Home/Blogs/What Is Alcohol-Free Beer? Your Complete Guideโ
Want to know all about alcohol-free beer, including what it is, how itโs made, the benefits compared to regular beer and how you can drink the best of the best? If youโre part of the sober-curious movement, want a more health-conscious beverage to enjoy or are just curious about the differences between alcohol free, non-alcoholic and low-alcohol, this is a full guide to answer all your questions.
In the UK, there are several terms to describe NoLo beer, with either low alcohol or alcohol free.
Low-alcohol and alcohol-free beer have been around since the medieval period. Across Europe, people used low-alcohol brews as an alternative to water, which at the time was quite unsanitary and dangerous to drink. Fast forward 500 years, and today, alcohol-free beer has become a popular alternative to regular beers, with modern brewing techniques refining the flavour and body to make it extremely similar to the real thing.
Only beers labelled 0.0% ABV are technically completely alcohol free. But any beer in the UK can contain up to 0.05% ABV and be classed as โalcohol freeโ. These ABV (alcohol by volume) levels are extremely low and are similar to the natural alcohol found in some breads or ripe fruit. The UK allows drinks under 0.05% ABV to be marketed as alcohol free because the amount is too small to cause intoxication.
Anything between 0.05% and 1.2% ABV is classed as low alcohol, and anything above that follows standard alcohol labelling rules. In practical terms, alcohol-free beer is considered safe for most people reducing their intake or avoiding alcohol altogether.
So, how are alcohol free beers made? Whether the drink will contain alcohol or not, the brewing process starts the same way and uses the same, or similar, ingredients, including hops, yeast and grains.
Brewers halt fermentation early, so yeast converts only a small amount of sugar into alcohol. This can be done by lowering the temperature, filtering out yeast or adding pressure to slow yeast activity.
Pros of arrested fermentation include:
Cons of arrested fermentation include:
Beer is brewed normally, then the alcohol is removed using methods such as reverse osmosis or vacuum distillation. These techniques separate alcohol while protecting essential flavours.
Pros of dealcoholisation include:
Cons of dealcoholisation include:
Some brewers use special yeast strains that naturally produce very little alcohol because they ferment fewer sugars. The beer is made using standard methods, but the yeast limits alcohol formation.
Pros of brewing with special yeast strains:
Cons of brewing with special yeast strains:
A stronger beer is brewed then blended with water or unfermented wort, which is the liquid extracted from mashed malted barley, hops and water, to reduce the final ABV. This method has been used for decades in large-scale brewing.
Pros of blending techniques:
Cons of blending techniques:
Why are more people across the UK choosing to sip on low-alcohol and alcohol-free beers compared to even a few years ago? People are choosing these options and making the switch because of the many benefits offered compared to traditional alcoholic beer.
Generally, low-alcohol beers have fewer calories, and are rich in several vitamins and minerals after fermentation, such as B vitamins and polyphenols, both of which provide several health benefits. Health trends, like dry January, see a spike in sales of low-alcohol beers, as those looking to cut down on booze can still enjoy the same taste without worry.
Beers labelled with 0.0% ABV, making them completely free of alcohol, are perfect for designated drivers, and even with up to 1.2% ABV, you wonโt suffer from intoxication or a hangover the next day.
Everyone has their own preference on the best beers out there. Here at Birmingham Brewing Company, we have refined quality alcohol-free brewing, offering a range of gluten-free, alcohol-free beers sure to suit all tastes.
Low-alcohol pale ales, like our Sober Brummie Pale Ale, are a great starting point if you enjoy bold hop flavours with citrus or tropical notes. For something richer, low-alcohol stouts deliver roasted malt, chocolate and coffee character without the alcohol.
Brewed in small batches and packed with flavour thanks to locally sourced ingredients, Birmingham Brewing Company has a range of 0% and low-alcohol beers to discover. Our modern methods still provide the full flavours, body and mouthfeel of traditional beers. Shop our range for yourself and find the perfect beer, all without the booze.
