Low-alcohol beer (also, non-alcoholic beer, small beer, or small ale or near-beer) is beer with very low or no alcohol content. is a beer-flavored beverage ( non-alcoholic beer) that Kokuka Beverage Company began selling in 1948; Kokuka subsequently changed its name to Hoppy Beverage Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea The vast majority of low alcohol beers are lagers, but there are to a lesser extent some ales. Lager (storage camp bearing etc is the more popular of two main types of Beer; the other being Ale. Ale is a type of Beer brewed from Malted Barley using a top-fermenting Brewers' yeast.
In the United States, beverages containing up to 0. 5% alcohol by volume (ABV) can be legally called non-alcoholic according to the Volstead Act. Alcohol by volume (abbreviated as abv or ABV) is a standard measure of how much alcohol ( Ethanol) is contained in an Alcoholic beverage The Volstead Act, which reinforced the Prohibition of alcohol in the United States of America, was popularly named after Andrew Volstead, Chairman of the Due to the extremely low alcohol content present in various brands of "NA" (non-alcoholic) beer, the sale to minors and adults under age 21 is legal in most states. [1]
In the UK the following descriptions apply by law (correct at May 2007):[2]
No alcohol/alcohol free: not more than 0. 05% ABV
Dealcoholised: over 0. 05% but not more than 0. 5% ABV
Low alcohol: not more than 1. 2% ABV
In the rest of the European Union, it must be not more than 0. 5% ABV to be described as alcohol free.
Although labeled as non-alcoholic, some products may still contain small amounts of alcohol as seen above and as a result some US states prohibit their sale to minors, and even young adults. According to Michigan law, persons must be 18 to purchase "non-alcoholic beer" within the state. Michigan ( is a Midwestern state of the United States of America. This is the case in several other states including Mississippi and Montana. Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States Montana ( is a state in the Western United States. One-third of the state in the western part contains numerous mountain ranges (approximately 77 named of the northern
In countries where alcohol advertising is forbidden or limited, non-alcoholic versions of many popular brands of alcoholic beverage are created for the purpose of advertisement. Alcohol advertising is the promotion of Alcoholic beverages by Alcohol producers through a variety of media.
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Near beer
Near beer was originally a term for malt beverages containing little or no alcohol (one half of one percent or less by volume), which were mass-marketed during Prohibition in the United States. Malt beverage is an American term for both alcoholic and non-alcoholic fermented Beverages in which the primary ingredient is Barley, which has Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, also known as Noble Experiment, refers to a Sumptuary law which prohibits Alcohol The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Near beer could not legally be labeled as "beer" and was officially classified as cereal beverage. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea [3] The public, however, almost universally called them "near beer. "
The most popular "near beer" was Bevo, brewed by the Anheuser-Busch company. Bevo was a non-alcoholic Malt beverage, or Near beer, brewed in the United States by Anheuser-Busch. Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc ( (ˈænhаɪzər bʊʃ is the largest Brewing company in the United States with a 48 The Pabst company brewed "Pablo", Miller brewed "Vivo", and Schlitz brewed "Famo". Pabst Brewing Company is an American company founded in 1844 by Jacob Best Miller Brewing Company is the second largest American style Beermaker and is based in Milwaukee Wisconsin, United States. Many local and regional breweries stayed in business by marketing their own near-beers. By 1921 production of near beer had reached over 300 million US gallons (1 billion L) a year (360 L/s).
A popular illegal practice was to add alcohol to near beer. The resulting beverage was known as spiked beer or needle beer,[4] so called because a needle was used to inject alcohol through the cork of the bottle or keg.
Food critic and writer Waverley Root described the common American near beer as "such a wishy-washy, thin, ill-tasting, discouraging sort of slop that it might have been dreamed up by a Puritan Machiavelli with the intent of disgusting drinkers with genuine beer forever. Waverley Lewis Root ( April 15, 1903 in Providence Rhode Island &ndash October 31, 1982 in Paris) was an American A Puritan of 16th and 17th century England was an associate of any number of religious groups advocating for more "purity" of Worship and Doctrine, "[5]
Today the term "near beer" has been revived by some people to refer to modern versions of non-alcoholic beer.
Light beer
Light beer refers to beer which is reduced in alcohol content, or in calories, compared to "regular" beers. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea This article is about the unit of energy For its use in Nutrition and Food labelling regulations, see the article on Food energy. Light beers may be chosen by beer drinkers who wish to manage their alcohol consumption or their calorie intake; however, they are sometimes criticized[6] for being less flavourful than full-strength beers, being (in perception or in fact) "watered down".
