BCB started developing several non-alcoholic beers for the English market in 2018. In the following years, the brewery further specialized in non-alcoholic beer, which today can no longer be considered a niche.
Today, BCB produces more than 90 non-alcoholic beers for customers in various countries, while demand continues to grow.
Early 20th century: The first attempts to produce non-alcoholic beer date back to the early 20th century. These early versions were often unpopular due to their taste, which differed significantly from regular beer.
In 1918, the first Dutch non-alcoholic beer was introduced under the name “Malto”. This beer was intended for athletes and young people. It was claimed to be stimulating for learning, making one sharper and more alert compared to alcoholic beer. Athletes could also enjoy it without affecting their performance. Unfortunately, “Malto” was not a great success and disappeared from the market by the end of 1920.
Interwar period: During the period between the two World Wars, there was some experimentation with non-alcoholic beverages, but there was no significant market for them.
1950s and 1960s: During this period, interest in healthier living began to grow, but non-alcoholic beer remained a niche product without widespread popularity.
1980s: The first major breakthrough for non-alcoholic beer came in the 1980s, driven by technological advancements in brewing. Brewers could now produce beers with significantly lower alcohol content without compromising much on taste. Brands like Clausthaler (Germany) started becoming popular and inspired Belgian brewers to explore non-alcoholic options.
1990s: Belgian breweries began to take non-alcoholic beer more seriously. Beers such as “Tourtel” (originally French, but also popular in Belgium) entered the market.
2000s: The technology for brewing non-alcoholic beer continued to improve, resulting in better flavor profiles. The health and wellness trend began to gain momentum, leading to increased demand for low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beverages.
2010s: The popularity of non-alcoholic beer grew significantly, thanks to improvements in taste and quality. Major Belgian brewers such as AB InBev (with their brand Jupiler 0.0) and Alken-Maes began investing more seriously in this category.
Present day: Today, non-alcoholic beer is a staple in the product range of almost every Belgian brewery. Acceptance and popularity have increased significantly, thanks to a focus on health, responsible drinking, and the availability of more flavorful options.
Non-alcoholic beer has evolved from a niche product to an important category within the beer market, driven by technological innovations and changing consumer preferences.
BCB started developing several non-alcoholic beers for the English market in 2018. In the following years, the brewery further specialized in non-alcoholic beer, which today can no longer be considered a niche.
Today, BCB produces more than 90 non-alcoholic beers for customers in various countries, while demand continues to grow.
It is clear that non-alcoholic beer is here to stay. From non-alcoholic pilsner to non-alcoholic IPA, stout, or fruit beer… Non-alcoholic beer has clearly found its place not only in our production planning but also in the hearts of people.
And rightly so…
