The boom in non-alcoholic beer: Why Athletic Brewing’s growth is anything but moderate and how San Diego was key – San Diego Union

Seven years ago, non-alcoholic beer accounted for just 0.3% of total U.S. beer sales. Today, the subcategory comprises upwards of 5% of total beer dollars in many retail channels and accounts for up to 20% of total beer sales at some leading grocery retailers. Two significant, dovetailing factors have been chiefly responsible for that sizable increase: consumers’ shifting perspectives on alcohol, health, and mindful drinking matched with vastly improved quality and innovation from non-alcoholic beer producers. Leading the charge in terms of the latter is the country’s largest non-alcoholic beer producer, Athletic Brewing.

Since launching in Stratford, Conn., in 2018, Athletic has been on a tear, reimagining and revolutionizing the non-alcoholic beer segment with products in line with the