In recent years alcohol-free beer has become a popular choice for many adults. “According to leading drinks market analysis firm IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the low-alcohol category increased by almost 20 percent last year in the U.S. alone, with the no-alcohol market experiencing nearly twice as much growth.” (Mazzeo, 2022)
Let’s look at various methods that have been developed to produce alcohol-free beer that closely mimics its alcoholic counterpart.
How is it made?
The production of alcohol-free beer typically starts the same way as regular beer. The process involves mashing malted barley with hot water to extract sugars and create a wort, which is then boiled with hops and fermented. (NA Beer Club, N/A) The yeast in the fermentation stage consumes the sugars in the wort, turning them into alcohol and other by-products such as carbon dioxide and flavour compounds. However, the crucial difference lies in the removal or reduction of alcohol content to below 0.5% ABV (alcohol by volume).
Here are the primary methods used:
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Reverse Osmosis Filter
Removing Alcohol via Pressure
Advantages:
- Better at preserving flavour than thermal extraction
- Good yield
- It allows for precise control over the alcohol content while maintaining the integrity of the beer’s flavour profile
Disadvantages:
- Can negatively impact the beer’s body due to tight filtration
Process: Reverse osmosis is a process that uses extreme pressure and low temperature to push the fermented beer through a membrane with pores so small that only water, alcohol, and volatile acids can pass through. Therefore separating the alcohol from the flavour compounds, and the remaining components are recombined. This method retains more flavour than thermal extraction but can still alter the beer’s body and texture. ([11] The Open University, 2024)
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Vacuum Distillation
Removing Alcohol via Vacuum
Advantages:
- Better at retaining flavours than most other methods
- Maintains the beer’s character more effectively
- Allows for gentle removal of alcohol without significantly affecting the flavour
Disadvantages:
- Can complicate carbonation processes as ensuring consistent carbonation levels across different batches can be challenging
Process: Vacuum distillation lowers the boiling point of alcohol by using a vacuum chamber, allowing the alcohol to be removed at lower temperatures. This process helps preserve the beer’s flavour and aroma by minimising the heat exposure. After alcohol removal, the beer is carbonated by injecting CO2, as the natural fermentation process is halted, preventing self-carbonation.
Spinning Cone Column using vacuum distillation
- Initially used in perfume making, this method involves vacuum distillation to separate and later reintroduce volatile compounds, such as aroma, helping to preserve the original flavour profile of the beer. In this process the beer is fed into a spinning cone column, which separates the beer into different layers using centrifugal force.
Spinning cone column process is more complex than vacuum distillation, which potentially makes it more expensive due to the specialised equipment and extra processing.
You can read more about this process on here Beer-dealcoholization and Spinning Cone Column Technology
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Stopping Fermentation
Restricting Fermentation through Sub-Zero Temperatures
Advantages:
- Produces the highest quality product with great flavour preservation
- Maintains almost all characteristics of a top-level craft beer
- It uses more natural process
Disadvantages:
- Expensive to produce
- Longer production time
- Maintaining precise sub-zero temperatures can be complex
Process: This method involves controlling fermentation by restricting the yeast’s activity through sudden sub-zero temperature drops. This shock stops fermentation before significant alcohol is produced, resulting in a beer that retains its full flavour profile. Although this method is costly and yields less product, it is favoured for producing high-quality alcohol-free beer.
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Distilling off the alcohol using the traditional method
Removing Alcohol via Heat
Advantages:
- Easy, rapid, and cost-effective production
- High yield
Disadvantages:
- Detrimental to flavour and overall quality
- Can impart a metallic taste
- Re-carbonation
Process: Alcohol boils at 78.3°C. Therefore you can heat beer to around 78.3°C to evaporate the alcohol. While this method is cost-effective and widely used in mass production, it can significantly affect the beer’s natural flavours and aromas, often resulting in a less desirable taste.
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Emerging and Alternative Methods
Novel Solution
BrewVo System:
- BrewWo offers an Award Winning Non-alcoholic beer. The process manages alcohol content, while maintaining flavour and aroma. It produces a highly concentrated beer which can be reconstituted to varying alcohol levels just before consumption, offering flexibility in alcohol content and significant space-saving logistics. Similar to your Post-mix soft drinks where you just add carbonated water to a syrup.
- Check them out on here BrewVo System
Alcohol Content in Alcohol-Free Beer
Firstly, what is the difference between Alcohol-Free and Non-alcoholic Beer. NA beer can legally contain up to 0.5% ABV. However, studies have shown that some beverages labelled 0.0% ABV may still contain small amounts of alcohol, sometimes up to 1.8% ABV.
