Blue Moon To Release A Non-Alcoholic Version Of Its Iconic Belgian White
Blue Moon has been serving up ice cold brews since its inception in 1995, but 2023 will mark a first for the company as it introduces a non-alcoholic version of its signature beer. Per a press release shared with Tasting Table, the new brew will taste nearly identical to the Blue Moon Belgian White Belgian-Style Wheat Ale, the brand's flagship beer, and will feature a light flavor brewed with a Valencia orange peel. However, it will have an ABV of less than .5% and just 80 calories per 12-ounce can.
The non-alcoholic brews will soon be available nationwide; Blue Moon is planning to launch them later in 2023 in time for Dry January. You'll be able to find them in six packs of 12-ounce cans. According to the brand, this new release will be the first non-alcoholic wheat brew from a "major brewer," and it's aiming to keep the flavor as close to the original as possible. "Consumers know and trust Blue Moon, they enjoy consistent quality and a subtle citrus taste each time they reach for a Blue Moon Belgian White. We are so proud to deliver that same unique experience in the non-alcoholic version," said Jamie Wideman, Molson Coors Beverage Company's vice president of innovation.
The non-alcoholic brews will be out in time for Dry January
Blue Moon says that the jump into non-alcoholic beers was inspired by the market continuing to grow in recent years, and by consumers that are increasingly on the lookout for booze-free options. Per Forbes, the interest in non-alcoholic beers jumped by 96% in 2021 and 2022, and the market value at the time was worth right under $100 million. As more and more people become curious about these options, big beer brands like Heineken and Budweiser are joining the fray, and the industry is expected to grow to $40 billion in the next 10 years, reports CNBC. It only makes sense that Blue Moon would want to get it on the trending beverages. "Blue Moon changed the way we think about beer, and it's doing it again, this time in the non-alc segment," noted Wideman in the press release.
Though this may be Blue Moon's biggest foray into the non-alcoholic world, the company's original brew master has another association with these types of beers. After leaving the brand in 2018, founder and head brewmaster Keith Villa created Ceria Brewing Company, which makes beers with all of the flavor but none of the alcohol. Instead, some of the drinks are infused with cannabis, another rapidly growing market. But for the Blue Moon brand, this new release is its first real jump into the arena of beers without booze.