Not everyone in your crew wants a pint—and in Durango, that doesn’t mean you’re stuck with “just a Coke.” Whether you’ve got kids begging for something fun, a designated driver who wants zero alcohol, or you’re simply beered-out after a big day on the river, many local breweries and taproom-style spots have legit non-beer options: hard seltzers, NA (non-alcoholic) pours, sparkling hop drinks, and even house-made sodas.
Key takeaways
– You can get fun drinks at Durango brewery-style spots even if you do not want beer.
– Good non-beer choices include hard seltzer, cider, NA beer, sparkling water, hop-style sparkling drinks, and house-made sodas.
– NA does not always mean zero alcohol. If you need zero alcohol, ask for 0.0 or truly alcohol-free.
– Easy ordering tip: ask What non-beer drinks do you have, and is anything made in-house?
– Say what you like so staff can help fast: not too sweet, fruity, no caffeine, or low sugar. You can ask for half syrup or extra soda water.
– For kids, the best picks are usually root beer, orange soda, sparkling lemonade, and other craft bottled sodas.
– Family-friendly stops work best with patios, snacks, and earlier hours when it is less busy.
– Simple feel-good rhythm: drink, water, snack, repeat (especially after hiking, rafting, or biking).
– Places to look for: Ska Brewing for hard seltzers and fruit-infused sparkling water; Durango Craft Spirits for Zuberfizz; Durango Soda Company bottles for lots of flavors.
– Easy take-back idea for Junction West: grab bottled craft sodas or sparkling waters, serve over ice, add citrus, and top with soda water if it is too sweet.
Here’s the good news: you can still get the full patio-and-mountain-town vibe—without ordering beer. In this guide, we’ll point you to Durango places known for things like Ska Brewing’s hard seltzers and fruit-infused sparkling water, kid-friendly favorites like Zuberfizz at Durango Craft Spirits, and where to look for house sodas and craft bottles (hello, local Durango Soda Company flavors).
Keep reading if you want:
– A quick “what to order” cheat sheet (sweet vs not-sweet, zero-alcohol vs NA)
– The most kid-friendly drink picks (root beer, orange soda, sparkling lemonade)
– Easy, low-stress stops that work for mixed ages and preferences—starting from your Junction West home base
Quick cheat sheet you can use at the counter
– Want zero alcohol: ask for 0.0 or truly alcohol-free, not just NA.
– Want something crisp after the outdoors: sparkling water, hop-style sparkling drinks, or a light hard seltzer.
– Want the best kid win: house sodas, craft root beer, or sparkling lemonade.
– Want easy souvenirs back at Junction West: bottled craft sodas and mixers (they travel well and feel special with ice and citrus).
Non-beer options at a brewery: what they usually mean (in plain English)
Walk into a Durango brewery or brewery-vibe spot and you’ll usually see more than beer on the menu, even if it’s not the “main event.” Hard seltzers are a common go-to because they’re light, fizzy, and easy for mixed groups, especially on warm afternoons. Cider is another frequent option, and it’s fruit-based rather than grain-based, which can be a better fit for some diets and taste preferences. Then there are the non-alcoholic choices: NA beer, sparkling waters, and sometimes hop-forward sparkling drinks that smell a little like beer but drink like a crisp soda.
House sodas are the sleeper hit, especially for families who want a fun, “we’re on vacation” drink without the alcohol. They’re typically made with flavored syrup topped with soda water, so they arrive bubbly and bright, and they feel more special than a standard fountain pour. If you spot craft bottles on the menu (root beer, ginger ale, sparkling lemonade), that’s a great sign the place has thought about non-beer drinkers and kids, too.
One important note about NA: NA means non-alcoholic, but it doesn’t always mean zero alcohol. Some NA products can contain trace amounts, and that matters for certain families and situations. If you need truly alcohol-free, say it clearly and early so staff can point you to something that’s actually 0.0 without guessing.
How to order confidently (and get something you actually like)
The fastest way to get a great recommendation is to ask one friendly, specific question right away: What non-beer drinks do you have, and is anything made in-house? That line works because it signals you’re open to options, and it helps the staff skip the “we have soda” dead end. It also nudges the conversation toward the fun stuff—house sodas, interesting sparkling options, and non-alcoholic pours that don’t feel like an afterthought.
