Ralph’s Market, the grocery store chain well-loved in Southern California (or known as Kroger’s in other states), offers a wide range of products to meet your household needs. Whether you’re after your favorite Cheetos or essential Charmin, they’ve got you covered.
During my recent visit to my local Ralph’s, I was pleasantly surprised to discover a variety of non-alcohlic options for stocking up your home mocktail bar.
It’s true – people these days are on the hunt for non-alcoholic choices that go beyond the ordinary iced tea and kombucha, and forward-thinking stores like Ralph’s are stepping up to meet that demand.
In this article, we’ll explore the noteworthy non-alcoholic beverages available at Ralph’s Market, or at least, the ones that caught my eye.
Note that each store will stock different brands and flavors and run different sales and promotions. I’ve also included links to where you can purchase these drinks online for those in the US.
Contents
Ralph’s Best Non-Alcoholic Drinks
Frescos Naturales
If you’ve had the pleasure of exploring Latin America, you’ve likely encountered the delightful sensation of “agua fresca” – a light, non-alcoholic beverage crafted from a blend of water, sugar, and an assortment of fruits, flowers, or seeds. Its refreshing nature is especially heavenly on scorching days. Personally, I make it a point to order some whenever I find myself in Mexico, as there’s nothing quite like it back in the States.
The Latino-owned brand, Frescos Naturales, graces the shelves of Ralph’s with various traditional aguas frescas flavors, but with a twist: they’re sparkling. What’s also unique about these drinks is that they do not contain artificial sugar or any ingredients you’ve never heard of before.
- Drink Type: Sparkling Juice
- Price: $3.29 Each
- Flavors:
- Rosa de Jamaica (Hibiscus)
- Tamarindo (Tamarind)
- Maracuyá (Passion fruit)
- Piña (Pineapple)
- Guayaba (Guava)
- Mango
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- 30-80 Calories
- Made from real fruit and cane sugar
- Less than four ingredients each
Oca Plant-Based Energy Drink
A healthier-for-you energy drink, Oca promises all the energy without the crash or the jitters. Drawing inspiration from the vibrant flavors of South America, the secret behind this “clean” energy drink lies in cassava flour, also known as tapioca – which is where its name, Oca, is derived.
Perhaps the best part? The Grammy winner, Marc Anthony, is a co-owner of the brand. After every can, you’ll be dancing to the rhythm of life, singing, “Voy a reír, voy a bailar, vivir mi vida, la la la la.”
- Drink Type: Energy Drink
- Price: $2.99 Each
- Flavors:
- Berry Acai
- Guava
- Mago
- Prickly Pear & Lime
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- 120 mg of natural caffeine (equivalent to one cup of coffee)
- Vegan
- Naturally sweetened
- Kosher
- No added colors or preservatives
- USDA organic
- Non-GMO
Roar Organic
“Drink out loud,” or so the makers of Roar Organic would say. If you’re not a fan of sugary Gatorade and want a more enticing way to get hydrated besides plain water, this might be the option for you.
Roar Organic drinks are like the next generation of Vitamin Water but healthier for you since they claim to be all-natural, caffeine-free, and packed with flavor. Each bottle has only 20 calories and 3 grams of sugar. They’re also loaded with electrolytes, vitamins, and antioxidants.
- Drink Type: Vitamin Enhanced Water
- Price: $2.49 each or 2 for $4.00
- Flavors:
- Cucumber Watermelon
- Mago Clementine
- Blueberry Acai
- Georgia Peach
- Strawberry Lemonade
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- Keto-friendly
- Vegan
- USDA organic
Inotea Bubble Tea
If you’re a boba lover but dread the never-ending lines at your favorite bubble tea spot, then Inotea might just be your new best friend! The creators of Inotea shared the same love for this beloved drink and wanted to savor it from the comfort of their own homes. That’s why they worked their magic to craft a ready-to-drink boba tea that’s also conveniently shelf-stable.
Now, I’m all for living life the way you want (you be you, my friend!), but if you’re sipping on Inotea, it might be a good idea to moderate. A single serving can pack up to a whopping 70% (that’s 42 grams) of your recommended daily sugar intake!
So, enjoy it, but perhaps not all in one gulp!
- Drink Type: Tea
- Price: $5.49 each
- Flavors:
- Honeydew
- Brown Sugar
- Taro
- Matcha Green Tea Latte
- Banana
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- Contains milk
- High in sugar
Accelerator Energy Drink
Although I haven’t had the chance to give it a go just yet, this “healthy” energy drink has piqued my curiosity. It seems like many brands in this category are quite fond of making bold claims, with promises of turbocharging your metabolism (I’m looking at you, Celsius), and this one seems to follow suit.
According to the folks behind Accelerator Energy, this concoction was carefully designed to unlock peak performance for today’s athletes. They’ve put together a unique blend of natural caffeine, plant-based thermogenics (read this if you also have no clue what that means), antioxidants, and a few secret ingredients of their own.
