The Non Alcoholic Beer Market
RationAle is based in Bend, Oregon and brews RationAle Brewing Mexican Cerveza. The non alcoholic beer market has grown rapidly in recent years with the introduction of non alcoholic beers that taste more like regular beer. Non alcoholic beers have several health advantages over regular beers, including fewer calories, sugar, carbs and of course, alcohol. Non alcoholic means less than 0.5% alcohol, so non alcoholic beers can still have traces of alcohol.
Athletic Brewing is the current market leader in non alcoholic beers with an approximate 19% market share. More and more startup non alcoholic breweries like RationAle are entering the market. Not a day goes by without some news story about the rise of non alcoholic beer and societal trends towards reducing alcohol intake.
RationAle Brewing
RationAle Brewing introduced their non alcoholic beers in 2021. The brewery says “We craft unmistakably great non-alcoholic brews that satisfy all your beer needs so that if you’re not boozing at the moment, for whatever reason, you don’t miss a thing. Since we launched, thousands of folks have been sipping, clinking, and crushing cans of RationAle. So rip into right now, your own way.” RationAle carries four non alcoholic beers, West Coast IPA, Hazy IPA, Kolsch and Mexican Cerveza.
RationAle Brewing Mexican Cerveza
RationAle describes Mexican Cerveza as “Crack one open for a crisp and refreshing brew that takes you on a trip across the border. Passport optional.” The beer 55 calories, 13g carbs and 1.2g protein. There is no IBU or fat information. It has no rating on Beer Advocate and 3.42 out of 5 on Untappd.
Our Review of RationAle Brewing Mexican Cerveza
Paulaner Weizen-Radler was the last time I bought a 6 pack of an NA beer that I had never tried, and I hated it. So I decided to buy 35 different singles to try from ProofNoMore and I have been reviewing then one by one. I have had over 30 to date. One of my favorite NA beers is Athletic Brewing Cerveza Atletica, so when my wife asked me if I wanted her to buy a six pack of RationAle Mexican Cerveza, I said yes. It was a mistake and I am going back to buying singles to try.
The Tasting
I immediately disliked this beer. It was weak and watery and tasted like beer flavored water instead of beer. Even worse, it had that strange NA beer aftertaste that others sometimes complain about. It was one of the worst of the 40 plus NA beers I have tried.
Then I finished it with dinner (not reflected in the video). It was a little better when paired with food, but still pretty bad. I do not recommend this NA beer.
For better recommendations, try Athletic Brewing Cerveza Atletica, Best Day Brewing Kolsch, Athletic Brewing Lite, Partake Brewing Blonde, Partake Brewing Pale and FMB 101 Blonde.
For non alcoholic beer nutritional information for all NA beers we have reviewed and more, see NA Beer Nutritional Information.
