5 of the Best Alcohol-Free Beers for Autumn Nights
There’s something about autumn that changes the way you drink beer.
The lighter lagers and zingy summer IPAs suddenly don’t seem quite as appealing when the evenings start drawing in, the temperature drops and you find yourself reaching for a jumper before heading outside.
Autumn is the perfect excuse to look for something a little darker, maltier and more full-bodied.
And the good news is that the alcohol-free beer world has plenty of options that fit the bill.
So, based on some of the beers I’ve already tried here at Modest Drinker, here are five alcohol-free beers that I reckon are made for those long, dark autumn evenings.
1. Drop Bear Bonfire Stout
Let’s start with the obvious one.
The name alone makes Drop Bear Bonfire Stout feel like it belongs in an autumn beer list.
Drop Bear Beer Co. have built a reputation for producing some interesting alcohol-free beers, and their Bonfire Stout is a particularly good fit for the season.
Stouts just seem to make sense when autumn arrives. They’re darker, richer and more substantial than the beers you might have been knocking back during the summer.
Bonfire Stout brings those familiar stout characteristics to the glass, with roasted malt flavours and a darker, more indulgent character.
It’s the sort of beer that feels right when you’re sitting indoors on a chilly evening rather than sitting in the garden in 25-degree sunshine.
Best for: Cold evenings, comfort food and pretending you’re sitting beside an actual bonfire.
2. Jump Ship Stokers Stout
If one stout isn’t enough, why not have another?
Jump Ship Stokers Stout is another beer that deserves a place on an autumn drinking list.
There’s something particularly satisfying about a good stout as the nights get longer. You can take your time with it rather than simply throwing it down after a long day.
Stokers has that darker, more robust personality you’d expect from a stout, making it a good choice when you’re looking for something with a bit more substance.
It’s also a nice reminder that alcohol-free beer doesn’t have to mean sticking to pale lagers and sessionable IPAs.
Sometimes you just want something dark.
And autumn is definitely the season for it.
Best for: A quiet night in when the weather outside looks distinctly miserable.
3. Samuel Smith Sam’s Brown Ale Alcohol-Free
Moving away from stout, Sam’s Brown Ale Alcohol-Free from Samuel Smith is another excellent autumn candidate.
Brown ale is almost tailor-made for this time of year.
It sits nicely between the lighter beers of summer and the big, dark stouts of winter, bringing plenty of malt character without becoming too heavy.
There’s something very traditional about a brown ale too. It’s the sort of beer that feels perfectly at home in a cosy pub with low lighting, a roaring fire and possibly a dog asleep somewhere near the bar.
Obviously, you don’t need the pub to enjoy it.
A sofa will do.
Sam’s Brown Ale is a good choice when you want something malty and comforting but aren’t quite ready to go completely to the dark side with a stout.
Best for: Pub-style evenings at home and a plate of something hearty.
4. Below Brew Brune DMC
If you’re after something a little different, Below Brew Brune DMC brings a Belgian-inspired option to the autumn table.
Brune beers are generally darker and maltier than blonde Belgian styles, often bringing richer malt flavours alongside fruity and slightly sweet characteristics.
That makes them a great fit for autumn.
Brune DMC also gives you a nice change of direction from the more familiar alcohol-free lager and IPA styles.
It has more of that slow-sipping, evening beer feel – something to enjoy while you’re relaxing rather than something you necessarily reach for when you’re thirsty after mowing the lawn.
Although, let’s be honest, mowing the lawn is probably finished for the year anyway.
Best for: When you fancy something a little more Belgian and a little less predictable.
5. Bero Double Tasty
Rounding off the list is Bero Double Tasty.
This is one for those evenings when you want your alcohol-free beer to feel a little more like a treat.
Autumn is a great time for beers with a bit more flavour and body, particularly as we move away from the crisp, refreshing beers that dominate the warmer months.
Double Tasty fits nicely into that category.
It’s the kind of beer that works when you’re settling down for the evening and want something a little more substantial in the glass.
And sometimes that’s exactly what you’re looking for from an alcohol-free beer.
Not necessarily something to accompany a barbecue or drink after a run – just something enjoyable to sit back with.
Best for: Friday nights, takeaway food and putting your feet up.
What Makes a Good Autumn Beer?
For me, autumn is all about malt, roast, richness and flavour.
That doesn’t mean every autumn beer needs to be a stout. A good brown ale, Belgian-style beer or fuller-bodied pale ale can work just as well.
The main thing is that you’re looking for something with a bit more character than the ultra-light, super-refreshing beers that tend to dominate summer drinking.
And this is one area where the alcohol-free beer scene has come a long way.
There are now enough different styles available that you can actually match your beer to the season – rather than simply reaching for whatever happens to be alcohol-free.
My Pick for an Autumn Night
If I had to pick just one from the five, Drop Bear Bonfire Stout would probably get the nod.
It’s difficult to think of a beer style more suited to an autumn evening than a stout, and Bonfire Stout has the added advantage of having Bonfire in the name.
That’s basically autumn marketing sorted.
But there’s a good argument for all five.
Want something dark? Go stout.
Want something malty? Try the brown ale.
Fancy something Belgian? Reach for the Brune.
Want something a bit more indulgent? Give Bero Double Tasty a try.
Whatever you choose, autumn is a great excuse to slow things down, get comfortable and enjoy a decent alcohol-free beer.
The nights might be getting darker, but the alcohol-free beer choices certainly aren’t.
