Lifestyle

German monks create world's first powdered beer

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A purely speculative, AI-generated image of a potential beer powder packet
Image generated by DALL-E
A purely speculative, AI-generated image of a potential beer powder packet
Image generated by DALL-E
Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle has shown no images of its powdered beer at this stage, so we had an AI come up with some completely phony packaging ideas instead for your entertainment
Created by Midjourney
A purely speculative, AI-generated image of a potential beer powder packet
Image generated by DALL-E
View gallery - 3 images

A monastic brewery in East Germany says it's created the first powdered beer. Just add water, and it'll froth up, complete with a foamy head and full flavor. The result promises massive savings on transport, because it can be shipped at 10% of the weight.

Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle worked together with "technology partners" and used funding from BMWi to create its first powdered product, a dextrin-rich zero-alcohol beer which has been brewed using conventional methods, then "processed and prepared into a water-soluble beer powder/granulate."

It's testing this powder on the market in small quantities until mid-2023, but the plan is to start making alcoholic beers soon, and scale things up – so long as people go for it. And the team believes there's a chance to ditch traditional brewing techniques as well, compressing the process to minimize the use of raw materials, labor and energy.

Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle has shown no images of its powdered beer at this stage, so we had an AI come up with some completely phony packaging ideas instead for your entertainment
Created by Midjourney

"The time is ripe to put classic beer production and logistics to the test in view of the way we treat our environment," says major Neuzelle shareholder Helmut Fritsche. “Billions of liters of water are transported to consumers worldwide, because beer consists of up to 90% water. From an environmental point of view, we are already saving on transport, but not yet on the use of resources and the costs of production.”

"We know that classic pilsner drinkers and all craft beer enthusiasts, especially in Germany, will be skeptical about our product at first,” adds managing director Stefan Fritsche. "It's not just about bringing a new product onto the market, but about disrupting the beer business model. Therefore, we do not see our core target group as primarily the classic German end consumer, but global resellers, who don't necessarily have to have brewing knowledge, but who can make the granules suitable for the end consumer's application."

Indeed, the brewery will start targeting these powders first at far-flung markets like Asia and Africa, where transport costs are the highest, and presumably beer snobbery is less of an issue than at home.

We imagine there are plenty of people putting their hands up to try the powders out. If they do what they say on the tin, and deliver a great drinking experience without needing to shift water and bottles, this could absolutely become a disruptive and revolutionary advance.

Source: Klosterbrauerei Neuzelle

View gallery - 3 images
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20 comments
vince
So what is the alcohol content after you add water? Is this goong to qualify as a non alcoholic drink? Seems youll never sell much to those who want',manly' beer.
Cymon Curcumin
I look forward to hearing how the process of turning alcohol into a powder goes. I’m skeptical, to say the least. Could they have some secret chemical that breaks down and gives off alcohol without making anything poisonous as a byproduct? Sure. Is it likely? Again, I’m skeptical.
remcodek
As the article states: "a dextrin-rich zero-alcohol beer "
Even so, this could be an early April 1st joke, but kudos on the illustrations!
Steve Duguid
So, somebody has invented a beer flavour for water - sounds ghastly. I think I will stick with my non alcoholic vodka, straight from the tap.
Magnetron
Maybe the end-use makers could add alcohol accordingly, however this would make for something akin to gin and all its ‘Mother’s Ruin’ characteristics, with maudlin people crying in the streets. Good beer with a good personality needs to be brewed from scratch and that’s why individuals favour certain beers along with the process by which they’re made.
michael_dowling
I drink,but the one thing I never developed a taste for is beer. If they can ship this product to the end user as a powder,adding the appropriate amount of pure alcohol should be a snap.
Karmudjun
April Fools Loz
No alcohol, they don't know when they can produce an authentic alcohol laden beer powder, and there would have to be strict rules for rehydration (too much water = near beer; too little water = too alcoholic beer).
But you made me read the article!
CDE
Great, sounds like they created a product for which there is no market!
PAV
So you just add water and white lightning?
paul314
I wonder how well it stores. Real beer has to be kept away from light and oxygen, or bad, bad things happen to the flavor. Maybe tiny little vials or pouches.

If this works, watch for people who turn the powder into fortified beer at 20-30% ABV.