Why non-alcoholic beer matters right now
Non-alcoholic (NA) beer isn’t a side trend anymore. The category grew more than 22% in 2025, according to the Beer Institute. On-premise sales are also climbing, up 26% this year. Younger drinkers are driving this shift, with surveys showing more than half of Gen Z and Millennials want alcohol-free versions of their favorite beers. For breweries, NA beer represents a real market opportunity, not just a Dry January stunt.
How non-alcoholic beer is usually made
There are a variety of ways to make NA beer. Brewers can limit alcohol during fermentation or remove it afterward. Limiting alcohol means using special yeasts, cold fermentation, or shortened fermentation times. More commonly, breweries ferment normally and then remove the alcohol. Dealcoholization happens through processes like vacuum distillation, thermal extraction, or filtration. Each method has trade-offs. Distillation can strip flavor. Filtration requires precise membranes. Brewers face a balancing act: reduce alcohol while preserving taste and aroma.
Enter Elixr: dealcoholization by membrane
Ziemann Holvrieka developed Elixr with Wafilin Systems, a Dutch specialist in membrane technology. Elixr uses reverse osmosis to filter out alcohol while retaining aroma compounds and other key ingredients. The system can reduce beer to less than 0.05% ABV. Unlike thermal methods, it avoids high heat that can dull flavors.
How Elixr works in a brewery
Elixr pushes beer through highly selective membranes under pressure. Water, alcohol, and some volatile compounds pass through. The remaining beer, rich in flavor and body, stays behind. Brewers then blend back water and aromas to achieve the desired taste profile. Elixr comes in both batch and continuous designs. Continuous setups can be scaled for large volumes while still preserving delicate aroma molecules. Compact layouts make it easier to add to existing brewhouses without major construction.
Integration and flexibility
Elixr isn’t just a single unit. Ziemann can integrate the system into a full line that includes water treatment, dosing, carbonation, and pasteurization. This modular approach helps breweries scale production or experiment with recipes. The design also allows quick processing, which is critical for larger facilities that need to maintain throughput.
Who is Ziemann Holvrieka?
Ziemann Holvrieka has been building tanks and brewery systems for over 170 years. The company is best known for its large-scale turnkey brewhouses, but it also develops innovative process technologies with memorable names. Examples include:
- T-Rex mill: A compact, energy-efficient grist mill that uses conical discs instead of rollers.
- Nessie and Omnium systems: Brewing platforms that split the process into modular steps for efficiency.
- Dragonfly and Shark technologies: Specialized systems (mash filter and wort boiler) designed to improve specific stages of brewing.
- Module Type Packages (MTPs): Digital plug-and-produce software that simplifies automation and integration.
By pairing mechanical innovation with digital tools, Ziemann Holvrieka positions itself as both an engineering firm and a brewing partner.
Why Elixr matters for craft brewers
The NA beer market is growing fast, but flavor is still the sticking point. Too many dealcoholized beers taste thin or flat. Elixr addresses this by focusing on aroma preservation. For independent breweries that want to compete in the NA space, that could be the difference between a one-off release and a sustainable new product line.
The takeaway
Non-alcoholic beer is a great way to reach younger drinkers and mindful consumers. Ziemann Holvrieka’s Elixr system offers one path to producing high-quality NA beer at scale. Alas, it’s not quite out yet. Visit drinktec in Munich (September 15 to 19) to get a taste of an alcohol-free beer produced with Elixr at Ziemann Holvrieka’s booth C2-202. We’ll keep you updated when we get more updates.
