Non-alcoholic beer has become increasingly popular both across the world and in the UK in recent years, as people look for healthier beverage options without sacrificing taste. In this blog, we’ll dive into the process of making non-alcoholic beer and explore the various methods used by brewers, including ours of course!
The Brewing Process
There are two main ways in which brewers approach alcohol-free brewing: brewing to very low alcohol content or brewing to full strength and removing the alcohol.
Lower Alcohol Content
A very popular method used by brewers to produce non-alcoholic beer is to brew it with a lower alcohol content. This is achieved by modifying the brewing process via temperature adjustments, limited fermentation or the use of specific yeast strains that produce less alcohol during fermentation. The result is a beer that typically contains 0.5% ABV or less.
Alcohol Removal
Another method used to produce non-alcoholic beer is to brew it to full strength and then remove the alcohol. There are two main methods used to remove alcohol from beer: vacuum distillation and reverse osmosis.
Vacuum distillation involves heating the beer under reduced pressure to evaporate the alcohol. This method can alter the flavour and aroma of the beer, so it’s often used for non-alcoholic beers that have stronger flavours and aromas, such as stouts and porters.
Reverse osmosis involves filtering the beer through a membrane that removes the alcohol while leaving behind the flavour compounds. This method is often used for non-alcoholic beers that have lighter flavours and aromas, such as lagers and pilsners.
Brewing the best non-alcoholic beers, the Drop Bear way.
Here at Drop Bear Beer Co, we employ an innovative method to brewing our award-winning 0.5% ABV craft beers. Respectful of and inspired by thousands of years of beer development, we honour tradition and embrace technology to ensure that the beer in every can of Drop Bear tastes like the real thing…because that’s exactly what it is. 100% beer, 0.5% ABV.
Final Thoughts
Non-alcoholic beer has come a long way since its early days, and there are now many great-tasting options available in the UK market. Whether you prefer a non-alcoholic beer with a lower alcohol content or one that’s been brewed to full strength and had the alcohol removed, there’s a beer out there for everyone. Knowing how non-alcoholic beer is made can help you appreciate the skill and craftsmanship that goes into creating this popular beverage.
So, next time you reach for a non-alcoholic beer (we recommend a Drop Bear), take a moment to consider the process behind it and raise a glass to the brewers who make it possible.
