Athletic Atletica Ipa

Atletica IPA from Athletic is a non-alcoholic beer in the India pale ale style, sold in the NonAlcoholic category. The listing doesn't give hop varieties, IBU or a precise ABV, so what follows is what non-alcoholic IPAs of this kind usually taste like, not a measured profile of this bottle. Expect a hop-forward nose of citrus peel, grapefruit or pine, a malt base that is lighter and rounder than in a full-strength IPA, and a bitterness that lingers at the back of the palate. Dealcoholized and non-alcoholic IPAs tend to have a thinner body than their alcoholic counterparts, so the hops often come across as the dominant feature. Taste it before you decide how much malt sweetness it carries. Serve it cold, around 3 to 6°C (38 to 43°F). In this style, chilling keeps the bitterness crisp and stops the malt from tasting worty or overly sweet. As it warms in the glass, the hop aromatics tend to open up, so a short rest after pouring can be worthwhile. A standard pint glass or a tulip-style IPA glass works well. Pour with a little vigor to build a head, since that releases the hop aroma you would otherwise miss. If you drink straight from the can or bottle, you give up most of that aroma. For food, the bitterness and carbonation of an IPA suit dishes with fat, spice or char. Good matches include burgers, fried chicken, tacos al pastor, Thai or Indian curries, wood-fired pizza and sharp cheddar. Citrus-leaning hops also go well with grilled fish and shrimp, and with salads dressed with a lemon vinaigrette. Because the beer is non-alcoholic, it has no alcoholic warmth to soften very hot dishes, so the carbonation and bitterness do that work alone. If you find the bitterness too strong against the heat, choose milder dishes or add something creamy, such as a yogurt sauce.