Which Non-Alcoholic Advent Calendar Should You Choose: Beer or Wine?

Choosing an advent calendar used to be pretty simple. You picked the chocolate one, opened a door every morning and counted down to Christmas.

These days, there are much more exciting options. If you're looking for non alcoholic drinks to enjoy throughout December, a non alcoholic advent calendar can turn the Christmas countdown into 25 days of discovery. But which one should you choose: a beer-focused calendar or one filled with alcohol-free wines, cocktails and other drinks?

The answer really comes down to what you like to drink, how much variety you want and who you're buying it for.

At Sans Drinks, the 2026 collection includes two very different ways to count down to Christmas: the Non-Alc Beer Advent Calendar and the Non-Alc Wines & Cocktails Advent Calendar. Both contain 25 drinks, one behind each numbered door, but the experience inside is quite different.

Non-Alc Beer or Wine Advent Calendar: What's the Difference?

The easiest way to decide is to think about what you would normally reach for at the end of the day.

If you're someone who loves a cold lager, IPA or pale ale, the Non-Alc Beer Advent Calendar gives you 25 different beers and ales to work through. If you'd rather explore sparkling drinks, spritzes, cocktails, wine-style drinks and functional options, the Wines & Cocktails Advent Calendar offers a much broader mix.

Both calendars have 25 numbered doors, with one drink for each day from 1 December through to Christmas Day.

Choose the Non-Alc Beer Advent Calendar If...

[product name="non-alc-xmas-beer-advent-calendar"]

You already know that beer is your thing.

The 2026 Non-Alc Beer Advent Calendar contains 25 different alcohol-free beers and ales, giving you the chance to explore everything from crisp lagers and pale ales to Hazy IPAs, XPA, sour beer and ginger beer.

It's not simply 25 versions of the same drink. The idea is to give you a proper tour through different styles and breweries, with names including Heaps Normal, BrewDog, Garage Project, Hop Nation and Behemoth.

That makes it particularly appealing if you're curious about the growing range of non-alcoholic beer available in Australia.

You might find a new favourite. You might discover that you prefer a style you had never tried before. Or you might simply enjoy having a cold beer waiting behind the door each day.

What Makes It Fun?

There's something satisfying about opening the calendar and not knowing exactly what's inside.

Start with door number one on 1 December, chill the beer and enjoy it when you're ready. The next day brings another beer, another style and another little discovery.

And because there are 25 different drinks, you can compare what you like as you go.

25 doors. 25 beers. Zero alcohol.

Choose the Non-Alc Wines & Cocktails Advent Calendar If...

 [product name="non-alc-xmas-wines-cocktails-advent-calendar"]

Beer isn't necessarily your first choice, or you simply want more variety.

The 2026 Non-Alc Wines & Cocktails Advent Calendar contains 25 different alcohol-free drinks, but wine and cocktails are only part of the story.

Behind the doors you'll find sparkling wines and wine-style drinks, cocktail-style serves, spritzes, RTDs, tonics, sodas, botanical drinks and functional options.

There are also 13 functional and wellbeing drinks included in the collection, making this calendar particularly interesting if you want to explore more than traditional alcohol-free alternatives.

Brands featured include ALTR, Savvy, Mellows, Noobeing and Dayse, alongside other alcohol-free and functional drinks.

A Different Drink Every Day

This calendar is designed for people who like a bit of unpredictability.

One day might bring something fruity and sparkling. The next could be a cocktail-inspired drink, followed by a botanical tonic, refreshing soda or functional drink.

You know there's something waiting behind the next door. You just don't know what it will be.

That makes it a fun option for anyone who enjoys discovering new non alcoholic drinks rather than sticking to one particular category.

25 doors. 25 drinks. 13 functional picks.

Which One Makes the Better Christmas Gift?

Both calendars make thoughtful Christmas gifts, particularly for someone who doesn't drink alcohol or simply enjoys exploring alcohol-free options.

The better choice depends on the person.

For the Beer Lover

Choose the Non-Alc Beer Advent Calendar if they're always reaching for a lager, IPA or pale ale. It's also a great option for someone who enjoys comparing different beer styles and discovering new breweries.

For the Curious Explorer

Choose the Non-Alc Wines & Cocktails Advent Calendar if they enjoy variety. With sparkling drinks, cocktail-style drinks, spritzes, tonics, sodas and 13 functional drinks, there's much more to discover across the 25 days.

For Someone Cutting Back on Alcohol

Both calendars work well if you're looking for a fun way to enjoy the Christmas countdown without alcohol. The key difference is the drinking experience. The beer calendar stays focused on beer, while the wines and cocktails calendar gives you a broader selection of styles.

What If You Can't Decide?

Honestly, that's part of the fun.

Think about what the person would most likely order when they're out. If it's a pint, the beer calendar is probably the obvious choice. If they like sparkling drinks, cocktails, spritzes and trying something new, the Wines & Cocktails calendar could be a better fit.

And if you're buying one for yourself, choose based on what you'd actually look forward to opening each day.

After all, an advent calendar is supposed to make December a little more exciting.

How the Sans Drinks Advent Calendars Work

Both calendars contain 25 numbered windows, with one drink hidden behind each door.

You start on 1 December and open the corresponding door each day until Christmas Day.

The calendars are securely packed for delivery and placed inside an unbranded outer box, making them suitable for gifting while keeping the contents a surprise.

The beer calendar is best served chilled. For the Wines & Cocktails calendar, individual drinks can be chilled, poured over ice or served according to the recommendations for that particular drink.

Both 2026 calendars are available for pre-order, with orders beginning to ship from the second week of November, giving you time to have yours ready for 1 December.

The Verdict: Beer or Wine?

There's no wrong answer.

The Non-Alc Beer Advent Calendar is the one to choose if you want 25 different alcohol-free beers and ales, with plenty of classic and modern styles to explore.

The Non-Alc Wines & Cocktails Advent Calendar is the better choice if variety is what you're after, with wine-style drinks, cocktails, spritzes, tonics, sodas, botanical drinks and 13 functional options across the 25 days.

Whichever you choose, the idea is the same: 25 days of discovering something new, without the alcohol.

And that's a pretty good way to count down to Christmas.