HERO AT ZERO

GABS 2022

HERO AT ZERO

By GABS resident writer, Beer Diva Kirrily Waldhorn

When mega-ginormous Scottish craft brewery Brew Dog launches as a world’s first, an entire bar that is completely AF (Alcohol Free people… not what you were thinking!), and more recently Dan Murphy’s opening their first ever bar, ‘Zero%’ and serving all alcohol free drinks, it is a definite signal that our drinking culture is experiencing a seismic AF shift.

For many of us, our health and wellbeing is front and centre in our everyday lifestyles choices, and therefore, it’s no surprise that more and more of us are actively selecting to abstain from alcohol be that occasionally or for some, completely. There is a general desire to give ourselves a rest from the booze and a much needed re-set, a conscious un-coupling from alcohol, if you like. As such, the time is absolutely ripe to offer more palatable, more adult options than the standard lemon, lime and bitters, lime and soda or soft drink.

We have seen a growing number of breweries, large and small, tapping in to the AF beer trend. When Carlton Zero hit the shelves, it was soon followed by Heineken Zero. Coopers, as players in the zero alcohol beer segment were definitely ahead of their time and have been producing their ‘ultra-light’ 0.5% (legally, alcohol free can have up to 0.5% abv) Birrell for quite some time, with it ranged primarily in supermarkets!

For the Germans however, all this fuss about no alcohol beers seems quite ridiculous given they have been brewing 0% beers for years. The German Association of Brewers state that appx 1 in 15 beers consumed in Germany don't contain any alcohol and the 1,500 breweries in Germany are producing between 400-500 alcohol free beers. Famous German breweries including Erdinger, Weihenstephaner, Holsten and Clausthaler are all distributing their alcohol-free beers in Australia.

Plenty of our smaller craft breweries are also brewing up amazing tasting beer offers in the no/low alc space. Breweries such as Big Drop, Brick Lane, Heaps Normal, Modus Operandi’s NORT, and Aussie pioneers Sobah are all doing great things in this emerging style.

Europe was interestingly the inspiration for Australia’s first alcohol-free craft beer brand, Sobah. Co-owner of Sobah, Clinton Shultz, spent time in Europe where he found it commonplace to order non-alcoholic beer at a bar or restaurant. Launching in October 2017, Sobah produces a core range of three different beers all of which incorporate native ingredients as a proud nod to his Aboriginal heritage, including their Lemon Aspen Pilsner, Finger Lime Cerveza and a Pepperberry IPA. Complementing the Sobah core range is an ever-evolving line up of limited release beers, proving that Sobah are serious about being a player in the Australian craft beer market. They are also the first to create alcohol-free beers that would be at home in any crafty venue.

Darren McKenzie, Dan Murphy’s, tells us that he has seen non-alcoholic beer as being, “one of the fastest growing sub-categories within beer over the past 12 months”. He goes on to say, “Whilst there has always been a core loyal base of customers, as new beer entrants enter the market so have new customers who are looking for beer alternatives. The customer is looking for ‘better for you’ options, and looking to moderate their intake”.

I think we can safely say that zero-alcohol beers whilst still in their infancy, are have plenty of scope for growth for in Australia. This is definitely an exciting, “watch this space” segment that by all predictions will be taking over some shelf & tap space in your local, before you know it!