Author: Steve Thanos
Like many seasoned homebrewers, I’m not getting any younger, and that realization has led to me making certain changes in my life to improve my health. While I’ve not sworn off alcohol altogether as others have, I’ve certainly reduced my consumption and often find myself pining for a pint during periods of abstinence. It’s during these moments that I’m grateful for the increased non-alcoholic craft beer options that have become available over the years, as it offers the familiar organoleptic experience without the inebriating effects.
Historically, near-beer has been scoffed at by lovers of craft beer, which I suspect is part of the reason brewers have generally avoided making them, though the process is viewed as being a bit more complicated as well. Of the various methods that can be used to produced low/now alcohol beers, modern brewers appear to have focused on a few that have shown promise in producing decent analogues of their boozy brothers.
Recently, Northern Brewer reached out to see if we might be interested in testing their new non-alcoholic beer kits, which they promise offers…
Big flavor. Small ABV. Zero Regret
After reviewing the provided instructions, it occurred to me that the process wasn’t all that different than making a standard batch of beer, just with a touch more focus on pH. The additional few minutes this would add overall was more than made up for by the recommended 15 minute mash rest. How would this non-alcoholic version of a simple Blonde Ale turn out? I was excited to see for myself!
| Making Northern Brewer’s NA American Blonde Ale |
The Northern Brewer kit included the full recipe for this non-alcoholic Blonde Ale, which was similar to a standard strength recipe with notably less base malt.
Northern Brewer’s NA American Blonde Ale
Recipe Details
| Batch Size | Boil Time | IBU | SRM | Est. OG | Est. FG | ABV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.5 gal | 15 min | 6.1 | 4.1 SRM | 1.028 | 1.018 | 1.31 % |
| Actuals | 1.028 | 1.018 | 1.31 % | |||
Fermentables
| Name | Amount | % |
|---|---|---|
| Pale Ale Malt | 3.5 lbs | 63.64 |
| Vienna Malt | 1 lbs | 18.18 |
| Caramel Malt 10L | 8 oz | 9.09 |
| Carapils | 8 oz | 9.09 |
Hops
| Name | Amount | Time | Use | Form | Alpha % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amarillo | 7 g | 10 min | Boil | Pellet | 9.2 |
| Cascade | 28 g | 15 min | Aroma | Pellet | 5.5 |
Yeast
| Name | Lab | Attenuation | Temperature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windsor Yeast | Lallemand (LalBrew) | 75% | 32°F – 32°F |
Notes
| Water Profile: Ca 4 | Mg 1 | Na 10 | SO4 6 | Cl 2 |
After collecting the full volume of filtered water and adjusting it to my desired profile, I lit the flame under the kettle then proceeded to weigh out and mill the grain.
Once the water was adequately heated, I incorporated the grains then checked to make sure it was at my target mash temperature.
Once the 60 minute mash was complete, I removed the grains then boiled the wort for 15 minutes before quickly chilling it then checking the pH, which was spot on with Northern Brewer’s recommendation.
A hydrometer measurement indicated the OG was at 1.028 OG, slightly higher than the 1.020 the kit instructions predicted. After transferring the chilled wort to a fermenter, I pitched the included sachet of yeast and placed it in my chamber set to maintain 68°F/20°C.
While fermentation activity was absent after a couple days, I let the beer sit for a week before taking a hydrometer measurement confirming FG had been reached.
With another pH reading indicating the beer was under 4.0 pH, I pressure transferred it to a sanitized keg that was placed on gas in my kegerator and left to condition for a week before it was ready to serve!
| IMPRESSIONS |
Up until recently, I’d avoided brewing my own near-beer, as my understanding was that it’s far more difficult to do well compared to regular strength beer. When Northern Brewer reached out to see if I’d be interested in giving their new non-alcoholic kits a spin, which they promised were not difficult to brew, I was curious enough to agree to it. As soon as I received the package and reviewed the instructions, I was pleased not only with how well-organized it was, but that the process was barely more convoluted than my standard BIAB brewing process.
Indeed, the brew day for this beer was a piece of cake, actually taking less time than a typical brew day due to the abbreviated mash rest. The only real difference was that I made sure to measure the pH of the wort and fermented beer, which took all of 60 seconds combined, and I just happened to not need to make any adjustments. While the process was much less annoying that I’d planned for, what I was most interested in is how the finished non-alcoholic beer actually tasted.
I felt this beer had a pleasantly subtle floral hop aroma with a bready malt character that aligned well with my expectations for a Blonde Ale. The body was a bit lighter than I’m used to for the style, which I suppose is due to the low amount of malt used in the recipe, but it still managed to deliver a smooth mouthfeel. Overall, while I still prefer regular strength beer, I felt this Northern Brewer Non-Alcoholic Blonde Ale kit hit the mark, resulting in a satisfying and refreshing beer.
To note – this beer had a predicted alcohol content of 1.3% due to my higher-than-expected OG – still very low, but not technically non-alcoholic. Had I diluted the wort to 1.020 OG, assuming the FG remained the same, the ABV would have been under the 0.5% threshold.
If you have thoughts about this recipe or experience making something similar, please feel free to share in the comments section below!
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