The last few years have seen a steady increase in non-alcoholic and low ABV options for the craft consumer. From the outside looking in we’ve been taking in as much information as we can and we have definitely noticed a gap in process. Many of the craft beverages that we know and love are missing an integral step in their operations to create a safe, shelf stable, quality product & through pasteurization we are attempting to fill in the knowledge and process holes in all sizes of operations.
Non-alcoholic & Low ABV Beverages
Did you know that sales of non-alcoholic beer in the US have shot up by 32%? This is a fantastic trend but talking about bacteria is an important conversation that is only now starting to take centre stage!
Non-alcoholic beers are a breeding ground for E.coli and salmonella, scientists claim in a recent study out of Cornell University.
Without alcohol to naturally sterilize you need intervention!
“Low and nonalcoholic beers should be processed through pasteurization, to achieve commercial sterility,’ advised the study’s authors, food scientists with Cornell’s AgriTech writing in collaboration with the Brewers Association in Boulder, Colorado.” @brewersassoc
Should you risk it? Discussing the food safety risk of producing low and NA Beers
Another great read out of the American Society of Brewer Chemist concluded:
“The potential change or absence of alcohol can render the final product susceptible to pathogen survival and growth“
How does pasteurization help secure the safety of your products?
-Sterilize to curb bacteria growth
-Extend shelf stability
-Reduce condensation for quality packaging
-Improve consistency
There are many options when it comes to adding pasteurization to the process including tunnel pasteurization, flash pasteurization and batch pasteurization. Overall, it’s a very important conversation and knowledge base to have when dipping your toe into the ever growing, expanding and booming non-alcoholic and low ABV sector.
We are we this weekend/next week? Craft Brewers Conference & Beer Expo Las Vegas!
Our team of experts take this topic very seriously and this is why we manufacture and build tunnel pasteurizers that are attainable for all sizes of operations. We have boarded a plane and are headed to Americas Largest gathering for the beverage alcohol industry & we’ve sent two sizes of our Tunnel of Love tunnel pasteurizers, a 100 cpm & a 25cpm to be displayed on the showroom floor. We are stoked to display our pasteurizers and have our team there to chat brewhouses, tunnel pasteurization, flash pasteurization, keg lines & any all other beverage inquiries you may have.
See you this week on April 21-24st at booth #2263!