Reduced alcohol
Light beers with significantly lower alcohol content allow consumers to drink more beers in a shorter period without becoming intoxicated. Low alcohol content can also mean a less expensive beer. This is the primary definition of the term in countries such as Australia and Scotland. In Australia, regular beers have approximately 5% alcohol by volume; light beers alcohol content may have 2. 2%–3. 2%. "Light" customarily means a beer with less than 3. 5% alcohol by volume.
In the United States, the sale of only low-alcohol light beer is allowed in some establishments. For example, in Minnesota, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado and Utah, beer sold in supermarket chains and convenience stores must be less than 3. Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers Kansas ( is a Midwestern state in the central region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the American " Oklahoma ( is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. The State of Colorado ( or chiefly by nonresidents) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. The State of Utah (ˈjuːtɔː or) is a western state of the United States. Customer divider barjpg|thumb|In supermarkets sellers periodically change prices for classes of goods in response to market conditions rather than negotiating the price of each good A convenience store is a small store or shop. They are often located alongside busy roads or at gas/petrol stations. 2% alcohol by weight (4% ABV). This low alcohol beer is also referred to as Low-point beer or 3. REDIRECT Low-alcohol beer#Low-point beer 2 ("three-two") beer. Minnesota has a full-service alcohol license available to retailers, permitting sales of beers up to the normal alcohol level, but 3. 2 licenses are easier to obtain.
Reduced calories
Reducing the energy content of beer is accomplished by a large reduction in the carbohydrate content and a small reduction in the alcohol content, since both carbohydrates and alcohol contribute to the energy content of beer. Carbohydrates (from ' Hydrates of Carbon ' or saccharides ( Greek σάκχαρον meaning " Sugar " are the most [6] (Unlike reduced-alcohol light beers, the alcohol reduction is not primarily intended to produce a less intoxicating beverage. )
This is the primary definition in the United States, where the spelling Lite beer is also encountered. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the
Small beer
Small beer[7] (also, small ale) is a beer/ale that contains very little alcohol. Beer is the world's oldest and most widely consumed Alcoholic beverage and the third most popular drink overall after water and tea Ale is a type of Beer brewed from Malted Barley using a top-fermenting Brewers' yeast. Sometimes unfiltered and porridge-like, it was a favoured drink in Medieval Europe and colonial North America where George Washington had a recipe involving bran and molasses. George Washington (February 22 1732 December 14 1799 served as the first President of the United States of America (1789&ndash1797 and led the Bran is the hard outer layer of Grain and consists of combined Aleurone and Pericarp. Molasses or Treacle is a thick Syrup by-product from the processing of the Sugarcane or Sugar beet into Sugar. [8] It was sometimes had with breakfast, as attested in Benjamin Franklin's autobiography. Benjamin Franklin ( April 17 1790 was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States of America. Before public sanitation, cholera and other water-transmitted diseases were a significant cause of death. Sanitation is the hygienic means of preventing human contact from the hazards of wastes to promote health Cholera, sometimes known as Asiatic cholera or epidemic cholera, is an infectious Gastroenteritis caused by the Bacterium A disease is an abnormal condition of an organism that impairs bodily functions and can be deadly Because alcohol is toxic to most water-borne pathogens, and because the process of brewing any beer from malt involves boiling the water, which also kills them, drinking small beer instead of water was one way to escape infection. Malting is a process applied to Cereal grains in which the grains are made to Germinate by soaking in water and are then quickly halted from germinating further Small beer was also produced in households for consumption by children and servants. It was not unknown for workers in heavy industries and physical work to consume double figure (pint) quantities of small beer during a working day to maintain their hydration levels. This was usually provided free as part of their working conditions, it being recognised that maintaining suitable levels of hydration was indeed essential for optimum performance.
Small beer/small ale can also refer to a beer made of the "second runnings" from a very strong beer (e. g. , scotch ale) mash. These beers can be as strong as a mild ale, depending on the strength of the original mash. Mild ale is a low- gravity, malty beer that originated in the United Kingdom in the 1600s or earlier This was done as an economy measure in household brewing in England up to the 18th century and is still done by some homebrewers and microbrewers such as Anchor Brewing Company. Homebrewing typically refers to the Brewing of Beer and similar Alcoholic beverages (and sometimes soft drinks on a very small scale as a Hobby A microbrewery, or craft brewery, is a modern Brewery which produces a limited amount of beer usually with an orientation toward distinctive and flavorful products Anchor Brewing Company is an American Alcoholic beverage producer operating a Brewery and distillery on Potrero Hill in San
Metaphorically, small beer means a trifle, a thing of little importance. The term is also used derisively for commercially produced beers which are thought to taste too weak.
