Let the Beer Flow – While the Head Stays Clear!

The mild, slightly bitter taste, the different colours of the amber nectar, the consistency of the foam – true beer lovers are sure to come up with many more aspects worthy of an evening out at the bar. But they don’t have a drinking problem. Otherwise, the sales figures for nonalcoholic beer wouldn’t be through the roof. According to Statista, this market generated total revenues of 37.2 billion US dollars in 2023, with a forecast growth rate of 7 percent annually.

Forecasts like these show how much the MPP BU, with its preservative Nagardo® produced naturally via fermentation, is in line with the trend. In addition to other nonalcoholic beverages, Nagardo® has been preserving nonalcoholic beer in glass bottles and cans since 2022. This presented many breweries in the EU with the opportunity to produce nonalcoholic beer themselves for the first time. “Now we’re working with potential customers on the next step: nonalcoholic beer in kegs preserved with Nagardo®,“ says Monika Ebener, Head of Global Sales, MPP BU, Consumer Solutions Business Line. The road there was tricky, however, because the lack of alcohol, the yeasts, and the potential residual sugars are just a few of the reasons that make preservation challenging. “Kegs connected to dispensing systems are even more sensitive, as the protective atmosphere is lost the moment the keg is opened and connected, and the system must remain stable for several days. This is where the long-lasting protection provided by Nagardo® comes in handy,“ says Ebener. But it isn’t enough just to preserve the beer; you also need to maintain its flavor, color, and consistency. “Despite this challenge, we’ve achieved excellent results with Nagardo®,” she says.

It is now being put to the test in Europe, where at the same time in several countries, nonalcoholic beer on tap is being offered in selected bars for the first time. And if it becomes a hit and conquers the world, manufacturers in one country – Germany – will be left behind or better said, high and dry. This is because although Nagardo® was developed here, it isn’t allowed to be added to beer due to the strict purity law.