Brewers, mark your calendars! It’s that time of the year again. The holiday season and New Year are fast approaching, which means one thing. Dry January is just around the corner…
What is Dry January and why participate in it?
Dry January is a community-driven initiative that encourages individuals to abstain from alcohol for the month of January. Dry January by Alcohol Change UK was first launched in 2013, inspired by Emily Robinson’s personal experience of giving up alcohol.
Since then, the movement has spread worldwide. With consumer interest and demand for no- and low-alcohol (NOLO) beverages growing, it’s no surprise that more people are participating every year.
According to NielsenIQ, the alcohol-free beverage category is on track to exceed $1 billion by the end of 2025. Interestingly, 92 percent of low-alcohol buyers are still purchasing alcoholic beverages. This indicates that consumers aren’t necessarily looking to stop drinking alcohol altogether, but that they are redefining their habits and want more options.
The solution for brewing low alcohol and no alcohol beers: SafBrew™ LA-01
Luckily, it’s possible to brew a range of great-tasting NOLO beer styles without investing in costly de-alcoholization equipment. Fermentis SafBrew™ LA-01 is a maltose-negative yeast that has been specifically selected to produce low and/or non-alcoholic beer.
This specialized yeast strain ferments only glucose (not maltose or maltotriose). This means with proper recipe development and processes, the beer naturally stays below 0.5% ABV while still developing some fermentation character.
In short, it’s the best option for brewers who want a cost-effective, scalable solution for NOLO beer production. Check out the amazing results from Summit Brewing here.
Start brewing non-alcoholic or low-alcohol beers ahead of Dry January!
As more consumers adopt mindful drinking habits and seek flavorful NOLO options, the non-alcoholic beer market will continue to flourish. The good news is that with SafBrew™ LA-01 in your arsenal, you can brew low and no alcohol beers all year round.
So, if you haven’t already started planning your lineup of delicious NOLO beers for Dry January, this is your sign to grab a packet of SafBrew™ LA-01 and get brewing!
For more tips on how to brew different styles of NOLO beer using SafBrew™ LA-01, check out our latest recommendations.
You can also get inspired by the team at Aux Enfants Terribles, who brewed three fantastic NOLO beers using SafBrew™ LA-01 last year. Read about the project here or check out the video below.
When brewing NOLO beer, always keep in mind that pasteurization or another method of stabilization is required to prevent refermentation. For more information, see our guide to pasteurization small batch NABLAB beers and BrewHacks for Low-Alcohol Beers.