Posted in Beers, News | No comments

Pride'n'Joy from Welton's, one of the "light" beers that Camra is promoting

Recently we noticed that some microbreweries are launching low-alcohol beers. The causes are many: the desire to reach a new market, the need to survive the growing avalanche of neo-prohibitionists decisions and also the  challenge  to brew lighter but tasty beers.

In the past we wrote about the rediscovery of a “light” style such as the Mild, the launch of How to Disappear Completely from the Scottish brewery Brewdog or the Italian experiences of Pause Cafe (with its Dui e mes) and Birrificio Italiano (the technique used to brew the Muse also helps to reduce the alcohol content).

In these early signs of a probable future trend, Camra had quite an ingenious idea. As can be read on the blog The Session Beer Project, the British Association has proposed no taxes for beers  of 2.8% or less in alchool. The proposal would have a double effect: revitalizing a business that has recently been hit by a huge increase in taxes and provide a solution to the social problem of alcohol abuse.

Besides representing a major challenge for producers, Camra’s proposal would reduce the cost for a pint by 60p: it would cost little more than 3.00 euros… not bad at all. The message conveyed is twofold: on one side those who make a responsible choice are rewarded with lower costs, on the other’s Camra position in protecting Real Ales is strengthened against blind government’s policies. This is a rather original proposal that maybe won’t please everyone, but it is interesting to note that it can only arise when there is some interest in producing low-alcohol beers.

A trend that the above-mentioned Brewdog – one of the most illustrious victims of the resurgence of neo-prohibitionist decisions – wants to ride hard. The last beer designed by this Scottish brewery, in fact, takes this philosophy to extremes. Future Nanny State will have an impressive alcohol content: only 1.1% alc. So small that they can’t even classify it as “beer” according to the laws of Scotland and making it immune from taxation for brewing products. A ploy not far from the Camra’s idea.

The new Brewdog beer won’t be limited only to this feature, as it will be their hoppiest beer. They used over 60 kg of hops in the 20 hl batch, with a theorical IBU of 225. Here’s how it is presented in the official blog:

It is jam packed with our favourite hops and already tastes amazing. Nanny State picks up where How to Disappear Completely left off and takes the low ABV hop-bomb concept to the next level and cranks the BrewDog craziness up a few notches.

What will go on in the future? A multitude of low-alcohol beers will invade the market or this trend will prove only a flash in the pan? What do you think about it? Is this interesting or leaves you indifferent?