by Libation Staff |
Last Updated: June 14, 2021 Low-alcohol or alcohol-free beer is beer with little or no alcohol content that basically tries to reproduce the taste of beer without providing any inebriation that you would get when you drink a beer that contains alcohol. These beers have an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 0.5% or lower.
Sales of alcohol-free beer have really begun to rise in the past few years. But, if you’re a beer drinker, you may wonder why anyone would want to drink a beer that has little or no alcohol. Sure, we all know that drinking too much alcohol is never a good thing, but did you know there are some pretty great benefits to choosing to go alcohol-free on occasion, including these great reasons that folks are choosing alcohol-free beer today.
If you’re curious about alcohol-free beer for yourself or you want to convince someone that drinking an alcohol-free beer from time-to-time is a good idea, this article is for you.
The Benefits of Alcohol-Free Beer
You may question why you would want to bother with a drink that was without any alcohol, and I totally get it. Drinking is something we love to do when we have get-togethers, meet with our buddies, or just want to put our feet up after a long day and unwind.
Sometimes, though, these events lead to a hangover from hell, which as you get older, gets harder and harder to get over. Or, maybe you’re the designated driver and you just can’t have a drink with alcohol, but you still want that flavor of an ice cold brew. Whatever your reasoning, alcohol-free beer has many benefits, which include the following:
#1: Taste
It may seem hard to believe, but the alcohol-free beers of today actually do taste just as good as their full-strength brothers. It wasn’t always the case, but the alcohol-free beer game has really improved dramatically and you don’t have to worry about an alcohol-free beer that “sort of” or “kind of” tastes like the real-deal.
If you want an alcohol-free beer that tastes just as good as its boozy brethren, consider Big Drop’s Stout, Vandestreek’s Playground IPA, or Mikkeller’s Hallo, Ich Bin.
#2: It’s Healthy (Yes, Really)
It may be surprising, but alcohol-free beers have some health benefits. For example, we’ve all heard that an occasional drink can help your heart by preventing heart disease and other cardiovascular issues. It was always thought that ethanol was the reason for this, but science isn’t so sure about that.
What science does know is that non-alcohol beers help by boosting antioxidants, increases vitamin B-6, and slows down blood coagulation. All the things that help keep your old “ticker” going.
Doctors and scientists also know that excessive consumption of alcoholic drinks contributes to heart issues, including high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, and strokes.
Other health benefits of alcohol-free beer include:
- It hydrates – Beer with alcohol has a tendency to dehydrate the drinker by acting as a diuretic. Non-alcohol beers actually rehydrate you with their sodium and carbohydrates, and some have added electrolytes. So maybe next time you’re out running a marathon, you might want to consider a beer without the alcohol once you cross that finish line.
- It’s full of vitamins and minerals – In addition to electrolytes, non-alcohol beer has added potassium, iron, zinc, and folic acid.
- Fewer calories per serving – Alcohol contains 56 calories per unit. These are empty calories because they provide the beer drinker with zero nutritional value. If you drink the right non-alcohol beer, you can save up to 145 calories from just the alcohol.
Suggested Reading: Athletic Brewing Co. Non-Alcoholic Beer
Be advised, though, that not all non-alcohol beers are low in calories. It really depends on the brewing process and ingredients.
- Pregnancy friendly – Obviously pregnant women should not drink any type of alcohol for nine months and if they’re breastfeeding, they need to keep avoiding it until the little one is weaned. But, some ladies do enjoy the taste of a brewski and alcohol-free beers allow them to drink without harming their unborn baby or young child.
- It’s more natural – Non-alcohol beers are made with the same four natural ingredients–hops, yeast, water, and malt. Full-strength beers often contain additives, artificial colors, artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, and many other non-natural ingredients that aren’t required to be listed on the bottle or can. Beers without alcohol actually list all their ingredients so you know exactly what you’re consuming.
#3: No Hangovers
When you’re young and carefree, you can drink A LOT and bounce back without a horrible hangover the next day. Some people choose to start the day with the infamous Irish breakfast shot aka hair of the dog, while others choose the traditional bacon and eggs. No hangover days are the best days.
Unfortunately, the older you get, the harder those hangovers can be. You’re dehydrated, you feel like death warmed over, and it takes longer and longer to bounce back.
Beer with an alcohol content will make you want to drink more, that’s the point of selling beer. You then run the risk of getting dehydrated, which makes you thirsty, and makes you want to keep drinking more. Non-alcoholic beers don’t do that; they’re full of vitamins and minerals to keep you hydrated, and you will probably actually want to stop after just a few.
#4: You Can Drive
Drinking and driving is wrong in every sense. Never, ever should anyone that is inebriated get behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. Yeah, you put yourself at risk, but the risks you pose to others is even greater.
When you drink a beer without alcohol, you don’t need to worry about your driving suffering or getting pulled over for DUI. This is even better for designated drivers because they still get to feel included without sipping on a pop or water.
#5: Alcohol-Free Beer is Typically Cheaper
In most countries, a beer purchase means you’re paying tax above a certain percentage of alcohol. Low and no-alcoholic beers do not have this same rule, so you’ll be paying less than you would if you chose a beer with alcohol most of the time (depending on the brand).
If you are a home-brewer, though, you will pay more to get a non-alcohol beer brewing system for home.
Final Thoughts On Alcohol-Free Beers
Sometimes you can’t drink a regular alcoholic beer. Sure, it stinks, but if you’re pregnant, the DD, or you just know that a full-strength beer isn’t great for you for whatever reason, you have the option of alcohol-free beer.
These beers have come a long way and many taste just as good or better than a beer with alcohol in it. You also get the added benefits of it being healthier for you, letting you stay safer, and paying less. So, if you’re a beer drinker and you want to continue to enjoy a beer when you can’t have one with alcohol, consider trying out an alcohol-free beer, you will likely be pleasantly surprised!