I’ve noticed a compelling trend with every new non-alcoholic I try. The origin story always begins with a visionary who wants to create a healthier, socially responsible brew.
Athletic Brewing Co. is no different. This is probably one of the most recognizable and largest award-winning NA brews. Since 2017, the brewing team has won 25+ gold medal beer awards. Their Milford, CT brewery is the reportedly the world’s largest NA brewery at 150,000 square feet.
The two founders – Bill and John – want to remove the stigma around NA beers and create a one-of-kind beer “fit for all times.” Unlike traditional methods of removing alcohol by cooking and filtering, they developed an innovative, proprietary brewing process. This involves tweaking the grains, sugars, temperature and pH levels so they start with little alcohol from the start, and keeps all the flavour, according to a 2023 Forbes article.
Athletic Brewing’s Run Wild IPA was one of the first trendy non-alcoholic beers that I tried. Someone had passed out a few cans after a group run at Nose Hill. It cold and hit the spot. I’ve also heard about the brand on one of my favourite podcasts – Trail Runner Nation.
Currently have two six-packs (and dwindling) in my fridge – Run Wild IPA and Free Wave IPA. Athletic Brewing offers 12+ beers including regular year round beers, seasonal releases, pilot styles and limited collaboration brews like Walker Hayes’ Fancy Like.
My Review – Run Wild IPA by Athletic Brewing (355 ml, 65 calories, 05.% ABV)
Name Bling (name creativity) – Ding. Ding. Ding. I love the company name – Athletic Brewing – because it truly speaks to my lifestyle. Run Wild is definitely a name I can support. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Sip n’ Savour (Taste) – Run Wild IPA has one more than 20 beer awards. So it has to be good, right? Absolutely. This IPA boasts a citrus, hoppy pine flavour. It is described as having an “approachable bitterness to balance the speciality malt body.” It goes down nicely, is refreshingly light and has no after taste. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Wallet Wellness Index (Value for Money) – A six-pack on sale was $9.99 (at FreshCo) down from regular price of $16.99 on the AB website. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Label Love (Packaging/ Presentation) – The blue and yellow six-pack boxes are eye catching and stand out amongst the competitors on the shelves. Maybe it’s the yellow but the boxes make me smile. The design on the cans – a yellow road between hills and a bright yellow stripe down the length of the can – is equally strikingly simple. I love the fine print on the can: At Athletic Brewing Co., we are pioneering a craft brewing revolution. (Another marketing win, if you are paying attention.) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Overall – This is my first 4 stars in every category! There’s a lot to like about this beer, and Athletic Brewing. They give back to the community, particularly local trails with their Two for the Trails program. They donate to $2 million annually to protect and restore local trails. Not to mention they have a fabulous presence on social media where they promote their NA beer but also the lifestyle. (Plus you can track your NA journey with a track record app available from their website.) These days everyone is becoming more socially aware, and want to ensure the companies behind the products we love and buy are making a positive impact. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Where to buy: Athletic Brewing’s offerings are available for purchase online as well as select realtors in Canada. It ships to all provinces in Canada. I bought mine at FreshCo.