Alcohol free beer: discover the best choices

One of the most significant peculiarities about beer drinking in Spain is the market share of alcohol-free beer in our country, accounting for approximately 15% of the total. This market share is not only a long way ahead of any other neighbouring country, but it continues to report year-on-year growth.

There are different reasons for this growth, but they can generally be grouped into two sections: on the one hand, growing concern for health and awareness of responsible drinking, and on the other, the taste and variety of alcohol-free beers in our market.

At this stage of affairs, we are aware that reducing our alcohol intake is beneficial for our health, and therefore alternating beer with and without alcohol can be a good choice to reduce our alcohol intake without depriving ourselves of our favourite drink.

Having said that, making it easier than ever is thanks to the wide choice of alcohol-free beer in our supermarkets, with very different organoleptic properties. Let us take a look at them and some examples of each kind.

• Alcohol-free beer > By using this generic term we legally define any beer whose alcohol content does not exceed 0.9%, although it is true that the term has historically been used to describe low-fermentation beer with a golden, clear appearance, which also has a low alcohol content. These beers are light and refreshing, with a slightly bitter taste. An example is Mahou SIN.
• 0.0 beers > These beers legally belong to the same category as the above, but their alcohol content does not exceed 0.4%. They are therefore ideal for people who want to considerably reduce their alcohol intake. An example is Heineken 0.0.
• Roasted 0.0 beer > This is an evolution of the previous category, where the malt in the recipe is roasted to a higher level, thereby modifying its colour, smell and taste. The higher cereal content attracts beer drinkers who appreciate its flavour similar to normal beer, such as the case of Turia 0.0 Roasted beer.
• Radler alcohol-free beer > Why not enjoy a typical Radler beer, but this time an alcohol-free one? It is a blend of alcohol-free beer with a lemon flavoured refreshment, a slightly bitter taste which is ideal for people looking for extra freshness. Amstel Radler 0.0 is just one of them.
• Alcohol and gluten-free beer > A new blend that allows people with celiac disease to enjoy an alcohol-free beer. Example: Mahou 0.0 Gluten-free roasted beer.
• Alcohol-free IPA beer > For hop lovers there are also IPA style alcohol-free beers, with a fruitier taste and that bitterness that goes so well with spicy meals. They are nearly always made by craft brewers. An example is alcohol-free IPA by Arriaca.
• Unfiltered, alcohol-free beer > Another choice from among the wide range of alcohol-free beers is unfiltered beer with a natural cloudiness that has become so popular. Águila 0.0 Unfiltered beer is one of them.

In short, there are more and better choices than ever before to enjoy alcohol-free beer nowadays, without depriving ourselves of our favourite drink, and allowing us to choose from different colours, flavours and aromas.

Cheers!

Julio Cerezo - Beer Sommelier
Director of Sabeer Beer Academy