Small ale in literature
Besides Franklin's autobiography, small ale turns up in the writings of William Shakespeare, William Thackeray's Vanity Fair, Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped, Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey-Maturin series, in Ellis Peters' Brother Cadfael series and in Neil Gaiman's Marvel 1602. William Shakespeare ( baptised William Makepeace Thackeray (ˈθækərɪ 18 July 1811 – 24 December 1863 was an English Novelist of the 19th century Vanity Fair A Novel without a Hero is a Novel by William Makepeace Thackeray, first published in 1847-48 that satirizes society in early Robert Louis Balfour Stevenson (13 November 1850–3 December 1894 was a Scottish novelist poet and travel writer, and a representative of Neo-romanticism in Kidnapped is a historical fiction Adventure novel by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. Patrick O'Brian, CBE ( 12 December 1914 &ndash 2 January 2000; born as Richard Patrick Russ) was an English The Aubrey–Maturin series is a sequence of Historical novels — 20 completed and one unfinished — by Patrick O'Brian, set during the Napoleonic Edith Mary Pargeter, BEM ( September 28, 1913 in Horsehay, Shropshire, England &ndash October 14, 1995 Cadfael (ˈkædvaɪl approximately "CAD-vile" is the fictional detective in a series of murder mysteries by the late Edith Pargeter writing Neil Richard Gaiman (ˈgeɪmən (born November 10, 1960) is an English author of Science fiction and Fantasy short stories and Marvel 1602 is an eight-issue Comic book Limited series published from November 2003 to June 2004 by Marvel Comics Thomas Thetcher's tombstone at Winchester Cathedral features a poem that blames his death on drinking small beer while hot. Thomas Thetcher (1737? - 1764 also known simply as The Hampshire Grenadier, was a grenadier in the North Regiment of the Hants Militia. Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest Cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of Graham Greene used the phrase 'small beer' in the metaphorical sense in The Honorary Consul. Henry Graham Greene OM, CH (2 October 1904 &ndash 3 April 1991 was an English writer best known as a novelist but who also produced Short stories The Honorary Consul is a novel by Graham Greene, published in 1973. Ken Follett, in his novel "The Pillars of the Earth," makes numerous references to small beer. The pub tradition of Swearing on the Horns includes a pledge not to drink small beer when strong beer is available. Swearing on the Horns is a farcical oath that was traditionally given to visitors at various pubs in the London suburb of Highgate during the 17th 18th and 19th centuries
Small beer today
Few commercial breweries bother to make small beer today. However, one of these rarities is produced by the Anchor Brewing Company of San Francisco, California. Anchor Brewing Company is an American Alcoholic beverage producer operating a Brewery and distillery on Potrero Hill in San The City and County of San Francisco is the fourth most populous city California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. It is made from the "second runnings" of the malt from the brewer's Old Foghorn Barleywine Style Ale.
Religious prohibitions
Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol in any quantities, including the low-alcohol content in most "non-alcoholic" drinks. For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. [9] Due to this prohibition, alcohol-free (0%) beers such as Laziza and Almaza are often available in stores and restaurants that cater to a Islamic customer base. See also Heineken International Heineken International is a group which owns a worldwide portfolio of over 170 beer brands mainly Pale lager, though some other They are also popular in countries such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait that enforce alcohol prohibition, and are often available with added flavors like apple, strawberry or peach. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA ( المملكة العربية السعودية, al-Mamlaka al-ʻArabiyya as-Suʻūdiyya) or Suudi The State of Kuwait ( دولة الكويت IPA [dawlatt̪ alkuwajt̪]) is a sovereign Arab Emirate on the coast of the Persian Gulf, enclosed Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, also known as Noble Experiment, refers to a Sumptuary law which prohibits Alcohol
There is disagreement among Islamic scholars about this ruling. [10]
References
- ^ David J. Hanson, Ph. D. Temperance Movement Groups and Leaders in the U.S.. Retrieved on 2007-09-09. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian
- ^ What Is Meant By Alcohol-Free? : The Alcohol-Free Shop
- ^ Kansas Department of Revenue - Alcoholic Beverage Control - History of Alcoholic Beverages in Kansas
- ^ We Want Beer: National Prohibition, Part 1
- ^ AmericanHeritage.com / BEER AND AMERICA
- ^ a b Light Beers (HTML). BeerAdvocate. com, Inc. (2001-10-03). Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 42 BC - First Battle of Philippi: Triumvirs Mark Antony and Octavian fight an indecisive battle with Caesar's Retrieved on 2006-12-13. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1294 - Saint Celestine V abdicates the papacy after only five months Celestine hoped to return to his previous life
- ^ Realbeer.com: Beer Break - What's A Small Beer?
- ^ NYPL, To make Small Beer
- ^ Non-Alcoholic Beer: Prohibited?
- ^ Islamtoday.com: Is Non-Alcoholic Beer Permissible?