Their pitch is that this blend serves up lasting energy, fires up your metabolism, and sharpens your focus.
- Drink Type: Energy Drink
- Price: $2.39 for each 12-ounce can
- Flavors:
- Cherry Limeade
- Star Berry
- Peach Paradise
- Orange Mango
- Island Guava
- Rocket Pop
- Berry Lemonade
- Kiwi Lime
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- Zero sugar
- Fat-free
- Vegan-friendly
- Gluten-free
Nixie Flavored Sparkling Water
According to Wikipedia, nixies are often depicted as aquatic female humanoids with a connection to mermaids, yet they sport frog-like legs instead of the traditional tails. While there might not be an obvious link between Nixie, the sparkling water brand, and these mythical creatures, it’s still a random, fun fact!
Founded by the same female entrepreneur who founded Late July snacks, Nixie states its mission is to eliminate sugar, single-use plastic bottles, and toxic forever chemicals from the beverage aisle.
In their quest to “nix” these toxins from sparkling water, they employ reverse osmosis filtration.
- Drink Type: Flavored Sparkling Water
- Price:
- Flavors:
- Strawberry Hibiscus
- Black Cherry Lime
- Lime Ginger
- Watermelon Mint
- Peach Black Tea
- Grapefruit
- Pomegranate Green Tea
- Lime
- Lemon
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- USDA Organic
- Zero Calories
- Zero Sweeteners
- Zero Artificial Flavors
Ralph’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits
You may have heard of non-alcoholic wine and beer, but did you know there are also 0% ABV versions of tequila, rum, vodka, and just about anything?
While I only saw one brand on my trip to Ralph’s, I am sure that they will continue to carry more of these beverages in the future:
Ritual Zero Proof
Thanks to brands like Ritual Zero Proof, you can make a non-alcholic version of any cocktail without sacrifcing taste. Whether it be a margarita, gin and tonic, or a moscow mule, they have non-alcoholic spirits for every recipe that constitute a 1:1 replacement.
- Drink Type: Non-Alcoholic Spirits
- Price: $28.99 per 750 ML bottle
- Flavors:
- Whiskey
- Tequila
- Rum
- Apéritif
- Gin
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- No and low calorie
- 1-2 grams of sugar
Ralph’s Non-Alcoholic Wines
With non-alcoholic wine, you can still wind down with a glass even if you’re not drinking. Ralph’s has a modest, yet comprehensive collection:
Fre Wine
Did you know that many non-alcoholic wines start out as regular wine and then undergo a process to remove it?
Fre Wines by Sutter Home uses a state-of-the-art spinning cone technology to remove the alcohol content from their wines, preserving the aroma and flavor. While Ralph’s may only carry a few of their most popular varietals, Fre offers just about every kind of wine sans the ethanol.
- Drink Type: Non-Alcoholic Wines
- Price: $12.99 each
- Varietals:
- Red Blend
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Chardonnay
- White Zinfandel
- Moscato
- Rosé
- Sparkling Brut
- Sparkling Rosé
Giesen
Giesen is a de-alcoholized wine from New Zealand with the top selling non-alcoholic sauvignon blanc in the US. Giesen is an especially great option for mindful drinkers because it’s low in calories, with only 19-27 per five ounce serving.
- Drink Type: Non-Alcoholic Wine
- Price: $15.99 per bottle
- Varietals:
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Riesling
- Pinot Grigio
- Rosé
- Premium Red
- Sparkling Brut
Stella Rosa
For over a century, San Antonio Winery has been a trailblazer in the world of wine, introducing their signature semi-sweet, semi-sparkling style known as Stella Rosa. Despite being located in California, the winery remains deeply rooted in its Italian heritage, sourcing their aromatic grapes from the beautiful Piedmont region of Italy, staying true to the family’s Italian origins.
Now, Stella Rosa boasts a repertoire of over 20 varieties. Among them are non-alcoholic options that preserve the same flavors and effervescence of the original, all while containing a mere 0.3% ABV.
- Drink Type: Non-Alcoholic Wine
- Price: $14.99
- Varietals:
- Sparkling Cranberry
- Rosé NA
- Black
- Peach
Zilch
I’ve encountered numerous non-alcoholic wine brands, and I thought I had a good handle on the options available at standard grocery stores like Ralph’s. But then, I stumbled upon something new – Zilch. True to its name, Zilch offers wine with not just zero alcohol but also zero added sugar. It’s a sparkling wine that draws inspiration from champagne. While it may not be as low in calories as Giesen, it’s still a reasonable choice at just 60 calories per serving.
