The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer in San Diego
The San Diego Brewers Guild boasts our region as “The Capital of Craft Beer.” Now, with the rise of non-alcoholic craft beer, the question arises: Are we also “The Epicenter of Non-Alcoholic Beer”?
Athletic Brewing’s Bold Move
Recently, Athletic Brewing, the nation’s largest producer of booze-free beers, strengthened this claim by acquiring Ballast Point’s sprawling brewery in Miramar. “It’s a big brewery to grow into, for sure,” said Bill Shufelt, Athletic’s co-founder and CEO. “We want to do our best to honor that history. It’s a special brewery.”
Growth Prospects for Athletic Brewing
Athletic Brewing, headquartered in Milford, Connecticut, has been serving its West Coast fans from an 80,000-square-foot Miramar brewery since 2018. With the completion of renovations at the former Ballast Point facility, the 7-year-old company is ready for dramatic growth. Last year, Athletic became the nation’s 10th largest craft brewery and the world’s largest brewery exclusively devoted to non-alcoholic beer.
The Expanding Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer Market
The non-alcoholic segment has quadrupled in the last six years, while craft beer sales nationally are faltering. “And this year,” Shufelt said, “the market is tracking up 30 percent.” Breweries large and small, from Budweiser and Heineken to San Diego’s AleSmith and Illinois-based Go Brewing, have entered the non-alcoholic beer scene.
Go Brewing’s Expansion
Joe Chura, president of Go Brewing, began his journey in a garage-built brewery. Today, Go’s beers are sold in nine states, with plans to enter 10 more and several San Diego accounts. “In the first month of this year,” Chura said, “we sold more beer than we did in the first six months of 2023.”
Innovations in Brewing Techniques
Athletic’s Shufelt insists that none of this would have been possible without new brewing techniques. “For the first time,” he said, “people can choose to drink great non-alcoholic beer.”
San Diego Beer Scene: Comings and Goings
- Goodbye: After 12 years, Rough Draft Brewing has closed.
- Hello: Mission Brewing acquired Rough Draft’s UC San Diego pub and its share of the Brewer’s Deck at the Del Mar Highlands Sky Deck.
- Hello: North Park Beer Company Pizza Shop, an offshoot of Kelsey McNair’s brewery, opened with a diverse selection of 24 beers on tap.
- Hello?: A German-themed beer garden is planned for University Heights, set to open this fall.
Upcoming Events in the Non-Alcoholic Craft Beer Scene
- Monday: Deft Brewing will serve pints of cask-conditioned ale from 5 to 9 p.m., accompanied by live jazz. 5328 Banks St., San Diego. deftbrewing.com
- Aug. 2-4: My Yard Live hosts a three-day fest for its fifth anniversary with food, beer, cornhole, and live music. 288 Rancheros Drive, San Marcos.
Reservations, free but required: myyardlive.com/reservations
Quick Sips, Dry July Edition
| Beer | Brewer | Style | ABV | Review |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuzu-Ginger Shandy | Best Day Brewing, Wisconsin | Shandy | Less than 0.5% | Drink. A refreshing, tart Yuzu shandy with a dash of ginger. |
| Not Just Another Story | Go Brewing, Illinois | Double IPA | Less than 0.5% | Drink. Light body but with the robust flavors of a double IPA. |
| Peach Gose | Partake Brewing, Canada | Gose | Less than 0.5% | Drink. A summer gem with peach aromas and fizzy flavors. |
San Diego is rapidly becoming a haven for non-alcoholic craft beer enthusiasts, thanks in part to companies like Athletic Brewing and the recent Ballast Point acquisition. Whether you’re a long-time beer lover or new to the non-alcoholic scene, there’s never been a better time to explore the growing variety of non-alcoholic craft beers available in the region.
