30 Best Low-Alcohol Beers Around the World You Really Must Try

Low-Alcohol Beer has been a fast-rising global trend in recent years. Let us illuminate the ins and outs of low-alcohol beer. What exactly contributes to its reduced alcohol content? How does its brewing process differ from traditional methods? As we delve into the fascinating world of low-alcohol beer, you’ll discover why low-alcohol beer is steadily gaining acclaim around the globe.

What Is Low-Alcohol Beer?

Low-alcohol beer is any beer that contains little to no alcohol content and furthermore aims to reproduce the taste and refreshing satisfaction of a regular, alcoholic beer.

Many variations and methods have come and gone over the years, all though with a steady march in improvement, as well as a need. Low-alcohol beer is also known as light beer, non-alcoholic or alcohol-free beer, and also, less commonly, as near beer, or small beer.

What Is The History Of Low-Alcohol Beer?

Beer brews containing low-alcohol go back as far as mediaeval Europe. During this time they commonly served as an alternative to drinking from local water sources, which were often polluted and contained harmful bacteria and parasites. They were also generally less expensive to buy. As well as a handy way of lengthening beer supplies, or reserving the “good stuff” for events and festivals.

In more recent times though, our technological world of cars, machinery, medication, and a whole host of new stresses, risks, and health factors, has led to renewed interest in low-alcohol beers.

During the 1980s and 1990s, concerns around alcoholism were particularly high, giving rise to the creation of “light” beers. As the world progressed into the 2000s, many independent craft breweries began to gain prominence. Often their craft beers had a lower alcohol content and were considered healthier, which added to their growing popularity. To secure their position in a quickly changing market, many big breweries began to sell their own new light or “lite” beers in hopes of getting in on the new trend.

A general decline in sales has steadily continued due to a more spread-out interest in new breweries and beers. There has also been a general increase in laws and restrictions involving alcohol use, and so low-alcohol beers have only continued to become more popular and relevant.

The mass global beer market has created a variety of different labels and iterations for low-alcohol beer, from “lite”, to “near beer”, and also “non-alcoholic” beer.

These days it has become a part of a growing trend towards health, with many low-alcohol and alcohol-free pubs and bars becoming established, particularly in Europe and around the US.

What Is Considered Low-Alcohol Beer?

In the UK, the government recommends that a low-alcohol beer should have no more than 1.2 percent ABV, alcohol by volume. This, however, is only a recommendation, and within the beer industry “low-alcohol” beer can generally mean anything below 4-5 percent ABV.

In the US, low-alcoholic beer is also usually considered to be 4-5 percent AVB and lower, as do most other parts of the world.

In Australia, the term “light beer” is commonly used, and refers to any beer lower than 3.5 percent AVB.

What Beer Has The Lowest Alcohol?

Non-alcoholic beers are literally the lowest you can go with many new varieties now containing zero percent AVB. In many places though, a small percentage, from 0.05 to 0.5 percent ABV, is still considered a non-alcoholic beer.

How Is Low-Alcohol Beer Made?

Low-alcohol beer is basically created the same way as any regular alcoholic beer. The only major difference is the end process for removing the alcohol.

In the past, many breweries would simply heat the beer to allow the alcohol to evaporate. In recent times though, most big breweries use a special vacuum evaporation method. This helps to reduce the temperature needed to evaporate the alcohol while maintaining the beer’s flavour.

Another alternative modern method is to use a process of reverse osmosis, which can avoid heating the beer altogether. The beer is sent under high pressure through a polymeric filter with tiny pores that only alcohol, water, and trace acids are able to pass through. The alcohol is then distilled from the water, which is then duly added back into the beer mixture.

In some instances, however, the beer is simply diluted with water until it has the desired alcohol level.

What Are The Different Categories Of Low-Alcohol Beer?

In most countries around the world, the various different categories of low-alcohol beer generally follow the same line of reasoning.

• Zero-alcohol or alcohol-free beer – no more than 0.05 percent ABV.
• Dealcoholized beer – anything over 0.05 percent, though less than 0.5 percent ABV.
• Other low-alcohol beers – more than 1.2 percent, though less than 4-5 percent ABV.

