St. Patrick’s Day is here, let us raise a glass. But wait, it’s a Tuesday and while the green beer might be flowing this evening, tomorrow is a work day. Enter the latest installment from Athletic Brewing Company.
The non-alcoholic beer brand just launched Nitro Emerald Cliffs, a stout-like beer not unlike Guinness. The zero-proof option pours a dark brown and tastes of baking chocolate and dried fruit. It’s a pleasant beer that’s right at home during St. Patrick’s Day festivities and spring in general.
The beer dropped last month and is available all over the land. Made with roasted barley, the beer functions much like a stout, although technically dubbed a dark brew. We like the cereal and chocolate notes and think it would do just fine as a float too (so get that vanilla ice cream out of the freezer).
It’s the first nitro beer from Athletic, the result of some 18 months of research and development. Per the nitro way, the beer swaps carbonation for a silky mouthfeel. It’s capped by an impressive, foamy head as well.
Sip it on its own or, as Athletic Brewing Co. suggests, pair it up with corned beef and cabbage, mashed potatoes, or shepherd’s pie. Nitro Emerald Cliffs is just 90 calories and hoppy enough thanks to an IBU count of 35, which offsets the malt backbone nicely. If you’re looking for options, try Athletic’s equally-tasty Irish Red beer as well.
Athletic started in 2017 and has become a major player in the non-alcoholic beer scene. The brand is officially the largest producer of near beer in the U.S.
