NONALCOHOLIC BEERS
Find nonalcoholic beer produced by breweries in Upstate New York
The nonalcoholic beer industry has been booming the last several years! We’re no longer limited to the same few brands. Craft breweries have entered the market and churning out some impressive collections.
Unfortunately, brewing nonalcoholic beer is a costly and complicated process. Removing alcohol from a beer is difficult to do without compromising flavor and body. Even with hundreds of breweries all over New York State, the list of locally brewed “near beers” is pretty short. Be sure to support the folks listed here. Let them know how much you appreciate the work they’ve put into creating a non-alc option!
Since it will likely be something you’re thinking as you run through this list, the task of dividing up New York into regions is nearly as complicated as brewing a good nonalcoholic beer! Almost no one (even official state entities) has an agreed upon, official standard for separating the regions of the state. You will likely disagree with where some of the borders are drawn here. Try to remember the most important thing on this page is getting you connected with a non-alc beer in your area.
ADIRONDACK REGION Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Fulton, Herkimer, Hamilton, Lewis, Warren and Washington County
Nothing has been discovered in this region yet.
CAPITAL REGION Albany, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady County
Nothing has been discovered in this region yet.
CATSKILLS REGION Delaware, Greene, Sullivan and Ulster County
Nothing has been discovered in this region yet.
CENTRAL NEW YORK REGION Broome, Chenango, Madison, Montgomery, Oneida, Otsego and Schoharie County
Saranac Brewery
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For well over a century the Saranac brand (now owned by FX Matt Brewing Co) in Utica has nearly become synonymous with New York beer. Love it or hate it, their Utica Club pilsner is one of the most well-known brands of any product in Upstate New York’s beverage history, and it’s still going strong! Saranac has for many years produced a great line of sodas for people wanting good local nonalcoholic options, and those can be found on shelves and tap rooms all over New York. In January 2025 though they upped the ante and released their Trail Blazer IPA. Within a week it was on shelves in markets all over Upstate. They’re selling this in six-packs of cans and is available most places that sell the Saranac line.
CHAUTAUQUA-ALLEGANY REGION Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany County
Southern Tier Brewing Company – Lakewood
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Three founders set out in 2002 with the intention of creating a small, craft brewery not far from the western edge of Chautauqua Lake. In the following decades, they’ve grown their small operation into a massive collection of taprooms now in four states. Each location is a destination in and of itself featuring many of their own beers, gift shops, and full restaurant menus. They even have a sister company producing spirits. Luckily for us sober folks, in early summer 2024 the Southern Tier Brewing Company began producing a non-alcoholic IPA. This one is their first and it’s a version of their own classic IPA.
FINGER LAKES REGION Cayuga, Chemung, Cortland, Livingston, Monroe, Onondaga, Ontario, Schuyler, Steuben, Tioga, Tompkins, Yates and Wayne County
Fairport Brewing Company
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For years now the Fairport Brewing Company has earned itself the reputation of being a hot spot in the village, but then they also added a location in the city of Rochester, too. They brew their own beer, root beer, kombucha and even mead. They also have their own nonalcoholic Statesman IPA on draught at both locations.
Genesee Brewery
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This historic brewery in the center of downtown Rochester is one of the oldest in the country. “Genny” is known all over Western New York, but not everyone knows they make a nonalcoholic beer. They introduced Genesee N.A. back in 1991, way before most of the NA brews that are out today. You can visit the brew house next to High Falls and have some on site, or purchase cases to go. You can also readily find cases available in local supermarkets.
Twisted Rail Brewing Company
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With four different locations and a decade of brewing beer in the Finger Lakes, these guys are one of only a few producing a non-alcoholic beer here. Their ‘Lone Train’ IPA has less than .5% ABV and is available in cans to go or on tap in each of their locations in Macedon, Geneva, Canandaigua and Honeoye.
HUDSON VALLY REGION Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland and Westchester County
Industrial Arts Brewing Company
When Industrial Arts was founded in 2016 by Jeff O’Neil, no one expected them to grow as quickly as they have. Just a couple years in, they moved to a new facility in Beacon, multiplying their production space times ten.
In addition to a long line of award winning beer, Industrial Arts has a celebrated non-alc line called Safety Glasses. They have a Pilsner, an IPA, a White, and a hop water.
Kill Switch
With a quiet, unassuming launch in the early weeks of 2025, Kill Switch became one of the only nonalcoholic light lager beer in all of New York State. The brand is a the side project of a brewer at District 96 Brewery in New City, New York in Rockland County right at the southernmost tip of the Hudson Valley. Kill Switch is available in cans, but not in too many places. You should be able to find it at District 96 though!
NIAGARA FRONTIER REGION Erie, Genesee, Niagara, Orleans and Wyoming County
Big Ditch Brewing Company – Buffalo
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Big Ditch Brewing Company in downtown Buffalo is one of the staple breweries of Erie County. Their Hay Burner IPA is a Western New York favorite and practically every beer drinker from this area is familiar with it. In November 2024 Big Ditch upped the ante in western New York by releasing their “NA Burner”, a nonalcoholic version of their flagship IPA. The NA Burner beer is reported to be the first nonalcoholic beer produced in the city of Buffalo in a century!
Southern Tier Brewing Company – Buffalo
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Three founders set out in 2002 with the intention of creating a small, craft brewery not far from the western edge of Chautauqua Lake. In the following decades, they’ve grown their small operation into a massive collection of taprooms now in four states. Each location is a destination in and of itself featuring many of their own beers, gift shops, and full restaurant menus. They even have a sister company producing spirits. Luckily for us sober folks, in early summer 2024 the Southern Tier Brewing Company began producing a non-alcoholic IPA. This one is their first and it’s a version of their own classic IPA.
THOUSAND ISLANDS SEAWAY REGION Jefferson, Oswego and St. Lawrence County
Nothing has been discovered in this region yet.
NONROCAHOLIC – Copyright 2023