Then give one preference so they can dial it in fast. Try: not too sweet, fruity, no caffeine, or low sugar. Those details matter more than people think, especially with sodas, mixers, and anything made with syrup.
If your crew is thinking about dietary needs, keep it simple and ask the question you actually care about. If gluten matters, remember that cider and many seltzers are often gluten-free by ingredient, but cross-contact can happen, and it’s fine to ask. If sugar matters, hop-style sparkling drinks and plain sparkling waters are usually the easiest “not too sweet” move, and house sodas can often be made with half syrup or extra soda water.
Family-friendly taproom tips that keep the vibe easy (for you and everyone else)
The best family brewery stop in Durango usually has three things: a kid-friendly drink that feels like a treat, outdoor seating, and a simple ordering flow. Patios are gold because kids can wiggle a bit without feeling like they’re breaking the rules of a quiet room. A quick snack option—either on-site or nearby—also helps a lot, because hungry kids don’t care how good the tasting notes are.
A small parent move that pays off fast is ordering the kid drink first. Get the root beer, orange soda, or sparkling lemonade on the way, and the table settles down while you choose the adult drinks. It’s especially helpful during busier dinner windows, when a two-minute wait can feel longer to a tired kid.
A little pacing goes a long way in Durango’s high-altitude, outdoor-heavy rhythm. Carbonation, sugar, and (if you choose it) alcohol can hit faster when you’re tired from rafting, hiking, or biking. Think of it like a simple rotation: drink, water, snack, repeat, and don’t be shy about ordering water or sparkling water between sweet pours.
Taproom etiquette is simple, and it makes everyone’s night better. Communal spaces can get tight, so keep strollers and bags tucked in close when you can. If you want a calmer vibe, earlier hours often mean easier seating, less noise, and a more relaxed experience for mixed ages.
Where to go in Durango for non-beer drinks (what to order, and why it works)
Ska Brewing is an easy “yes” when your group has mixed preferences, because they’re known to offer both hard seltzers and non-alcoholic, fruit-infused sparkling water. According to Ska review, those options make it simple for beer drinkers and non-beer drinkers to share the same stop without anyone feeling left out. If you want something light and crisp, ask what hard seltzer flavors are available and whether they’re on draft or in cans.
If you want alcohol-free, go for the fruit-infused sparkling water and ask whether it leans sweet or more clean and bubbly. It’s a great post-adventure move when you want the patio vibe but your body is voting for hydration. If you’re planning multiple stops, consider starting with the NA sparkling water first, then deciding if you want something alcoholic after you’ve had water and a snack.
Durango Craft Spirits is a smart pick when you want one stop where adults can sample something local and kids still get a “real treat” drink. As Craft Spirits write-up notes, children may enjoy Zuberfizz soda while adults sample spirits and cocktails. That’s exactly the kind of mixed-age win families look for, because kids don’t feel like they’re tagging along while adults “do the fun part.”
If you’ve got a designated driver, this is where being clear helps. Ask what’s truly 0.0, and don’t be afraid to keep it simple with soda and water while everyone else explores the menu. Going earlier can also keep the whole outing feeling calm and comfortable, especially if you’re aiming for a quick stop before heading back to your cabin, RV, or tent site.
If you keep seeing Durango Soda Company bottles around town, that’s not a coincidence—it’s a local Durango producer with flavors that feel made for patio weather and family trips. Their menu includes options like COLArado Cola, Creamy Root Beer, Ginger Ale, Strawberry Rhubarb, Vanilla Cream, Sparkling Lemonade, and even Lemongrass Basil Sparkling Water, as shown on this beverage menu. For kids, root beer and sparkling lemonade are easy winners, and for adults who want “not too sweet,” the sparkling water-style flavors can be a nice change from sugary sodas.
These bottles are also a handy clue when you’re scanning a menu fast. If a place carries local craft sodas, it often means they’ve put thought into non-beer options overall, which is great for families and mixed groups. And if you find a flavor you love, it’s an easy souvenir to bring back to Junction West for a low-key evening.
