Germany’s non-alcoholic beer production has enjoyed a boom in the last 10 years, according to a new report. Low-alcohol drinks like Radler are also seeing increased sales.

Germany’s Federal Statistical Office, Destatis, published a new report on Tuesday highlighting that drinkers across the country are increasingly turning to alcohol-free varieties for their after-work or weekend choice of beer.

In the last ten years, the production of non-alcoholic beer has more than doubled in Germany. In 2023, that amounted to some 556 million liters (147 million gallons) and €548 million ($593 million) in sales.

The new statistics were published to coincide with International Beer Day, which is August 2.

Destatis also noted that the production of low-alcohol drinks like Radler, a mixture of beer and lemonade, has also increased from 328 million liters in 2013 to 363 million liters in 2023.

“However,” the report said, “there is still much more beer with alcohol being produced” in Germany than non-alcoholic.

  • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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    5 months ago

    I’ve never had one that tasted like regular beer. And I’ve tried a bunch. Usually they’re way too sweet.

      • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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        5 months ago

        Tried it, didn’t taste like normal beer, unfortunately. Same issue, too sweet and too mild of a taste to pass for the real deal.

        • arefx@lemmy.ml
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          5 months ago

          My dad couldn’t tell apart a Guinness and a Guinness zero try that out

          Edit: to further clarify it’s not like they tasted different but he couldn’t tell which one was the NA, he said they tasted exactly the same.

          • timbuck2themoon@sh.itjust.works
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            5 months ago

            This is pretty much the single one I’ve had that is legit.

            Maybe a lot of people can’t tell but most NA still just doesn’t compare to the real deal. It’s pretty evident to a lot of us. If you’re fine with that great but seriously, a lot still are way off. Wish I could try these German ones people are talking about but i haven’t seen them in my market.

            • suction@lemmy.world
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              5 months ago

              I’m saying you’re a liar and have never tasted it, probably never heard of it.

              • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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                5 months ago

                Lmao I’m sorry if you really like it, I just didn’t think it was very close to regular beer.

                • suction@lemmy.world
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                  5 months ago

                  It’s OK Pinocchio 😂 I know you’re lying because you said it’s “sweet” 😘

                  • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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                    5 months ago

                    It’s too sweet to pass off as regular beer, yeah. I’m sorry if my opinion upsets you, not my intention. I’d love to find a non-alcoholic beer that passes as the real deal. Not sure why you’d think someone would lie about this thing

    • Obi@sopuli.xyz
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      5 months ago

      I personally don’t see the point and just drink water if there’s no alcohol involved, but I hear that some of the ones that imitate IPAs get away with it better because it gets masked under a stronger flavour.

      • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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        5 months ago

        I like the taste of beer a lot but sometimes can’t or don’t want to drink alcohol.

      • FlorianSimon@sh.itjust.works
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        4 months ago

        It’s the opposite in my experience. Without the strong malty flavors and the body alcohol adds, NA IPAs are very often thin and hollow, and taste like herbal tea.

      • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
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        5 months ago

        Best I’ve tried was some apple thing, but it didn’t really try to mimic regular beer. Non-alcoholic Asahi, I think I’ve tried it but don’t really remember. I might have to try it again come January.