About a year ago, I started taking an interest in non-alcoholic beer after discovering Athletic. While I’ve never been a big beer drinker, I have long been curious about the craft beer scene and, honestly, may have even been a bit jealous of how my wife got to try all different types of interesting brew styles and flavors.
Well, as you probably know, Athletic has become one of the bigger success stories of late and they’ve ushered in a new wave of NA beer offerings. In turn, I’ve not only tried numerous Athletic offerings but have also sampled near-beers from other brands. Alas, while some of these non-Athletic brews have been pretty darn good, I’ve also found that many just taste thin and kind of watery. That’s why I’m always pumped to find an NA beer that I think tastes great. And that’s exactly what I found when I picked up a six-pack from Go Brewing.
I actually found Go’s “Not Just Another Story Double IPA” while visiting Ohio. Not only was I taken with the description (which mentioned the inclusion of three types of hops) but also really loved the can art. Should can art really matter in this case? Probably not — but it helped get my attention.
Cut to my first sip of Not Just Another Story and I was amazed. Actually, before said sip, I was perhaps a tad hesitant, thinking that it might be too bitter given the “double IPA” billing. Yet, what I found was a flavorful and refreshing brew. So, immediately, I ran it by my wife who not only agreed that it was tasty but also said it tasted fairly similar to a “real beer,” even if it had a bit less bite.
Now for the bad news. Before leaving for home, I found that Go Brewing is not currently stocked in any stores in my area. It seems that, while the Illinois-based brewery is expanding, it has a while to go before it’s nationwide. However, on their website, they do offer a membership program akin to Athletic’s where you can get a discount on orders by subscribing to receive a monthly shipment. This membership also comes with early access to new brews and other perks.
Alternatively, I also found that they’re offered on Amazon. In fact, I found a 12-pack (which is really two six-packs) that serves as a sampler of some of their products. I’ve been making my way through this and have enjoyed each one I’ve had. But, I’m most looking forward to trying the next beer in my box: Suspended In A Sunbeam Pils.
Alright, so is Go really better than Athletic? Well, at this point, it’s hard to say. On that note, though, I will need to check out their subscription plan and review it as I did with Athletic’s. What I will say for sure is that I truly enjoy many of the beers I’ve had from both Athletic and, now, Go. Thus, if you’re a fan of NA beer or want to get into it, I’d recommend checking out Go Brewing.