Method How it’s made

Arrested fermentation and low-alcohol brewing

The beer or wine is kept from making much ethanol in the first place. Useful. Not dealcoholization.

By Karl Hill, Founder & Editor in Chief

1 min read

Explore 18 bottles All methods

Inside the process

Fermentation begins
Alcohol formation limited
Low-alcohol drink

Conceptual illustration. Exact systems vary by producer.

How it works

Arrested fermentation, specialized yeasts, and mash bills designed to stay under 0.5% ABV are brewing methods. They belong in a complete map of how nonalcoholic drinks are made. They are Naturally low alcohol, not Dealcoholized. The class note is Dealcoholized is not the same as nonalcoholic.

If a brewery later strips residual alcohol from a low-fermentation beer, say so — that hybrid is dealcoholization plus limited fermentation. If they only describe a proprietary brew, the honest badge is not verified or no, depending on how explicit they are.

This is the category most likely to be mislabeled by reviewers who use “dealcoholized” as a synonym for “NA.” We do not.

Cite Karl Hill, “Arrested fermentation and low-alcohol brewing,” The Dry Standard, https://drinkdrystandard.com/methods/arrested-fermentation/.

From the cellar

In the cellar with this method

18 bottles

The scores belong to the bottles in this cellar.

By style

IPA 10

Compare holds up to four. Want to try keeps a bottle in My Bottles.

90/100

Standout

Halfway Crooks Beer

Brevet IPA

Beer · IPA · <0.5% ABV

The Metro run when the pils is gone.

86/100

Standout

All In

Beer · IPA · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

The Other Half regular who wants the haze without the proof — fridge…

85/100

Standout

Revolution Brewing

Anti-Zero IPA

Beer · IPA · <0.5% ABV

84/100

Anniversary Ale

Beer · IPA · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A light fruited ale when mango and pineapple need hop bitterness to…

83/100

Bulltown Brewing

Midwest IPA

Beer · IPA · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

The Midwest IPA when you want pine, resin, and a dry, sharp bitter…

83/100

Appalachian Golden IPA

Beer · IPA · <0.5% ABV · $30+

An easy golden IPA when you want to settle in and the finish can be…

82/100

Pointer IPA

Beer · IPA · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

Pour it for the hop, and only if a lean, thin finish is acceptable.

Resident Culture

N.A.R.C. IPA

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Beer · IPA · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

United States · Documented

Boulevard Brewing Co.

Space Camper Low-Gravity IPA

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Beer · IPA · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

United States · Documented

Strange Hoppenings East Coast IPA

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Beer · IPA · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

United States · Undeclared

Lager 5

84/100

Bohemian Subterfuge Czech Pale

Beer · Lager · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A smooth, dry pale beer with floral hops and a lingering bitter finish.

80/100

The Amber

Beer · Lager · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

When you want caramel malt in a can, not a crisp cerveza.

74/100

Non-Alcoholic

Beer · Lager · <0.5% ABV · $30+

A cold, mild lager beside food that does not need the beer to carry…

Resident Culture

N.A.R.C. Lime & Sea Salt

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Beer · Lager · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

United States · Documented

Original Gold Mexican Lager

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Beer · Lager · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

United States · Documented

Other bottles

82/100

Grapefruit

Beer · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A cold can when you want grapefruit soda with a little malt under it.

77/100

On Your Mark Blonde

Beer · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

A cold, simple blonde when you want clean malt and lemon rather than a…

Dry Curious West Coast Pilz

Research recordCataloged, not yet poured

Beer · Pils · <0.5% ABV · Under $20

United States · Undeclared

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