Alcohol-Free Beer Gains Popularity, Even at Oktoberfest

Alcohol-free beer is becoming increasingly popular at Oktoberfest, reflecting a broader trend toward non-alcoholic options in social settings. Attendees are embracing these flavorful beverages, leading breweries to innovate and offer a variety of choices. This shift not only caters to those who prefer to avoid alcohol but also promotes a more inclusive atmosphere, allowing everyone to enjoy the festivities without compromising on taste.

The head brewmaster at Weihenstephan, the oldest brewery in the world, has a secret: he enjoys alcohol-free beer. While he admits he prefers traditional beer, Tobias Zollo appreciates alcohol-free options during work or lunch due to their similar taste and lower calorie count compared to soft drinks, thanks to the brewery's alcohol-evaporation process.

"You can’t drink beer every day — unfortunately," he joked last week at the Bavarian brewery in Freising, located about 30 kilometers (20 miles) north of Munich.

Zollo isn't alone in his fondness for non-alcoholic beverages, which have been gaining traction as overall beer consumption declines. At Weihenstephan, which began brewing in 1040 under Benedictine monks, non-alcoholic wheat beer and lager now account for 10% of their production. This growth mirrors trends in Germany’s broader beer industry since they began producing alcohol-free options in the 1990s.

“The people are unfortunately — I have to say that as a brewer — unfortunately drinking less beer,” Zollo stated on the eve of Oktoberfest. “If there’s an alternative that provides the crisp and fresh taste of a typical Weihenstephan beer but in a non-alcoholic form, we want to offer that.”

Even at Oktoberfest, which is renowned for its alcohol-centric celebrations, alcohol-free beer is available.

Out of the 18 large tents at the festival, all but two serve the drink throughout the 16-day event. The sober option is priced the same as its alcoholic counterparts, ranging from 13.60 to 15.30 euros ($15.12 to $17.01) for a 1-liter mug (33 fluid ounces), providing a hangover-free experience.

“For those who prefer not to drink alcohol but still want to enjoy Oktoberfest, it’s a great choice,” said 24-year-old Mikael Caselitz from Munich. “Some people think they have more fun with alcohol, but you can have fun without it too.”

He added, “If you choose to drink alcohol-free beer, no one will judge you.”

This year also marked the launch of Munich's first alcohol-free beer garden, “Die Null,” which offered non-alcoholic beer, mocktails, and other drinks near the main train station. However, it was set to close just days before Oktoberfest began.

Walter König, managing director of the Society of Hop Research near Munich, noted that researchers have had to develop special hop varieties for alcohol-free beer, as traditional hops lose their unique aroma during the alcohol-reduction process.

However, König observed that customers prioritize taste over production methods.

“They simply want to know that what they're drinking tastes as good as traditional beers with alcohol,” he said as he prepared for Oktoberfest.

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Source: APNews‍