Logo
Free

The Non-Alc Finish — Stabilization, Safety, & Packaging

The final step is the most critical for NA beer because it is essentially a high-sugar, neutral-pH food product that pathogens love.

Format
Deep Dive
Published
December 9, 2025

The Core Concept: Pasteurization & Stability. This is the non-negotiable step for NA brewing.

The "Kill Step": Explain methods for home/small-scale pasteurization (e.g., bath pasteurization at 160°F/71°C for 20 minutes) to prevent ongoing fermentation and exploding bottles.

Packaging: Why force carbonation (kegging) is preferred over bottle conditioning. Bottle conditioning relies on adding more sugar and active yeast, which is dangerous and unpredictable in an NA environment where you are trying to keep ABV below 0.5%.

About Jamie Bogner:

Jamie Bogner is the cofounder and editorial director of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine®. Email him at jbogner@beerandbrewing.com.

All items in the library are intended for personal use. Please do not distribute without written approval.

Recommended for You