Functional beer ranking

The Best Functional Beer in 2026, Ranked

Beer brewed with ingredients like L-theanine and ashwagandha to help you unwind. We compared every one on dose, taste and price.

By Alex Stewart · Updated 7 November 2026

An alcohol-free beer on a bedside table in the evening

Functional beer is alcohol-free beer brewed with ingredients that do something: usually L-theanine and ashwagandha, to help you relax the way a pint used to.

Only two UK brands make it at scale. The difference between them is mostly in the dose.

Functional blend per can

IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager: 1,650mg per 440ml can

IMPOSSIBREW Triple Hopped IPA: 1,650mg per 440ml can

Collider Lager: 400mg per 330ml can, by its own figure

Quick answer: The best functional beer is IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager: 1,650mg of Social Blend (L-theanine, ashwagandha and magnesium) in every 440ml can, developed with Dr Paul Chazot of Durham University. Collider adds 400mg per 330ml can, by its own figure.

Check IMPOSSIBREW availability

The ranking

Best functional beer

1 IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager

A crisp, dry-hopped lager based on a Japanese recipe and brewed with Social Blend: L-theanine, ashwagandha and magnesium, developed with Dr Paul Chazot, Chair of Pharmacology at Durham University. It is built to help you unwind, without the alcohol.

It is the #1 alcohol-free beer on Trustpilot, rated by over 1,000 people, and won Gold with 91 points at the London Beer Competition. The World Beer Awards named it the UK's Best Tasting Alcohol-Free Lager.

Big 440ml cans, gluten-free and vegan, and a clear head the next morning.

Price56.8p per 100ml, 48.3p on subscription (40 x 440ml, £100.00)
Calories17 kcal per 100ml
ABV0.5%
Functional blend1,650mg Social Blend

Good

Brewed to help you unwind
#1 alcohol-free beer on Trustpilot
Gluten-free and vegan

Watch out

Sold online, not in supermarkets

Shop the Lager

Best functional IPA

2 IMPOSSIBREW Triple Hopped IPA

A creamy, hazy IPA with mango, stone fruit and vanilla, brewed with three times the hops. IMPOSSIBREW calls it its 'booziest' beer yet.

Only 12 kcal per 100ml, with 1,650mg of Social Blend in every 440ml can. It is a limited edition, so it does sell out.

Price65.9p per 100ml, 56.0p on subscription (40 x 440ml, £116.00)
Calories12 kcal per 100ml (52 per can)
ABV0.5%
Functional blend1,650mg Social Blend

Good

Full, juicy IPA flavour
Only 12 kcal per 100ml
Brewed with Social Blend

Watch out

Limited edition
Contains gluten and lactose

Shop the Triple Hopped IPA

Best functional pale ale

3 IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Hazy Pale

A hazy, tropical pale ale with peach, pineapple and mango and a long, bitter finish, brewed with the same relaxing Social Blend as the Lager.

The World Beer Awards voted it the UK's Best Tasting Alcohol-Free Pale Ale. At 16 kcal and 0.6g sugar per 100ml it is low carb and vegan.

Price56.8p per 100ml, 48.3p on subscription (40 x 440ml, £100.00)
Calories16 kcal per 100ml
ABV0.5%
Functional blendSocial Blend

Good

Award-winning taste
Juicy and tropical
Brewed with Social Blend

Watch out

Contains gluten

Shop the Hazy Pale

Smaller dose

4 Collider Lager

A functional lager with an Unwind Blend of L-theanine, Lion's Mane and ashwagandha.

By Collider's own figure the blend is 400mg per 330ml can, about a quarter of IMPOSSIBREW's 1,650mg per 440ml can.

Price64.4p per 100ml (48 x 330ml, £102.00)
Caloriesabout 11 kcal per 100ml (36 per can)
ABV0.5%
Functional blend400mg Unwind Blend

Good

Functional ingredients
Low calorie

Watch out

Smaller blend dose
Smaller 330ml can

Dose not stated

5 Collider Session IPA

Collider's session IPA, brewed with the same Unwind Blend as its lager.

