Top 5 NA Drinks to Plan a Perfect Outdoor Hosting This Summer
Throwing a summer party brings a lot of pressure. You scrub the patio. You prep the food menu days in advance. You buy heavy bags of ice. Then you realize your non-drinking guests only have tap water or a dusty box of juice to choose from. That kills the mood fast.
A great host thinks ahead. Drinking habits look different right now. People want to hang out in the sun without feeling sluggish by three o'clock in the afternoon. Finding the best summer non-alcoholic drinks takes a little planning. You need options that taste like adult beverages. They need a bite. They need complexity. Sugary sodas will not cut it.
We put together a list of five distinct bottles to keep your cooler stocked and your guests happy.
1. The Crisp Hazy IPA: Best Day Brewing
Summer heat requires cold beer. It is a strict rule of outdoor hosting. But no one wants a watery imitation. For years, breweries made alcohol-free beer by boiling it. That ruined the hops. Best Day Brewing changed the game. They use a cold filtration process.
Their Hazy IPA brings heavy tropical fruit notes and a bitter, clean finish. You crack one open next to a hot grill, and it feels right. The heavy hop profile cuts straight through the fat of a burger or a bratwurst. Keep a six-pack buried deep in the ice. Your guests will reach for these all afternoon.
Joining our Better Rhodes Beer Subscription is the best way to always be in stock on great new non-alcoholic brews. It delivers fresh, vetted options right to your door every month.
2. The Spicy Margarita Alternative: Ritual Zero Proof
Afternoon parties eventually lead to tacos or chips and salsa. You need a drink with some heat to match the food. Ritual Zero Proof Tequila Alternative solves this problem. It brings a serious botanical burn. It hits the back of your throat just like traditional liquor.
The secret is building a pitcher before anyone arrives. Mix the Ritual with fresh lime juice and a little agave syrup. Throw in a handful of jalapeño slices. Let it sit in the fridge to let the flavors merge. When guests walk through the gate, pour it over heavy ice in a salt rimmed glass. It is a non-alcoholic drink that commands immediate attention.
3. The Grab and Go Gin and Tonic: Sir James 101
A good host spends time with their guests. When you get stuck in the kitchen playing bartender, you ruin your own party. Making individual mixed drinks for fifteen people turns you into an employee at your house. You miss the jokes. You miss the conversations.
Ready-to-drink options are the solution here. Sir James 101 makes a standout Pink Gin and Tonic that comes in a sleek can. The carbonation is sharp and aggressive. The berry notes balance out the bitter tonic water. You pull a tab and hand it over. Zero prep time and zero cleanup. It looks sophisticated without requiring any effort.
While the G&T is a crowd favorite, they offer 6 different cocktails in their lineup. Grab a Sir James 101 variety pack so your guests can explore the whole range.
4. The Bright Sauvignon Blanc: Giesen
The sun starts to set. The temperature drops a few degrees. The heavy food is cleared away from the tables. People want something lighter to sip on. A chilled white wine fits this window well.
Giesen Sauvignon Blanc out of New Zealand stands out from the crowd. They ferment the wine normally. Then they remove the alcohol through spinning cone technology. You keep the sharp citrus bite and the dry finish you expect. Pour it in a real wine glass. Using actual glassware outside makes the evening feel intentional and grounded.
Take the guesswork out of finding new wines. Subscribe for two new bottles every month to try from our curated collection of over XX wines in the Better Rhodes Wine Club.
5. The Complex Bitter Spritz: De Soi Champignon Dreams
Sometimes you want to offer something different. You want a drink that sparks a conversation. De Soi makes sparkling non-alcoholic aperitifs. Champignon Dreams mixes summer strawberries with earthy botanicals and green tea extracts.
It sounds strange until you take the first sip. The flavor profile is layered. It tastes expensive and crafted. You serve it right before dinner. The bitter notes wake up the palate and get people ready to eat. Your friends will ask to see the bottle. It proves you put serious thought into the menu.
The Summer Hosting Standard
Hosting should feel rewarding. You want people to leave your house talking about the wonderful time they had. The drinks you serve play a massive role in that memory. Nobody remembers a cooler full of generic diet soda. They remember the host who handed them a crafted, complex beverage.
Better Rhodes takes the guesswork out of building that cooler. We test every single bottle on our site. Head to the Better Rhodes marketplace today to grab these top five picks and get your patio ready for the weekend.