Alaska Airlines Partners with Best Day Brewing for Non-Alcoholic Inflight Brews

Alaska Airlines has partnered with West Coast brewers Best Day Brewing to introduce craft non-alcoholic beer to its inflight menu for the first time, allowing passengers to crack a beer in the air without fear of a hangover.

Beginning this December, First Class and Premium Class passengers will be offered a complimentary can of Best Day Brewing’s signature Kölsch beer. All other passengers can also try the beer by purchasing it from the inflight menu. This beer will be the first non-alcoholic drink in the airline’s premium beverage menu, just in time for Dry January.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

“We are always looking for healthier food and beverage options that allow our guests to maintain their lifestyles without sacrificing the taste or quality of the product they’re consuming,” said Todd Traynor-Corey, managing director of guest products at Alaska Airlines. “Best Day Brewing achieves that with its craft non-alcoholic beers founded right here on the West Coast.”

Best Day Brewing was founded in 2021 in the San Francisco Bay area, and it already holds the title of best-selling non-alcoholic Kölsch in the U.S.

Kölsch is a distinctive style of crisp and refreshing beer that originated in Cologne, Germany, and Best Day’s brew is noted for its “toasty malt character” and light hoppiness. It’s just 55 calories per can and is also non-GMO, Kosher, and vegan.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

The Kölsch is infused with Hallertau Blanc hops, giving it its fruity aroma, hints of white grape, and traditional Cologne malts. It is brewed using a unique method of crafting the beer to full strength before removing the alcohol, allowing the non-alcoholic beverage to retain all the key flavors of the high-quality beer.

“At its core, the partnership with Alaska Airlines and Best Day Brewing is about celebrating life’s adventure,” said Tate Huffard, CEO of Best Day Brewing. “Having our non-alcoholic Kölsch at 30k feet is about enjoying all the upside of cracking open a great tasting beer and acknowledging that when you land your journey is just beginning.”

This is the second West Coast startup that Alaska has partnered with in recent months, having replaced Starbucks with Stumptown Coffee as its inflight coffee supplier in October, and this latest partnership with Best Day Brewing continues the airline’s commitment to supporting and promoting local businesses.

Photo: Courtesy of Alaska Airlines

According to Alaska Airlines, the carrier was alerted to Best Day Brewing’s non-alcoholic beer when a Mileage Plan member and loyal customer, Brittney Childs, posted a can on her social media.

“I’m excited to travel with an airline that’s inclusive and offers a drink to their passengers who live a sober life or like the taste of beer, but not the effects of alcohol,” she said. “Breweries have come such a long way in making non-alcoholic beers taste good and Best Day Brewery has definitely achieved that. I like that I can enjoy a non-alcoholic beer on the ground and now, in the air when I fly Alaska Airlines.”