In parts of the EU and US, any beer that contains less than 0.5 percent ABV is allowed to be called “alcohol-free” or “non-alcoholic” beer.

How Does Low-Alcohol Beer Taste?

In the past, low-alcohol beers have had a bad rap as being less flavoursome and generally unappealing in comparison to regular beer. Over time, however, and particularly during recent years, great strides have been made in improving the overall quality and taste. These days, many low-alcohol beers have become a viable substitute, even for seasoned beer-drinkers.

Is Low-Alcohol Beer Healthier For You?

Being able to drive after drinking is a no-brainer when it comes to the direct health benefits that come with low-alcohol beer. Otherwise, it can also greatly aid in reducing the effects of alcohol-related disease, not to mention cause far less of a hangover.

Will Low-Alcohol Beer Make You Fat?

Nowadays, with health ever more becoming a conscious trend, low-calories have also become a selling point with low-alcohol beers. Having far fewer calories than full-strength beers makes them more appealing in a broader sense. But please do not count on drinking low-alcohol beer to help you lose weight.

What Are The 30 Best Low-Alcohol Beers To Try Right Now?

Here’s a list of 30 low-alcohol beers, grouped by beer type, along with their approximate alcohol by volume (ABV) percentages:

Lagers/Pilsners:

• Brooklyn Brewery Special Effects – Lager (0.4% ABV)
• Heineken 0.0 – Lager (0.0% ABV)
• Clausthaler Original – Lager (0.45% ABV)
• WellBeing Victory Wheat – Wheat Beer (0.5% ABV)
• Partake Brewing Pale Ale – Pale Ale (0.3% ABV)
• BrewDog Nanny State – Hoppy Ale (0.5% ABV)
• Suntory All-Free – Lager (0.0% ABV)
• Erdinger Weissbier Alkoholfrei – Wheat Beer (0.5% ABV)
• Birra Moretti Zero – Lager (0.05% ABV)
• Samuel Adams Just the Haze – Hazy IPA (0.5% ABV)

IPAs & Ales:

• Athletic Brewing Run Wild IPA – IPA (0.5% ABV)
• Surreal Brewing 17Mile IPA – IPA (0.5% ABV)
• WellBeing Hellraiser Dark Amber – Amber Ale (0.5% ABV)
• Surreal Brewing 17 Mile Porter – Porter (0.5% ABV)
• Bravus Brewing Oatmeal Stout – Stout (0.5% ABV)
• BrewDog Punk AF – Hoppy Ale (0.5% ABV)
• Partake Brewing IPA – IPA (0.3% ABV)
• Two Roots Brewing Enough Said IPA – IPA (0.5% ABV)
• Clausthaler Dry Hopped – Dry-Hopped Lager (0.45% ABV)
• WellBeing Intrepid Traveler – Juicy IPA (0.5% ABV)

Wheat Beers:

• WellBeing Heavenly Body Golden Wheat – Wheat Beer (0.5% ABV)
• Erdinger Weissbier Alkoholfrei – Wheat Beer (0.5% ABV)
• Partake Brewing Blonde – Blonde Ale (0.3% ABV)
• Clausthaler Lemon – Lemon Radler (0.5% ABV)
• BrewDog Hazy AF – Wheat Beer (0.5% ABV)
• Paulaner Hefe-Weißbier Alkoholfrei – Wheat Beer (0.5% ABV)
• WellBeing Victory Wheat – Wheat Beer (0.5% ABV)
• Maisel’s Weisse Alkoholfrei – Wheat Beer (0.5% ABV)
• Schneider Weisse Tap 3 – Wheat Beer (0.5% ABV)
• Mikkeller Drink’in the Sun – Wheat Beer (0.3% ABV)

Conclusion

Whether you drink low-alcohol beer for the enjoyment or the health benefits, with their greatly improving quality and taste, this is almost becoming a moot point.

These days, low-alcohol beers are becoming so good that they can be enjoyed in their own right, as delicious, refreshing beverages like any other.