Alcohol-free beer is the queen of non-alcoholic alternatives in Spain. 13% of beer consumed is alcohol-free (according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food). All the major brands—Mahou, Estrella Galicia, etc.—have alcohol-free versions.
However, one type of beer is gaining popularity: alcohol-free dark beers. Many bars already ask if you want the non-alcoholic blonde or dark brown. Why are they everywhere now? In this article, you will learn why alcohol-free dark beers are in fashion.
In our non-alcoholic beverage shop, you can find the best non-alcoholic dark beers from unique brands.
What is a dark beer?
Dark beer is characterized using darker malts, which have been roasted or caramelized during the brewing process. This achieves a darker color and a richer range of flavors than lagers. The more roasted the malt, the darker and more aromatic the beer.
Its flavor can range from notes of caramel and toasted bread to chocolate or coffee. Some examples are Amber Ale, Bock, or Dunkel.
Why non-alcoholic roasted beer is so popular
Sommelier Meritxell Falgueras, an expert on this topic, wrote an article for El Nacional explaining her theory behind the rise of non-alcoholic roasted beers. “While we find non-alcoholic beer flat, as if it lacked volume in the mouth, with roasted beer, we get the sensation of a full mouthfeel thanks to the roasting.”
Alcohol gives a drink intensity and texture in the mouth. You may notice that this texture is missing when you drink a non-alcoholic lager. Therefore, the malts and the more intense and bitter flavor of non-alcoholic roasted beers help create this mouthfeel. This is one of the reasons why non-alcoholic brown beers are becoming more popular. Aside from the fact that they’re obviously lower in calories and you avoid the negative effects of alcohol.
Alcohol-free brown beer recommendations
If you like light non-alcoholic beer, a lager is great. But if you’re looking for a more intense and aromatic flavor without switching to an IPA, non-alcoholic brown beers are ideal. We recommend these beers, which you can buy at The Blue Dolphin Store:
- Ekotrebol Bio Tostada: an organic non-alcoholic brown beer with the Bio seal, made with organic ingredients.
- Hero Tostada: an unfiltered, alcohol-free beer made with natural ingredients by Basqueland, a brewery in the Basque Country. It has flavors of toasted malt, crusty bread, and a subtle hint of biscuit.
- Sensata: the non-alcoholic brown beer made in the Pyrenees. It’s a Vienna Lager, copper-colored, and light with medium bitterness.
- Bola Sin Tostada: A non-alcoholic, toasted beer with a medium-low bitterness. Handcrafted in Toledo. You’ll love its malty mouthfeel, with hints of caramel.
In short, non-alcoholic beer has gone from being an alternative to a category, and toasted beers are playing a key role in that transformation. Discover the best non-alcoholic beers at The Blue Dolphin Store
