The market for alcohol-free (0.0%) and low-alcohol beer is growing faster than ever. While the focus used to be strictly on volume beer, today’s modern consumer demands craft quality: hoppy IPAs, rich stouts, and fruity witbiers, but without the alcohol.
For a craft brewer, this introduces unique challenges. How do you retain the body and those delicate hop aromas? And how do you guarantee the biological stability of a product that lacks the natural protection of alcohol?
At Coenco, we believe that top quality comes from synergy. That is why, for this specific segment, we work closely with carefully selected global partners and experts. Together, we offer modular, custom-built installations that rest on three indispensable technological pillars.
1. Advanced De-alcoholization: Osmosis & Distillation
Removing alcohol after the fact, from a fully fermented base beer, is the most effective way to retain authentic beer aromas. In collaboration with specialized partners, Coenco offers two state-of-the-art methods:
- Fractional Vacuum Distillation: By creating a vacuum, alcohol boils at very low temperatures. This minimizes the thermal load on the beer, perfectly preserving taste, color, and body.
- ReverseOsmosis: Systems like the OS PRO 6 utilize high-quality, selective membranes under high pressure. Only water and alcohol pass through the membrane, while all valuable sugars and aroma compounds (larger than 200 Da) remain in the beer. The result? Efficient de-alcoholization from, for example, 5-6% to less than 0.5% ABV withmaximum aroma preservation.
2. Centrifugal Clarification: Focus on Yeast Management
In the production process of non-alcoholic beer, tight control over yeast cell concentration is critical. Traditional filtration can strip away too much body. A centrifugal separator offers the perfect solution here.
Through our partner Frautech (part of the Milkita Group), we deliver the ArtBREW 31. This self-cleaning disc separator is specifically engineered for craft brewers (with capacities up to 50 hl/h). Thanks to the hydro-hermetic KO2™ sealing, there is virtually zero oxygen pickup. The system ensures a fast, automated reduction of yeast cells and controlled turbidity – essential for beers like an alcohol-free NEIPA or Witbier
3. Flash Pasteurization: Microbiological Peace of Mind
Because alcohol-free beer is more susceptible to microbial spoilage, reliable stabilization is required for a safe shelf life.
Our semi-automatic Thermo-flash plate pasteurizers (available from 1,000 L/h) provide controlled thermal processing (e.g., 30 seconds at 77°C, delivering 130 Pasteurization Units). The system is fully equipped with an intelligent Siemens PLC and PU control system, allowing you to target the exact pasteurization value required without overprocessing the beer. Furthermore, the built-in energy regeneration stage ensures a heat recovery of up to 90%.
Your Brewing Process, Our Integration
Produking a stable and flavorful non-alcoholic beer requires flawless synchronization between filtration, de-alcoholization, and pasteurization. As your equipment manufacturer, Coenco designs and integrates the entire process architecture – including our own CIP cleaning units – so these systems work in perfect harmony with your existing brewhouse or storage tanks.
📈 Curious about the footprint, ROI, or technical integration of these systems in your brewery?
Contact our team today at info@coenco.be or call +32 (0)50 39 59 79 for a technical consultation.
