Non-alcoholic beer: brands to look out for

2024 Author: Isabella Gilson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:14

A couple of decades ago, when non-alcoholic beer first appeared on the shelves of our stores, this drink caused bewilderment and jokes. Say, is it a beer in which there are no hops? But in fact, both hops, and m alt, and all the other components necessary for the foamy drink are there. And it should taste the same as regular beer. Therefore, choosing the best brand is not an easy task, because drinking a soft drink is nothing more than savoring the taste and aroma.

How and from what non-alcoholic beer is brewed

In fact, this is exactly the same drink as regular beer. They are cooked in exactly the same way, from the same ingredients. Only brewers have to lower the speed, that is, the strength, at the very end, in order to get a non-alcoholic beer; 0 degrees, however, is actually rare when it occurs - as a rule, the fortress fluctuates within one. But still, this percentage is too small to intoxicate, so all these products are classified as non-alcoholic. For comparison: even in good kvass or in stale kefir there are more “degrees” than in such beer.

To remove excess strength, the finished drink canfilter, this so-called dialysis process is the most optimal way to preserve all other characteristics of the product. The meaning of the technology is that water and alcohol molecules are of different sizes, so they are separated from each other through a special membrane filter. This method is used, for example, in the production of B altika 0 beer.

There is also a technology in which the finished product is heated to high temperatures to evaporate the alcohol. There is also a technology for suppressing fermentation. The process does not affect the final result too much - the output is ordinary beer, but with a minimum strength.

Taste, color and aroma: how non-alcoholic differs from the usual

Since non-alcoholic beer was originally the most common, their organoleptic properties should not differ. Pale lager (a bottom-fermented beer in which the yeast settles to the bottom at low temperature - usually the non-alcoholic counterparts are made from lager) should have a light straw or golden color and transparency with minimal sediment (and then in rare cases).

The foam in the glass should be high (2-3 centimeters) and resistant (should hold for at least 2 minutes). Good foam is not only beautiful, it is also an indicator of freshness and fullness of taste.

A good drink should have a full, rich flavor. Depending on the raw materials used and production technology, notes of apple and honey can be added to the smell of hops - these are good additives. If the beer smells like caramel, then you overdid it with the temperature, and ifyeast - violated the recipe.

And finally, the taste. The bitterness from the hops should be mild, not harsh, felt only after a sip and should pass within a couple of minutes. At the same time, tart, sweet or sour tastes will not dominate.

Non-alcoholic beer: Russian-made brands

So, which Russian brands deserve attention? First of all, we note the zero “B altika” - this is the first non-alcoholic beer that appeared in Russia in 2001. It is brewed at our large plant using modern dialysis, and sold everywhere. Perhaps that is why "B altika 0" is the most popular among Russian consumers. In addition, this variety is sold in a glass bottle and in a can.

Also in Russia, beer "Bavaria 0" is brewed under a Dutch license. Its taste is closer to the traditional European lager and is rated higher than that of similar types. The variant from Stella Artois is also similar in characteristics - it is also Russian, but it is brewed according to Belgian technology. What other brands offer non-alcoholic beer?

Brands produced at the Heineken plant in St. Petersburg are diverse, and some of their products include soft drinks, for example, Zlatý Bažant Nealko. According to experts, the drink does not have high taste qualities, it, according to reviews, drinks well, but does not stand out in any way. There are notes of wet grass, sawdust, wet bread, which is often found in non-alcoholic samples.

In addition to Europeans, they love beer and know how to brew it inStates. The American brand "Budweiser" produces in Russia, using its own technologies, the popular Bud Alcohol Free.

Regional brands

It is worth noting separately those brands of non-alcoholic beer (in Russia), which are brewed not according to Western technologies and at large enterprises, but in the regions. There are many worthy examples among them. For example, pasteurized filtered Besser from the Barnaul brewery. A local venture in the Altai region has a long history of brewing, and their non-alcoholic version is quite good.

Siberia also brews good non-alcoholic beer, just like in Krasnoyarsk. For example, "Legend" from the "Pikra" factory. There are samples in Chuvashia - "Foamy" from the Cheboksary brewing company.

Foreign varieties

In Europe, non-alcoholic varieties are more common and in demand than in Russia, and in this sense, the European and American markets are saturated with interesting products in the mentioned segment. In Russia, you can buy a predominantly German product.

• Jever Fun's non-alcoholic beer tastes almost as good as traditional beers with strong bitterness.
• Maisel's Weisse Alkoholfrei - wheat beer.
• Paulaner - for lovers of wheat varieties, it quenches thirst well.

Other geographical points are represented, for example, by Austria, which produces a very good and tasty non-alcoholic Schloss Eggenberg, or the Netherlands with the Buckler brand (this non-alcoholic beer is brewed at the Heineken factory abroad).

Stamps not sold in Russia

The very first “zero” beer, which in Russia is called the best on the European market, is Clausthaler. It is produced in Germany at the Binding-Brauerei plant, and you can only buy the regular Classic grade from us. However, the brand produces several different types of Clausthaler that we don't try here - lemon, ginger, herbal beer.

Belgian craft Mikkeller is also highly valued. Its hoppy notes are on par with the best examples of brewing craftsmanship in the alcohol segment.

Harm and benefit

Of course, there is no particular benefit from beer, since the fermentation product, albeit with a minimal amount of alcohol, will not bring he alth to the body, as well as harm. However, it is worth remembering that any beer is absorbed by the body too quickly, which leads to excess weight. Excessive passion for even a non-alcoholic product can lead to varicose veins, hormonal imbalances.

However, scientific studies were carried out, during which the anti-carcinogenic properties of soft drinks were revealed, but it is too early to talk about the real help of this product in the fight against, say, tumors.

Driving

One of the reasons for the popularity of non-alcoholic beer lies in the ability to drink a bottle or two while driving. The minimum percentage of alcohol in this drink will not cloud the mind and will not be detected in the blood during the test. To get tipsy, you need to drink a few tens of liters. But be aware of the smell - if you are stopped, you will have toprove that you are not drunk.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Another category of non-alcoholic beer connoisseurs is pregnant and lactating women. So they can feel on the same wavelength as the rest in a fun company or at a festive table. However, unlike drivers, it is not a harmless product for mothers. Alcohol is still contained in it, albeit in small quantities, and this may be enough to harm the child. In addition to alcohol, various harmful additives and preservatives may be present in the composition, and they may even be worse than degrees.