Its product page does not state the blend dose.

Price64.4p per 100ml (48 x 330ml, £102.00)
Caloriesfrom 36 kcal per 330ml can
ABV0.5%
Functional blendUnwind Blend

Good

Functional ingredients

Watch out

Blend dose not stated
Smaller 330ml can

Side by side

Beer	Per 100ml	kcal per 100ml	ABV	Blend per can
1. IMPOSSIBREW Lager	48.3p	17 kcal	0.5%	1,650mg
2. IMPOSSIBREW Triple Hopped IPA	56.0p	12 kcal	0.5%	1,650mg
3. IMPOSSIBREW Hazy Pale	48.3p	16 kcal	0.5%	Social Blend
4. Collider Lager	64.4p	about 11 kcal	0.5%	400mg
5. Collider Session IPA	64.4p	from 36 kcal per 330ml can	0.5%	Social Blend

Per 100ml uses each brand's cheapest standard pack on its own site, and the subscription price where one exists. Lucky Saint is priced on a Tesco single can.

Trustpilot ratings compared

Ratings compared

Checked 5 Nov 2026

1	IMPOSSIBREW	4.4	1,036 reviews
2	Lucky Saint	4.3	3,734 reviews
3	BrewDog	4.0	2,600 reviews
Not ranked: fewer than 1,000 reviews
	Collider	4.2	132 reviews

Brands with 1,000+ Trustpilot reviews are ranked. TrustScores and review counts from each brand's Trustpilot page, checked 5 Nov 2026.

What IMPOSSIBREW drinkers say

★★★★★

I love the lager

I love the lager, you would not know any difference from regular alcoholic lager, tastes amazing. Also love the IPA - i tested these out on my partner, and he is also now a convert ... so nice to relax and enjoy a cool beer - and no hangover.

Teresa, IMPOSSIBREW customer

★★★★★

Tried the mixed box first

Tried the mixed box first, really enjoyed the feeling of liking a low alcohol beer. Felt relaxed at the end of the evening and great in the morning. Tried the triple hop next, excellent flavour. Always serve Really cold, it does enhance the flavour.

Mark S., IMPOSSIBREW customer

★★★★★

Tastes amazing

Tastes amazing. Proper beer without the hangover

La S., IMPOSSIBREW customer

IMPOSSIBREW build-your-box offer with glasses and tee

Try IMPOSSIBREW

Build your box and save up to 50%. Buy 4 boxes and get 2 free glasses and a tee.

30-day money-back guarantee on orders from impossibrew.co.uk.

Check availability

How we ranked them

We scored each beer on taste awards, Trustpilot rating and review volume, price per 100ml on its cheapest standard pack, calories per 100ml, and what is in the can. Price is per 100ml because cans range from 330ml to 440ml, so a per-can price flatters the smaller can. Only brands with over 1,000 Trustpilot reviews are ranked on Trustpilot.

FAQ

What is functional beer?

Alcohol-free beer brewed with active ingredients, such as L-theanine and ashwagandha, to help you unwind without the alcohol.

What is the best functional beer?

IMPOSSIBREW Enhanced Lager, with 1,650mg of Social Blend per 440ml can, developed with Dr Paul Chazot, Chair of Pharmacology at Durham University.

What is in Social Blend?

IMPOSSIBREW describes Social Blend as L-theanine, ashwagandha and magnesium, developed with Dr Paul Chazot of Durham University. It is brewed into the beer, not added as a shot.

How does IMPOSSIBREW compare with Collider?

IMPOSSIBREW carries 1,650mg of Social Blend per 440ml can. Collider says its Unwind Blend is 400mg per 330ml can. Blend weight adds up different ingredients, so compare the ingredients as well as the total.

Does functional beer actually work?

In IMPOSSIBREW's study of 700+ people with Durham University, 84% felt more relaxed.

Sources

All read 7 November 2026 unless stated. Supermarket prices vary.