Why NA beer is becoming one of the smartest growth moves breweries can make and how to start making it with equipment you already own.

Non-alcoholic (NA) craft beer is no longer a novelty; it’s becoming a core part of the beverage landscape as the fastest growing segment in beer right now. Consumers want options. They want craft flavor. They just don’t always want ABV.

According to social media polling by Craft Beer Professionals over a span of six years, the prevalence of NA beer in taprooms dramatically shifted.

NA is showing up in taprooms, airports, events, high-end retail, and grocery chains growing fast. Breweries who add an NA option expand their audience, open new revenue channels, and protect share as the market shifts.

Why NA Should Be on Your Production Radar

• You reach customers you currently lose (DDs, morning workout people, wellness crowd, pregnant, sober curious).
• You extend taproom dayparts (lunch + daytime weekday visits become possible drink occasions).
• Price points are similar to full-strength craft, but taxes + compliance are significantly lighter — making NA highly margin friendly.

 

How NA Beer Is Produced (High Level)

Most NA production simply modifies the traditional brewing + fermentation process. The most common approaches:

• Arrest fermentation early so ABV never climbs high
• Boil-off / vacuum distillation to remove alcohol post fermentation
• Membrane filtration to separate alcohol from flavor compounds
• Dealcoholization machines to remove alcohol precisely while protecting sensory

Regardless of the method, quality NA requires two critical things:

• Oxygen control
• Microbial stability

This is where counter pressure and pasteurization matter.

Good News — You Can Use What You Already Have

Your current brewhouse and cellar remain the foundation. The core upgrade required is typically in finishing and packaging, not brewing.

Additional Tools That Help NA Succeed

• Counter pressure packaging (CO₂ retention + low O₂ pickup)
• Tunnel or batch pasteurization
• Membrane filtration / dealcoholization support if that’s the path you choose

These upgrades protect flavor, extend shelf life, and reduce risk especially if you plan to distribute NA widely.

Ready to Explore NA Production?

If you’re evaluating NA or want to learn which approach best fits your system, let’s talk through it. Alpha Brewing Operations can help you design your NA workflow and identify the equipment you actually need.

We’d love to chat! Send us a note here www.alphabrewops.com/request-a-quote.