The Rise of Alcohol-Free Beer
Head Brewmaster’s Secret
The head brewmaster for Weihenstephan, the world’s oldest brewery, has a secret: He really likes alcohol-free beer. Tobias Zollo, the brewmaster, savors alcohol-free beer when he’s working or eating lunch. He enjoys the taste and the fact that it has fewer calories than a soft drink, thanks to the brewery’s process of evaporating the alcohol.
Growing Popularity
Alcohol-free beer has been gaining popularity in recent years as beer consumption shrinks. At Weihenstephan, non-alcoholic wheat beer and lager now make up 10% of the volume, mirroring the statistics for the rest of Germany’s beer industry.
Oktoberfest’s Sober Option
Even at Oktoberfest, arguably the world’s most famous ode to alcohol, alcohol-free beer is on the menu. All but two of the 18 large tents at the festival offer the drink through the celebration’s 16 days. The sober beverage will cost drinkers the same as an alcoholic beer, but save them from a hangover.
Customer Demand
Customers don’t care about the brewing process, said Walter König, managing director of the Society of Hop Research. They only want to know that what they are tasting is as good as traditional beers with alcohol.
Special Hops Varieties
Researchers have had to breed special hops varieties for alcohol-free beer. If brewers use the typical hops for alcohol-free beer, the distinct aroma gets lost when the alcohol is reduced during the brewing process.
Conclusion
Alcohol-free beer is gaining popularity, and breweries are responding to customer demand. With the same taste and fewer calories than traditional beer, it’s no wonder that people are opting for this alternative. As the head brewmaster at Weihenstephan said, "If there’s an alternative to have the crisp and fresh taste from a typical Weihenstephan beer, but just as a non-alcoholic version, we want to do that."
FAQs
Q: Why are people opting for alcohol-free beer?
A: People are opting for alcohol-free beer because it has fewer calories than traditional beer and is a healthier alternative.
Q: Is alcohol-free beer as good as traditional beer?
A: According to customers, alcohol-free beer is just as good as traditional beer. They only want to know that what they are tasting is as good as traditional beers with alcohol.
Q: How does the brewing process differ for alcohol-free beer?
A: The brewing process for alcohol-free beer is different because researchers have had to breed special hops varieties to preserve the distinct aroma.
