Non–alcoholic beer on draught – risks and solutions
Tracks
Plenary 1
| Wednesday, March 5, 2025 |
| 2:30 PM - 2:50 PM |
Speaker
Mr Thomas Hutschenreuter
Senior Keyaccount Manager
Micro Matic Sarl
Non-alcoholic beer on draught – risks and solutions
Abstract
Non-alcoholic beer is a steadily growing segment in the beverage market. For brewers this creates chances to compensate the decline of standard beers and to gain new consumer groups.
Developing non-alcoholic beer to an even more attractive offer in the on-premise channel is the target of many brewers. Naturally they are looking for a possibility to serve this sensitive product on draught. But missing alcohol and residual carbon hydrates in these beers are increasing the risk of micro-biological contaminations remarkably. Standard dispensing technology and common care for draught equipment are therefore not suitable. The expertise and motivation of bar staff will not allow sophisticated and frequent cleaning routines. The solution can only be modern dispensing systems which avoid the growth of bacteria and wild yeast.
The presentation introduces possible strategies to dispense high quality non-alcoholic beer on draught. Focus will be on two solutions that have been intensively tested in collaboration with the university of Weihenstephan.
Developing non-alcoholic beer to an even more attractive offer in the on-premise channel is the target of many brewers. Naturally they are looking for a possibility to serve this sensitive product on draught. But missing alcohol and residual carbon hydrates in these beers are increasing the risk of micro-biological contaminations remarkably. Standard dispensing technology and common care for draught equipment are therefore not suitable. The expertise and motivation of bar staff will not allow sophisticated and frequent cleaning routines. The solution can only be modern dispensing systems which avoid the growth of bacteria and wild yeast.
The presentation introduces possible strategies to dispense high quality non-alcoholic beer on draught. Focus will be on two solutions that have been intensively tested in collaboration with the university of Weihenstephan.
Biography
Thomas Hutschenreuter is a distinguished professional in the brewing and beverage dispensing industry, with a career spanning over three decades. He graduated in 1989 as a Master Brewer from the prestigious Technical University of Munich/Weihenstephan.
From 1989 to 1991, he served at the Chair of “Maschinen- und Apparatekunde” in Weihenstephan, contributing to advancements in brewing machinery and technology. Following this, Thomas joined Brewery Beck & Co in Bremen, where he was responsible for draught beer quality and dispensing technology from 1991 to 2000.
In 1994, Thomas demonstrated his leadership and expertise by founding and heading the "Working Group on Dispensing Systems" within the German Brewers' Association, a role he held until 2000. This initiative significantly influenced standards and innovations in beer dispensing systems.
Since 2001, Thomas has been a Key Account Manager at Micro Matic, leveraging his deep knowledge to support clients and enhance industry practices. Throughout his career, he has been an active member of several national committees, including DIN, BGN, and SK-Zert, reflecting his dedication to shaping and upholding industry standards.
Thomas's contributions have left a lasting impact on the brewing and dispensing technology sectors, underscoring his commitment to quality and innovation.
