The Rise of Non-Alcoholic Lager Beers
Non-alcoholic lager beers, commonly referred to as non-alc or NAB beers, have exploded in popularity in recent years. With more health-conscious consumers looking to cut back on alcohol while still enjoying the familiar flavors of beer, breweries have responded by creating flavorful non-alcoholic versions of traditional lagers.
Defining Non-Alcoholic Lager Beers
Nonalcoholic beers are legally defined as containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). This allows people who abstain from alcohol for health, religious, or personal reasons to enjoy the taste of beer without ingesting significant levels of alcohol.
Lager beers are conditioned at colder temperatures than ales, which lends a crisp, clean taste. When combined into non-alcoholic lagers, this produces light, refreshing beers that retain the familiar lager flavor profile without the alcohol content.
The Brewing Process Behind NAB Lagers
Brewing non-alcoholic lagers is a delicate art that ensures the characteristics of lager beer remain intact, without the alcohol. There are two main methods used to produce non-alc lagers:
- Restricted fermentation - Yeast is allowed to ferment the brew, but fermentation is halted before alcohol can fully develop
- Dealcoholization - Regular lager beer is brewed then the alcohol is removed through vacuum distillation, reverse osmosis, or dialysis
Of the two methods, dealcoholization is generally believed to produce better-tasting non-alc lagers. However, when done properly, both techniques can yield tasty drinks.
The Main Players in the NAB Lager Market
As the demand for non-alcoholic lagers has grown, breweries known for their traditional alcoholic brews have begun releasing NAB versions. This allows drinkers to enjoy the familiar flavors associated with these iconic beer brands, minus the alcohol.
Heineken 0.0
Heineken, one of the world's leading brewers, was one of the first to bring a non-alc lager to the mainstream market with Heineken 0.0 in 2017. Heineken uses vacuum distillation during the brewing process to remove alcohol while maintaining its signature taste.
Budweiser Zero
Not to be outdone, America’s King of Beers Budweiser launched Budweiser Zero in 2020 as a direct alcohol-free addition to their beer portfolio. Brewed for a crisp, perfectly balanced taste, Budweiser Zero promises the taste of Budweiser without the alcohol or compromises.
Brooklyn Special Effects
Brooklyn Brewery's Special Effects went through an extensive R&D phase taking over two years to develop. Using dealcoholization methods, Special Effects is modeled after Brooklyn Lager to provide all the flavor and zero alcohol.
Athletic Brewing Company
Unlike the large breweries producing both alcoholic and NAB lagers, Athletic Brewing Company focuses exclusively on non-alcoholic craft brews. Their lineup of NA beer styles includes Run Wild IPA, Upside Dawn Golden Ale, and Free Wave Hazy IPA.
The Benefits of Drinking Non-Alcoholic Lagers
Nonalcoholic lagers provide an appealing alternative for health-conscious beer enthusiasts as well as non-drinkers. Benefits of drinking NAB lagers include:
Healthier Lifestyle
Non-alc lager eliminates alcohol, which is full of empty calories and linked to weight gain and other health issues when over-consumed. NAB provides the beer drinking experience without negative impacts.
Athletic Performance
Runners, athletes, bodybuilders and all active individuals can reap rewards from non-alcoholic beer. NA beer provides electrolytes lost while exercising and the bitterness may boost endurance.
Sober Enjoyment
Recovering alcoholics, pregnant women, and designated drivers can still take part in social drinking without the alcohol. Nonalcoholic lagers allow enjoyment of beer’s flavors minus impaired judgment.
Religious/Cultural Choices
Various religious faiths and personal lifestyle choices exclude alcohol consumption. NAB lagers provide the refreshing experience of a cold brewski without conflicting belief systems.
Potential Drawbacks of Non-Alcoholic Lagers
Despite advantages over regular beer, nonalcoholic lagers may have some downsides to consider:
Lower Nutritional Value
While regular beer nutrition offers some benefits, non-alcoholic versions lose nutrients during dealcoholization such as B vitamins, selenium and antioxidants.
Less Satisfying Flavor
Removing alcohol changes beer’s flavor balance and feel in the mouth. NAB lagers can taste “thinner” than regular beers, especially with higher alcohol styles like IPAs.
Higher Sodium Content
Creating NAB lagers without sacrificing taste often requires adding sodium salts to enhance flavor. This spikes salt levels higher than regular beers.
While the pros still appear to outweigh the cons, individuals with specific health issues should check with a doctor before incorporating non-alc beers into their diet.
The Future Looks Bright for NAB Lagers
Early offerings of non-alcoholic beers left much to be desired in terms of accurately capturing the flavors people expect from traditional beer styles. But modern brewing techniques have unlocked the capability to brew flavorful NA lagers that replicate their alcoholic counterparts identically.
As beer drinkers increasingly examine the role alcohol plays in their lives, all signs point to the continued growth of the non-alc lager segment. Look for more iconic beer brands to release booze-free options to meet this growing demand.
The market potential for near beer is far from tapped out. As brewers expand their NA beer portfolios, exciting new styles will emerge to satisfy sophisticated palates. With healthier choices available without sacrificing taste, the future looks bright for non-alcoholic lager beers.
FAQs
What are non-alcoholic lagers?
Non-alcoholic lagers, often abbreviated as NABs or non-alc, are beers made using traditional lager brewing methods but containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume. This allows the enjoyment of a cold, fizzy lager without ingesting significant alcohol.
How are non-alcoholic lagers made?
NAB lagers utilize special restricted fermentation or dealcoholization techniques to remove alcohol content either during or after the initial brewing process. Common methods include vacuum distillation, dialysis filtration, and arrested fermentation before sugars fully convert to alcohol.
Do non-alcoholic lagers taste the same as regular beer?
Advances in brewing allow many non-alc lagers to accurately replicate the flavors of their alcoholic counterparts, from crisp pilsners to hoppy IPAs. However, the taste differentiation is most noticeable in higher alcohol brews like IPAs. Flavors in lighter lagers are often indistinguishable.
Are there health benefits to non-alcoholic beer?
Yes, non-alcoholic lager eliminates empty alcohol calories and associated health risks. NABs also retain some B vitamins, electrolytes and antioxidants. The bitterness may also boost athletic endurance. But they can be higher in sodium than regular beers.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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