Rise of Nonalcoholic Beer: Best Day Brewing's Wild American Triumphs
The inaugural North American Nonalcoholic Cup (NANA) crowned Best Day Brewing's Wild American Pilsner as Best in Show, marking a significant achievement in nonalcoholic beer brewing. The competition, held in Fort Collins, Colorado, featured over 100 entries and was organized by Craft Beer & Brewing, with partners John I. Haas and Country Malt Group.
The judging process took place on May 16, where each category's best beverages advanced to the Best in Show round. Wild American Pilsner also received a Double Gold in the Lager Beer category, alongside Fieldwork Brewing Company's Day Money in the Fruited Beer category.
Tate Huffard, founder and CEO of Best Day Brewing, expressed that the recognition was a "real moment of validation" for the team. He noted the technical challenge of creating a clean American-style nonalcoholic lager, emphasizing that its flavor profile leaves "nowhere to hide."
Huffard highlighted the growing consumer interest in nonalcoholic options, pointing out that Best Day's seasonal sales increased by 88% from the previous year, with Wild American's largest presence in Whole Foods Market, accounting for about 7,800 cases sold.
Category Winners at the 2026 NANA Cup
- Best in Show: Best Day Brewing, Wild American
- Lager Beer, Double Gold: Best Day Brewing, Wild American
- Fruited Beer, Double Gold: Fieldwork Brewing Company, Day Money
- Hoppy Beer, Gold: Big Grove Brewery, Zero Eddy
- Dark Beer, Bronze (tie): Deschutes Brewery, Black Butte Non-Alcoholic; Fremont Brewing, NA Dark
- Sour Beer, Gold: Go Brewing, New School
- Misc Beer, Silver: Pure Project, Sunsip
- Mocktail, Silver (tie): Lucky Sign Spirits, Grapefruit Cucumber Thyme NA; Marble Distilling, Peach Jalapeño Shrub
- Hop Water, Silver: Meanwhile Brewing, Hop Water
The nonalcoholic beverage market is experiencing rapid growth. The Brewers Association reported a 111% increase in volume sales and a 159% increase in dollar sales of nonalcoholic beer from 2021 to 2025. Best Day Brewing's Wild American Pilsner aims to meet this demand by offering an authentic beer experience without alcohol.