- Drink Type: Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Wine
- Price: $13.99 per bottle
- Varietals:
- Brut Bubbles
- Rosé Bubbles
Freixenet
Freixenet is a well-known Spanish winemaker, primarily famous for its sparkling wines, including Cava. I have yet to try this wine, but it has been recommended to me multiple times. Check back here for my take, I’ll update you once I do!
- Drink Type: Sparkling Non-Alcoholic Wine
- Price: $15.99
- Varietals:
- Sparkling White
- Sparkling Rosé
Craft Non-Alcoholic Beers at Ralph’s
Thanks to recent innovations in brewing technology, non-alcoholic beer tastes way more like the real thing, which has enabled new craft non-alcoholic beers to take off.
In fact, U.S. sales of non-alcoholic beer witnessed an impressive 32% increase compared to the previous year as of September 9th, 2023.
Many of these brands have hit the shelves at my local Ralph’s:
Athletic Brewing
Athletic Brewing Co. is not only making waves in the craft beer industry, but is also captivating the hearts of beer enthusiasts and teetotalers alike across the nation. Non-alcoholic beer used to have a rather lackluster reputation, characterized by its subpar taste and lack of complexity, often tasting like mere water. However, all of that has changed.
A recent feature in GQ delves into the remarkable journey of Athletic Brewing’s founders, shedding light on how they were able to go from nothing to building a $60 million annual business in just a matter of years.
- Drink Type: Non-alcoholic beer
- Price: $12.99 per six-pack of 12 oz cans
- Flavors:
- Run Wild IPA
- Upside Dawn Golden
- Free Wave Hazy IPA
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- Vegan-Friendly
Lagunitas IPNA
Lagunitas is a kingpin in the world of craft beer and from my dad’s sleepy hometown of Petaluma, California, no less!
This non-alcoholic IPA has all the hops, malt, and yeast as their highly-balanced IPAs, meaning all the flavor remains. However, they brew it, as they say, “without the ceremonial fez and ancient incantations that normally take it over the edge.”
- Drink Type: Non-alcoholic beer
- Price: $11.99 per six pack of 12 oz bottles
HOP WTR
Okay, so it’s not quite a beer, but you will find it in the beer aisle. HOP WTR is a non-alcoholic sparkling water crafted with bold hops and mood-boosting ingredients. It claims its proprietary blend of hops, adaptogens, and nootropics offers health benefits while tasting light, crisp and satisfying.
- Drink Type: Sparkling Hop Water
- Price: $13.99 for a pack of six 12 oz cans
- Flavors:
- Classic
- Lime
- Blood Orange
- Peach
- Mango
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- Zero Carbs
- Zero Calories
- Zero Sugar
Other Beers
Among all the great craft non-alcholic beer options above, Ralph’s also carries non-alcoholic versions of traditional beer brands such as:
Ralph’s Alcohol-Free Mixers and Mocktails
At Ralph’s of course you’ll find all of the best mixers, such as Q tonic water and Fever Tree. When it comes to ready-made mocktails in a can, you won’t be disappointed either:
Spiritless Non-Alcoholic Pour-Over Cocktail
As the name suggests, pour these Spiritless drinks over ice and you’ll have yourself a delicious 0% ABV cocktail.
- Drink Type: Canned Mocktail
- Price: $15.99 for a four-pack of cans
- Flavors:
- Old Fashioned
- Margarita
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- Gluten-free
- Vegan-friendly
- Non-GMO
- Keto-friendly
Owen’s Espresso Martini Mix
I saw a meme somewhere that said, “An espresso martini is just a red bull vodka that studied abroad and won’t shut up about it.” It made me laugh because, all summer long my friends who vacationed in Europe flooded my Instagram feed with their Espresso Martinis. The meme was so true!
According to the brand, Owen’s nitro-infused Espresso Martini Mix is made with real coffee beans and delivers that perfect balance of sweet and bitter notes with a creamy finish. You can drink it neat or mix it with an alcohol-free vodka to simulate the real thing.
- Drink Type: Canned Mocktail
- Price: $13.99 for a four-pack of cans
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- Vegan
- Gluten-free
AVEC Drinks
Touted as a healthier soft drink you can mix, AVEC is a staple that you’ll easily find in my own home bar and fun spaces like booze-free pop-up bars.
- Drink Type: Canned Mocktail/ Mixer
- Price: $8.99 per four pack of 8.5 oz cans
- Flavors:
- Yuzu and Lime
- Jalapapeño and Blood Orange
- Grapefruit and Pomelo
- Hibiscus and Pomegranate
- Ginger
- Key Nutritional Facts:
- Real juice
- Low calorie
- Low sugar
Cheers!
With alcohol-free drinks, there’s no need to wait for five o’clock to roll around. Every hour can be your own happy hour, one of the best benefits of going dry.
Whether you’re a teetotaler, designated driver, or simply looking for a refreshing alternative, Ralph’s has you covered with an enticing variety of options to elevate your beverage experience.
Leave a Reply