Easy take-back ideas for Junction West: make it feel “crafted” without the bar
Some of the best non-beer moments happen after you’re back at the resort, shoes off, river air coming through the trees, and nobody needing to drive anywhere. Bottled craft sodas and sparkling waters travel well and stay fun with almost zero effort. If you grab local Durango Soda Company flavors—like root beer for the kids, or a sparkling lemonade or lemongrass basil sparkling water for the grown-ups—you can turn a simple cooler drink into a little vacation ritual, especially when they’re served ice-cold, and their lineup is easy to browse on this soda menu.
A quick “resort-friendly” trick: pour it over plenty of ice and add a citrus wedge if you have one. If a soda feels too sweet, top it with extra soda water to lighten it up without losing the flavor. And if your group is doing a tasting-style afternoon in town, starting with a non-alcoholic option can make the whole day feel better at altitude—less rushed, more hydrated, and a lot easier to keep everyone happy.
Durango’s best brewery hangs aren’t just for beer people—they’re for everyone who wants that patio-in-the-pines feeling, whether you’re sipping a hard seltzer, a truly 0.0 option, a fruit-infused sparkling water, or a house soda that makes the kids feel like they got the “good stuff,” and when you’re ready to trade the taproom line for river air and a slower evening, come back to Junction West Durango Riverside Resort, grab a few local bottles for the cooler, pour them over ice, and settle in by your site or cabin with the Animas nearby—no driving, no stress, just a comfortable home base for tomorrow’s adventure, so book your stay at Junction West and make your Durango days (and nights) as relaxed as your drink order.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do Durango breweries usually have non-beer drinks, or is it hit-or-miss?
A: It’s increasingly common to find solid non-beer choices at Durango breweries and brewery-style taprooms, especially hard seltzers, NA (non-alcoholic) beer, sparkling water-style options, and occasionally house-made sodas or craft bottled sodas, so you don’t have to default to “just a Coke” if beer isn’t your thing.
Q: What is a hard seltzer, and how is it different from beer?
A: Hard seltzer is an alcoholic, carbonated drink that’s usually lighter and crisper than beer, often with fruit flavors and less of a “grain” taste, which makes it a popular pick for groups who want something refreshing and easy to sip.
Q: What does “NA” mean, and is NA the same as 0.0 (zero alcohol)?
A: NA means non-alcoholic, but it doesn’t always mean zero alcohol because some NA products can contain trace amounts, so if you need truly alcohol-free for any reason, it’s smart to ask for “0.0” or “truly alcohol-free” instead of assuming NA automatically means zero.
Q: What should I say at the counter to quickly find the best non-beer option?
A: A fast, reliable line is, “What non-beer drinks do you have, and is anything made in-house?” and then add one preference like “not too sweet,” “fruity,” or “no caffeine,” because that helps staff skip the basic soda answer and point you to the more interesting options.
Q: Are there kid-friendly drink options at Durango brewery-style spots?
A: Yes, many places have kid-friendly picks that feel like a treat, especially craft root beer, orange soda, sparkling lemonade, and house soda-style drinks, and ordering a kid drink first often makes the whole stop smoother because everyone can relax while adults decide.
Q: Which places are specifically mentioned for non-beer options in Durango?
A: Ska Brewing is highlighted for hard seltzers and non-alcoholic fruit-infused sparkling water, and Durango Craft Spirits is noted as a mixed-age-friendly stop where kids may enjoy Zuberfizz soda while adults sample spirits and cocktails.
Q: I’m the designated driver—what’s the easiest “still fun” thing to order?
A: If you’re avoiding alcohol, ask what’s truly 0.0 and go with something that still feels like a patio drink, such as fruit-infused sparkling water or sparkling water with citrus, because it reads as intentional rather than a consolation choice.
Q: What are “house sodas,” and why do people like them?
A: House sodas are typically made by combining flavored syrup with soda water, so they taste more special than standard fountain soda and can be a great crowd-pleaser for kids and adults who want something festive without ordering beer.
Q: Are there lower-sugar or “not too sweet” options at these spots?
A: Often yes, especially if you choose sparkling water-style drinks or ask if a house soda can be made with less syrup or extra soda water, which is a normal request
