Skipping the alcohol does not mean skipping the ritual. Non-alcoholic beer has gotten good enough in the last few years that it holds its own next to a cigar the same way a regular beer does, and in some cases it works better, since you can sit through a full smoke and a second round without the evening getting away from you. The trick is the same as with regular beer: match the body and flavor of the beer to the strength of the cigar.
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4 Non-Alcoholic Beer and Cigar Pairings
Why This Works
Alcohol was never doing the pairing work in a beer and cigar match anyway. What actually matters is carbonation, which cleanses your palate between puffs the same way it does in a regular beer, and body, which needs to roughly match the intensity of the cigar so neither one overwhelms the other. Non-alcoholic beer delivers both of those the same as its alcoholic counterpart, since modern NA brewing focuses on replicating mouthfeel and hop character rather than just removing the alcohol and hoping nobody notices.
For the full rundown of every non-alcoholic beer worth trying right now, including a few that did not make the cut here, see our complete Best Non-Alcoholic Beers, Ranked guide.
More Ways to Pair Beer and Cigars
For the reasoning behind each cigar pick, or to build a full pairing lineup for a group, see our complete beer and cigar pairing guide, or browse budget-friendly options in our Best Budget Cigars Under $5 guide.
FAQ
Can you pair a cigar with a non-alcoholic beer?
Yes. The pairing logic is the same as with regular beer: match the body and flavor intensity of the beer to the cigar. Carbonation and malt or hop character, not alcohol, are what actually make a beer and cigar pairing work.
What is the best non-alcoholic beer for a hoppy cigar pairing?
Our top-ranked NA IPA, Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA, has enough hop bitterness to stand up to a peppery, full-bodied cigar like a Rocky Patel 20th Anniversary or Oliva Serie O.
Does non-alcoholic beer taste different enough to change a cigar pairing?
Not dramatically. Modern NA brewing focuses on preserving the same malt sweetness, hop bitterness and carbonation as the alcoholic version, so the same style-matching rules apply.
Is it better to smoke a cigar with alcohol or without it?
That comes down to preference and the occasion. Skipping the alcohol lets you smoke a full cigar and have a second beer without the evening getting away from you, without giving up the ritual.
