ALCOHOL-FREE BEER: IS THERE A DOWNSIDE TO IT?
Julio Cerezo - Beer Sommelier
Director de Sabeer Academia de la Cerveza
Alcohol-free beer has become more popular among beer drinkers in recent years, not only because of its lower percentage in alcohol, but also because of its organoleptic properties, making it much more pleasant on the palate.
The appearance of roasted malt alcohol-free beer in the market has undoubtedly boosted their popularity due to its flavour, with the notes of roasted cereal malt, taking these beers much closer to the stronger lagers available today.
In addition to the benefits of not containing alcohol and a better flavour of these beers, we also need to consider the lower calories in our diet, precisely because of the negligible alcohol content. Different studies even point out the positive aspects of its antioxidant properties, and the contribution of fibre in our diets.
As always, there are people who are suspicious of, or cautious about these beverages. Is alcohol-free beer really that healthy? Can we drink as much alcohol-free beer as we want? Is there a downside to drinking alcohol-free beer?
The quick answer to all those questions would be that drinking alcohol-free beer is good, or at least it is not bad for us, but there are caveats. As with all foods, we need to bear in mind our own personal situation, since something that is good for most people may not necessarily be good for us.
For example, even the tiny amount of alcohol in alcohol-free beer can be detrimental for someone with a severe liver complaint such as cirrhosis, particularly if they drink a lot of it. Something else to bear in mind would be for diabetics who go over the top drinking alcohol-free beer. Despite it being low on the Glycemic Index (GI), a large amount of this beverage can lead to a build-up of sugars - something which diabetics need to take into account.
Alcohol-free beer can also be contraindicated for people with gout. The hops in beer, the ingredient responsible for its bitterness and some of the flavour, contain purine, which enhances uric acid production and can make gout worse.
In spite of those exceptions, that do need to be taken into account, we are able to claim that drinking alcohol-free beer is not contraindicated for most of the population as far as our health is concerned.
As always, even in the case of alcohol-free beer, our advice is to enjoy beer in moderation in accordance with your personal circumstances and ensuring it is compatible with the guidelines for a healthy lifestyle.
Cheers!
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