland for free when you spend over £35

We aim to expand internationally soon - stay tuned!

If you have any queries, feel free to email: hello(@)impossibrew.co.uk

How long will it take to get my orders?

For UK mainland deliveries, normal orders processed here will take 1-3 business days to arrive, with an optional upgrade to Next Day Delivery available (12pm cut-off).

Delivery details will be provided in your confirmation email.

How is 0.5% ABV alcohol-free?

Yes, we know it's confusing. Isn't 0.5% ABV still alcoholic? Officially, 0.5% ABV is classified as Dealcoholised.

In fact, most things we consume daily have more than 0.5% ABV
Burger Rolls - 1.2% ABV
Orange Juice - 0.5% ABV
Ripe Banana - 0.5% ABV

After more than 2 years of research, we've found that the 0.5% ABV from our natural brewing process significantly increases both flavour and mouthfeel - without spiking your blood alcohol level (BAC).

Is it really gluten-free?

Yes, IMPOSSIBREW® Enhanced Lager is gluten-free. Even though it contains wheat and barley, our beers have been third-party tested to contain less than 10 parts per million (PPM) of gluten, which meets the criteria to be listed as, and labeled gluten-free.

Does it have alcohol tax?

No. While it is true that our beers don't contain alcohol, and thus don't incur UK alcohol duty, we'd like to highlight some factors here that might be helpful in reflecting the value we provide.

One-to-One Brewing Process: At IMPOSSIBREW, we take pride in our unique brewing techniques. Unlike other non-alcoholic beers, our products are never diluted, watered-down, or have their alcohol content removed - and some even dilute their alcoholic beers up to 5x. This means that our brewing process involves the same level of craftsmanship, time, and resources as a traditional craft beer, resulting in comparable production costs.
Effective Nootropics: In our commitment to creating the most relaxing non-alcoholic beers, we utilise only the highest quality nootropics as our active ingredients, in safe and effectives dosages. At current alcohol tax rates for a 5% ABV beer, the cost of our nootropics more than double that. Instead of contributing the amounts as tax, why not have it contribute to the product quality itself?
Small Scale Brewing: Currently, we operate on a smaller scale, which makes us less competitive than large, commercial brewers (often +10,000x our brewing size). As a growing business, we are passionate about our mission to create unique, high-quality non-alcoholic experiences, and we truly appreciate your support. As we continue to grow and expand our production capabilities, we look forward to passing on even more savings to our valued community!

At IMPOSSIBREW, we prioritise offering our customers an enhanced, premium, non-alcoholic beer experience by combining innovative brewing techniques, quality active nootropic ingredients, and award-winning taste. While our pricing may differ from other non-alcoholic competitors, we believe that the value proposition and unique experience our beers provide are well worth it.

At the end of the day, tasting is believing. So give it a try and let us know what you think - risk-free with our IMPOSSIBREW® Guarantee.

Who shouldn't drink IMPOSSIBREW®?

It is not recommended for pregnant or breastfeeding women, those with certain medical conditions like GI disorders or hypertension, or individuals taking specific medications such as antidepressants, immunosuppressants or blood thinners. If you fall into any of these categories, it's best to consult with your doctor first.

Ashwagandha can lead to overstimulation (i.e. restlessness) if taken alongside thyroid medication.

What is your philosophy?

For thousands of years, we had only one way to unwind together. One way to let our guards down. One way to bridge the gap between who we are and who we are with others.

Not because it was perfect. But because it was all we had.

We decided that wasn't good enough.

We exist because we believe in a world where social connection doesn't demand compromise.

Where being present with others doesn't mean being absent from yourself. Where letting go doesn't mean losing control.This isn't about removing alcohol. This is about something better.

Our Social Blend™ technology isn't an accident. It's the result of questioning everything we thought we knew about social drinking. About working with scientists to understand what we're really seeking in these moments of connection. About daring to imagine something that wasn't possible before.

We believe the greatest innovations don't just solve problems - they change how we live. They make us question why we ever settled for less.

That's what we're building. Not just a drink, but a new way forward. A future where social connection comes without compromise. Where tradition meets innovation. Where science meets ritual.

This is the future of social drinking.

Got more questions?

Speak to our AI Brewer here for instant answers.

Or email us at hello@impossibrew.co.uk

Our customer support is available Monday to Friday: 9am - 5:30pm.

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