Zero-alcohol beer on tap: DB Breweries trials first non-alcoholic beer on tap in Auckland bars
DB Breweries managing director Peter Hart at the Empire Tavern in Auckland, where the business is trialling New Zealand's first zero-alcohol beer on draught.
DB Breweries is trialling New Zealand’s first zero-alcohol beer on tap, with the company’s managing director already hinting at the future of the technology should the trial be successful.
The trial is being conducted at Auckland Star Hospitality venues the Empire Tavern and Moretons, and utilises proprietary technology developed with input from DB’s brewers and quality teams, alongside DB’s European Heineken colleagues.
While incredibly popular in Europe with thousands of outlets already pouring, zero alcohol on draught has been limited by customer preferences in New Zealand.
Unlike markets overseas where draught beer is typically not stored in cool rooms, Kiwis expect their beer to be served icy cold, creating a key barrier for reproduction here.
DB Breweries managing director Peter Hart said the trial could mark a significant turning point for zero alcohol beer in New Zealand.
“In Europe, Heineken 0.0 recently celebrated its 10,000th draught outlet. We can see a future where there is a zero-alcohol beer tap in every bar across New Zealand,” Hart said.
“This trial is about ensuring people can share that experience, whether they’re choosing full strength, ultra-low carb or 0.0, while protecting beer quality and giving venues confidence they can serve a premium, freshly poured pint regardless of alcohol choice.”
Hart explained how the trial uses sophisticated Heineken equipment, as well as a dedicated glycol system which has been adjusted to see how cold it can make the liquid before freezing it.
The system also uses a fully insulated “tube-within-a-tube” from the keg to the tap that holds temperature-controlled cool water between the two hoses.
Cool rooms are usually used to store kegs in New Zealand, which typically sit at 1C, with glycol units used to cool the lines to the taps at -3C.
Hart said the new technology has been designed to ensure product quality, food safety and consistency, something critical for Kiwi consumers.
The two venues participating in the trial will have a QR code available for testing customers to deliver live feedback on their drinks, giving DB’s team real-time operational data to monitor pour quality, temperature and performance throughout the trial period.
Hart said if the trial is successful, it has the potential to reshape how we think about zero-alcohol beer in New Zealand.
“DB is already the number one [supplier] in zero alcohol beer in New Zealand, and has the number one brand in the country, Heineken 0.0, and this gives us a real opportunity to take that leadership to the next level.
“This trial is a critical step in understanding how we can scale responsibly, while protecting beer quality and supporting venues into the future.”
Tom Raynel is a multimedia business journalist for the Herald, covering small business, retail and tourism.
- Stay ahead with the latest market moves, corporate updates, and economic insights by subscribing to our Business newsletter – your essential weekly round-up of all the business news you need.