Germany’s non-alcoholic beer production has enjoyed a boom in the last 10 years, according to a new report. Low-alcohol drinks like Radler are also seeing increased sales.
Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, Destatis, published a new report on Tuesday highlighting that drinkers across the country are increasingly turning to alcohol-free varieties for their after-work or weekend choice of beer.
In the last ten years, the production of non-alcoholic beer has more than doubled in Germany. In 2023, that amounted to some 556 million liters (147 million gallons) and €548 million ($593 million) in sales.
The new statistics were published to coincide with International Beer Day, which is August 2.
Destatis also noted that the production of low-alcohol drinks like Radler, a mixture of beer and lemonade, has also increased from 328 million liters in 2013 to 363 million liters in 2023.
“However,” the report said, “there is still much more beer with alcohol being produced” in Germany than non-alcoholic.
If you can find it, Augustiner Hell Alkohholfrei is the best alc free beer.
I haven’t had that one, but will keep an eye out for it! My vote - so far - goes to Ur Krostitzer Alkoholfrei though - of all the non alcoholic beers I’ve tried in Germany, it has by far the most beer-like taste, doesn’t taste weirdly malty and hasn’t replaced the alcohol with sugar….
My suggestion ist the Störtebeker Bernsteinweizen Alkoholfrei. It has a really good mouth feel.
I like Monday or Kentucky 74 (from Spiritless). I believe both are dealcoholized. Both at 0.5% ABV.
Huh, I never would have thought of NA liquor. Is it as close as NA beer has gotten these days?
Says someone who hasn’t tasted one produced in last three years. Their taste has improved significantly.
In Germany, there is a wide selection of alcohol free beers. I personally enjoy more alcohol free beer, when I am at home, I crave for a refreshing drink during a week day, when I am by myself or at lunch, don’t want a sweet soda, alcohol free beer is just perfect! I still enjoy regular beer in the weekend when I am with friends.
I like the taste of beer, but I don’t like getting drunk or even tipsy, and being still single, I am out often and it honestly gets tiring to drink everyday. I don’t really like drinking alcohol. I never had alc-free but next time I’ll try it.
I’m with you, I also don’t like getting drunk and I don’t like how even a little bit of alcohol tires my body, but unfortunately I’ve found that flavor and alcohol content are directly related: a 5% beer never tastes as rich as a 9% tripel, and a 0.0% beer will never have as much flavor as even a simple 5% lager. I’ve tasted quite a few and they all taste “empty” to me. I think this is because alcohol is a solvent for a lot of chemical compounds in beer that give flavor.
So what I do instead is pick my moments, and never overindulge to the point where I feel intoxicated.
I find the price has also doubled.
Love NA beer, doubt I would still be sober today without it. Currently sipping on a Budweiser Zero and watching the Olympics. Love enjoying beer and being sober!
I think I might be the opposite end of the spectrum. I would love for there to be a zero calorie option that was in all other ways unchanged.
Alcohol has a lot of calories, so that would have to be non alcoholic as well.
