Alcohol helps to inhibit the growth of pathogens so, to remove it, enhances the conditions for potential nasties to grow in a beer dispense system.
It presents the on-trade with a challenge but it’s winnable providing we tackle it calmly and thoughtfully.
What needs to be understood is the size and nature of the risk, and the means to mitigate that risk.
Robust and uncompromising
As no two beers are identical in their recipe and characteristics, and no two beer dispense systems are identical either – consider beer throughput and temperature as two example variables – the methods required to handle and care for low & no beers must be robust and uncompromising. In that sense, the approach is no different to that needed for conventional beers.
It’s also worth bearing in mind that it’s not just alcohol (ethanol) that inhibits harmful bacteria; an acidic environment, the antimicrobial properties of hop compounds and higher levels of CO2 also slow down their growth.
However, the main concern of brewers is ensuring that what is marketed as a 0% ABV is indeed that. If a beer contains all the essential ingredients to create alcohol (yeast and food for that yeast, basically) then that’s fundamentally what’s holding our attention.
No room for complacency
So, what have we learned over the past few years of working with the pioneers in this space? There is certainly no room for any degree of complacency. Hygiene practices must be unstintingly thorough – by both the service provider as well as the on-site team. Every inch of that dispense system must be kept clean.
The implication of this then, is for venues to ensure they sell an opened keg within five days – which is made easier with smaller containers (30-litre kegs).
Limit the number of low & no draught products on your bar. Consider and compare flavour profiles of similar beers and retain only the most popular. If variety is important to the venue and customer base, consider offering some products in bottles or cans instead.
If you have doubts or are concerned about caring for low & no draught products don’t sit on them. Avani Solutions is open to enquiries and conversations about this popular new category.
