Whether tea, beer or mocktails, Cleveland bars are tapping into alcohol-free options

Although not everyone goes to a bar to consume alcohol, a tasty beer or cocktail can still add to an evening’s enjoyment. Thankfully, non-alcoholic (NA) options are now socially acceptable substitutes to a traditional beer or mixed drink, said Cleveland nightlife entrepreneurs interviewed by The Land. 

At Tapster Cleveland – a self-pour hangout in Lakewood – patrons can enjoy NA craft root beer along with cold-brew coffee and a kombucha tea drink. Though Tapster doesn’t currently have an alcohol-free beer on tap, it carries a small selection of zero-proof canned brews, including an IPA from Connecticut-based Athletic Brewing Company. Ohio’s BrewDog chain, meanwhile, provides Tapster with NA versions of its popular Punk IPA and Elvis Juice brands.

“Breweries with good selling brands are seeing a market that they previously didn’t serve,” said Tapster Cleveland owner Jordan Kay. “I love supporting breweries serving those other markets.”

Athletic also produces a no-ABV Oktoberfest beer – Kay is hoping for a no-alcohol Christmas Ale for the holidays as well. Even if NA beers don’t generate significant revenue, they can help Tapster reach every potential customer.

“We want this community to grow, and everyone to feel like they have access to these spaces,” Kay said. “Drinks bring people together, so non-alcoholic beers give an option for people feeling like they were starting to get pushed out.”

Alcohol-free suds were on this year’s menu at Oktoberfest in Munich. At centuries-old German brewery Weihenstephan, approximately 10% of their production is dedicated to non-alcoholic lager and wheat beer, according to the Associated Press.

Cleveland brewmeister Sam McNulty, who owns six restaurants and pubs in Ohio City, sells a 0.0% Lemon Sparkler shandy alongside a handful of canned NA beers. While Lemon Shandy mixes pale wheat beer, lemon soda and lemon juice, the sparkler version simply eliminates beer from the equation, he said.

However, McNulty won’t brew a non-alcoholic beer from scratch, as the lack of alcohol needed to keep draft lines clean can lead to rapid bacterial growth. 

“That’s why most NA wines, beers and spirits have to be laced with preservatives to keep them from spoiling,” McNulty said. “I’m not a fan of that, either. All Market Garden beers are all-natural, unfiltered, unpasteurized, and have zero preservatives or additives. Just on principle we don’t believe preservatives should be in our beers.” 

McNulty’s pubs, like many around the globe, offer mocktail versions of popular alcoholic drinks. Alcohol-free wine is available as well, encompassing a varied NA selection that comprises about 1% of sales.

Rather than solely pursuing profits, the goal is to provide a satisfying pub experience for everyone, noted McNulty. 

“I describe it the same way as catering to different dietary restrictions,” he said. “Among a group of friends, there might be a vegan, or someone who’s gluten intolerant. Even if (NA beverages) are not a revenue driver, they definitely serve a need.”

An evolving attitude about “dry” beer and other drinks has helped increase their visibility, McNulty added.

“People would have been embarrassed to go to a bar and not drink, but our culture has opened up to alternative ways of living,” said McNulty. “There’s no longer any judgment for someone who wants to be social and just have a couple of non-alcoholic cocktails.”

Alcohol-free establishments have caught on in Cleveland as well, thanks to the launch of Verbena café and bar in the Hingetown neighborhood of Ohio City. Verbena’s NA spirits include martinis and Manhattans – wine and tea specials are an additional facet of the new hangout’s zero-proof menu. 

Catering to diverse clientele requires completely eliminating the stigma about enjoying an alcohol-free night out, said Tapster owner Kay. His bartenders are eager to suggest NA alternatives to well-known beer brands, offering options that don’t compromise on taste.

“When it comes to style, we can have strong-flavored IPAs with no alcohol,” Kay said. “I’m excited to see how this market will continue to develop. There have been NA beers for a long time, but they haven’t been good. Now brewers are making these beers attractive and palatable, and bringing more people into the circle.”