Alcohol-Free beer, on the other hand, contains no alcohol or 0.0% ABV.
Nutritional Value Comparison
- Calories: Non-alcoholic beer contains nearly the same number of calories as regular beer, despite having much less alcohol.
- Carbohydrates: Non-alcoholic beer has more than twice the carbohydrates of regular beer, primarily from added sugars that enhance flavour.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Both types offer small amounts of phosphorus, magnesium, and B vitamins, contributing to various bodily functions such as energy metabolism and bone health.
(McBride, 2019)
Here are some examples of Non-Alcoholic Beers
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Heineken 0.0
Heineken, a Dutch brewing company founded in 1864, is one of the world’s leading international brewers, known for its signature green bottle and red star.
About the Beer: Heineken 0.0 offers a balanced flavour with fruity notes and a soft, malty body, replicating the classic Heineken taste.
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Athletic Brewing Co. Run Wild IPA
Athletic Brewing Co., based in Stratford, Connecticut, specialises in high-quality non-alcoholic craft beers, using a proprietary brewing process to maintain full flavour without the alcohol.
About the Beer: Run Wild IPA features a blend of five Northwest hops, providing a piney, citrusy flavour with a refreshing bitterness.
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Clausthaler Dry-Hopped Non-Alcoholic
Clausthaler, a German brewery established in 1979, is dedicated exclusively to non-alcoholic beer, setting industry standards for taste and quality.
About the Beer: This dry-hopped brew boasts a crisp, hoppy flavour with a hint of malt sweetness, offering a satisfying alternative to traditional IPAs.
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BrewDog Nanny State
BrewDog, founded in Scotland in 2007, is known for its innovative and bold craft beers. The company has expanded globally, promoting craft beer culture and sustainability.
About the Beer: Nanny State is a rich, amber ale with a complex blend of caramel malts and hop bitterness, providing a full-bodied flavour profile.
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WellBeing Brewing Heavenly Body Golden Wheat
WellBeing Brewing, based in Missouri, is dedicated to producing non-alcoholic beers that cater to health-conscious consumers, focusing on wellness and social enjoyment without the alcohol.
About the Beer: This golden wheat beer offers a light, refreshing taste with notes of citrus and spice, making it a perfect summer beverage.
To conclude this, the production of alcohol-free beer involves sophisticated methods to ensure the removal or significant reduction of alcohol while retaining the flavours and characteristics of traditional beer. From thermal extraction to innovative processes like the Spinning Cone Column, each method has its advantages and trade-offs. Nutritionally, non-alcoholic beer offers similar calorie content to regular beer but with higher carbohydrate levels. Despite potential discrepancies in labelled alcohol content, alcohol-free beer remains a popular and evolving choice for those seeking the beer experience without the alcohol.
References:
- https://zerozilchzip.co.uk/blogs/news/how-the-heck-is-non-alcoholic-beer-made#:~:text=Of%20the%20four%20most%20common,water%20vapour%20or%20gas%20stripping.
- Mazzeo, J. (2022, July 25). The Science Behind Non-Alcoholic Beer and Wine Production. Retrieved from Seven Fifty Daily: https://daily.sevenfifty.com/the-science-behind-non-alcoholic-beer-and-wine-production/
- https://impossibrew.co.uk/blogs/journal/how-its-made-alcohol-free-beer
- https://www.drinksurely.com/a/blog/does-non-alcoholic-beer-have-alcohol#:~:text=Officially%2C%20non%2Dalcoholic%20beer%20can,room%20for%20variables%20during%20fermentation.
- https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/non-alcoholic-beer#nutrition
- https://freebythesea.com/dangers-of-non-alcoholic-beer/#:~:text=Potential%20Health%20Risks,-Another%20concern%20about&text=For%20example%2C%20one%20study%20found,on%20digestion%20and%20gut%20health.
- https://integrishealth.org/resources/on-your-health/2022/october/is-nonalcoholic-beer-better-for-you#:~:text=Alcohol%20contains%207%20calories%20per,to%2080%20or%2090%20calories.
- https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/01/25/exercise-beer-nonalcoholic-healthy/
- https://reviewed.usatoday.com/cooking/features/best-nonalcoholic-beer
- https://nabeerclub.com/how-non-alcoholic-beer-is-made/
- https://www.open.edu/openlearn/mod/oucontent/view.php?id=97195§ion=_unit5.3.2.1#:~:text=Due%20to%20the%20pressure%20the,is%20removed%20from%20the%20beer.
