Beer has become synonymous with unwinding and chilling. ‘Having a beer with friends’ is not about drinking, but about spending time together. Slowly but surely, teetotalers are able to hold a bottle of non alcoholic beer and feel like they’re a part of the group.
Non alcoholic beer contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). Although it has been around for decades, it has become increasingly popular in recent years due to the growing trend of health consciousness and the desire for a healthier alternative to traditional beer. With the rise in the sober curious movement, people feel more comfortable to abstain from drinking and the peer pressure of consuming alcohol. But what is zero alcohol beer, and how is it made? Let us explore the science behind non alcoholic beer!
What is Non Alcoholic Beer?
Non alcoholic beer is made using the same process as traditional beer, but with one major difference: the alcohol is removed or reduced through various methods. This results in a beer that has a similar taste and aroma to traditional beer but with significantly less alcohol content. Before we go on to how non alcoholic beer is made, let’s see how alcoholic beer is made.
Brewing Beer
The process of making beer starts with grains, mostly barley. Dry barley grains are steeped in water so that the process of germination just begins in the grains. But before the seeds can actually germinate, they are dried. This helps create enzymes in the seeds which are necessary to convert the starches present in the seeds into sugars.
Next, this malted barley is crushed and then soaked in water. This mixture is known as the wort. The wort is said to be the perfect nutrient for yeast which will be added later. The wort is finally ready when the liquid is strained from solid grains.
The wort is then boiled in a copper pot, evaporating water and leaving behind a higher concentration of sugars. During the boiling process, hops, a particular kind of flower, are added to the wort which give the beer a fruity flavour. Hops also help to get a cleaner fermentation.
To begin fermentation, the hops and other solids from the mixture are removed and the liquid is cooled. Yeast is added to the liquid for fermentation. This single-celled fungus feeds on the sugars present in the liquid and produces equal amounts of alcohol and carbon dioxide. On average, it takes about a week for the fermentation process to be complete.
For different types of beer, different types of yeast and temperatures are used during the fermentation process. Malting, mashing, boiling, and fermentation are the major steps in making any kind of beer.
How is Non Alcoholic Beer Made?
Most ways of making non alcoholic beer involve tweaking the process of alcoholic beer making. Here are some ways in which the alcohol is removed or stopped from forming in the beer:
1. Heat Treatment
One method involves heating the beer to remove the alcohol. This is done by either boiling the beer or passing it through a membrane under high pressure. This results in a beer without alcohol This method can affect the flavour and aroma of the beer, so it is often used in combination with other methods to preserve the taste.
2. Vacuum Distillation
Vacuum distillation is another method used to remove the alcohol from beer. This involves heating the beer under reduced pressure, which lowers the boiling point of the alcohol, allowing it to be removed without significantly affecting the flavour or aroma of the beer.
3. Reverse Osmosis
Reverse osmosis is a process where the beer is forced through a semi-permeable membrane that removes the alcohol molecules. This method is more expensive than heat treatment or vacuum distillation, but it results in a higher quality non alcoholic beer that is more similar in taste and aroma to traditional beer.
4. Fermentation Halt
This method involves stopping the fermentation process before it is completed, resulting in a lower alcohol content. This method is often used in combination with other methods to further reduce the alcohol content of the beer.
Conclusion
Beer making is an art. To brew a flavourful beer, you need to be well-versed with the chemistry of beer making. We’ve only scratched the surface in this short blog, there is a lot more to making traditional beer and non alcoholic beer.
Non alcoholic beer is a great alternative to traditional beer for those who want to enjoy the taste and aroma of beer without the alcohol content. With several methods used to produce non alcoholic beer, there are many options available on the market. 3Sisters non alcoholic beer comes in 6 flavours and retains the authentic taste and aroma of beer. To try a 3sisters non alcoholic beer, order from our website today!