Blog
Cloudy Lemon Lager: The Drink of the Summer?
From back garden BBQs to festival fields and after-work picnics, lemon-infused lagers are making serious waves in the alcohol-free world — and Nirvana’s own Cloudy Lemon Lager is leading the charge.
BBQ Pairings: The Best Brew for Your Meal!
We’ve paired some of Nirvana Brewery’s best-loved brews with our favourite BBQ dishes to create matches made in alcohol free heaven. Ready to fire things up?
Low Calorie Beer – Why No and Low Beers Have The Lowest Calories in The Market
If you’re watching your calories but still enjoy a cold pint, you’re not alone. Our health and wellbeing are at the forefront of the majority of our minds, but so is socialising. Enjoying a beer at the pub with friends shouldn’t affect the way you look after your body, which is why there has been an increased search for low calorie beer. With the rise of health-conscious purchases, no and low-alcohol beer has seen an increase in popularity. But what many people are unaware of is the link between low calorie beer and alcohol-free beer. Low and no beers have some of the lowest calories on the market and so are a great option for those watching their waistline. But what actually makes these beers so low in calories? What Is a Low Calorie Beer? In simple terms, a low-calorie beer contains fewer calories than a standard beer, which usually contains about 215 kcal. Low calorie beers are often under 100 kcal per bottle or can. The high calorie count in normal beer comes from two main sources: alcohol and carbohydrates (mostly from residual sugars). This is why the ABV (alcohol by volume) has such a direct impact on a beer’s calorie count: the more alcohol, the more calories. Why ‘No and Low’ Alcohol = Lower Calories Let’s break it down: Alcohol contains approximately 7 calories per gram, nearly as many as in fat (which contains 9). So even if a beer is low in sugar, the alcohol alone can drive up the total calorie count. ‘No and low’ beers are typically defined as being between 0.5–1.2% ABV, with the UK’s current law stipulating that anything under 0.5% is not considered an alcoholic drink. These beers remove the biggest source of calories by removing or reducing the alcohol. Many of these beers are also brewed to a reduced sugar recipe as a way of achieving lower alcohol content, so the total calorie load is trimmed from both ends. Alcohol has calories, it’s not just about beer. Cutting out alcoholic beverages is actually a great way to help regulate your diet and maintain weight loss, not least because lowered inhibitions from alcohol can also disrupt the most steadfast health resolutions! Luckily, the no and low market is on the rise, meaning that there is a vast selection of alcohol-free beverages available, from wines to spirits. You’ll still be able to enjoy your favourite drinks without the alcohol and the calories that come with it! Real-World Examples To put the amount of calories in alcohol-free beer into perspective: A regular pint of 5% lager contains around 215 calories. A standard 330ml bottle of alcohol free beer (0.5% ABV) such as our Bavarian Helles Lager can contain as few as 60–70 calories, or even less. An equivalent pint-sized serve is in the region of 113. Some other craft options, like our Nirvana IPA contain as few as 25 calories per 100ml, or 82 Kcal per can. Who’s Drinking Low-Calorie, Low-Alcohol Beer? It’s not just designated drivers and Dry January loyalists. Fitness-conscious drinkers, calorie counters, and those simply looking to moderate their alcohol intake are all turning to these lighter options. The modern brewing techniques applied here at Nirvana Brewery use industry-leading and innovative new yeasts to ensure that alcohol free has just as much flavour as full alcohol beer. So, the only thing you’re missing out on is the hangover the next morning! The Bottom Line If you're counting calories, cutting down on alcohol is one of the quickest wins and switching to no or low-alcohol beer is an easy trade-off. So next time you’re scanning the supermarket shelves, browsing our website 😉 or standing at the bar, remember: the lower the ABV, the lower the calorie count. Cheers to that!
The Benefits Of Alcohol-Free Beer
It's more than just socialising. Alcohol free beer and other non-alcoholic beverages have many other benefits compared to their traditional counterparts that we’d love to share with you! So sit back, relax and allow this blog to take you on a journey of discovery.
What’s the best non-alcoholic beer
We put together this blog post mostly just to brag about all the ways in which our Nirvana Best – and all our other beers mind you – are the best non-alcoholic beers on the market and why you should give them a try if you haven’t already!
Breaking the Stigma: The Art of Brewing Alcohol-Free Beer
A common review we’re faced with is that alcohol-free brews are “not real beer” due to the lack of alcohol. Even though the craftsmanship and techniques involved in our beers are just as complex—and sometimes even more challenging—than traditional beer brewing.
Female-Owned Breweries and the Changing Face of Beer Brewing
This International Women’s Day we wanted to take a moment to celebrate women in the world of Beer. Specifically, Female-Owned Breweries like Nirvana as, when we think about brewing and beer consumption today, the image that often comes to mind is a male-dominated industry. However, this perception is changing, and women are reclaiming their rightful place in the world of brewing.
The Pub Show 2025 - Come visit Nirvana Brewery!
It's that time of year again! The Pub Show 2025 is at London's ExCeL from Monday the 17th to Wednesday the 19th of March and Nirvana is there for all three days!
What is Reinheitsgebot - The Legacy of the German Beer Purity Law
Translating to “purity law” the Reinheitsgebot is a law that dictated the ingredients, selling and brewing process which could be used in the production of German beers. Specifically, that beer can only ever be made using barley, hops and water, and nothing else. Reinheitsgebot is a testament to traditional brewing methods and the pursuit of quality that still resonates with brewers and beer lovers today. Here at Nirvana Brewery the heart of a number of our favourite beers come from Bavarian origins (based in the south east of modern Germany). Specifically our Helles Lager and Hefeweizen, so we thought it only right to put a blog together around what the Reinheitsgebot is and what it means for breweries – or specifically Nirvana Brewery – and the production of Beer. The Birth of the Reinheitsgebot The Reinheitsgebot was officially instituted over 500 years ago in 1516, by the Dukes Wilhelm IV and Ludwig X of Bavaria. However, as early as the 13th century, similar regulations were in place in various German cities. The 1516 law specifically had three aims; protecting drinkers from high prices, banning wheat in beer and ensuring that the only ingredients used in beer were barley, water, and hops. Yeast didn't make the list as its role in fermentation was not yet known but the law was eventually changed to permit malted grains, hops, water and yeast. Wheat beer like our Bavarian Hefeweizen (Directly translating as "yeast wheat") was limited for many years in Bavaria. Prioritising the use of wheat in bread production. The law itself, though coming into place in Bavaria in 1516, was only adopted by Northern Germany in the early 1900’s, wherein the whole of Germany’s beer production lives under this law. The Purpose of the Reinheitsgebot The Reinheitsgebot served both economic and health purposes. Economically, it prevented a clash between bakers and brewers by reserving wheat and rye for bread-making. Ensuring that the prices for these essential grains remained stable. This separation of resources prevented inflated bread prices due to competition. Health-wise, the law served as an early form of consumer protection. By restricting the ingredients in beer, it banned the use of cheaper and potentially harmful substitutes like soot or toxic herbs. Ensuring that the public could trust the quality and safety of their beer. The Modern Impact of the Reinheitsgebot In the present day the Reinheitsgebot is no longer law, due to a 1987 ruling by the European Court of Justice. Nevertheless, its legacy endures. Many German breweries still adhere to its tenets voluntarily, viewing it as a mark of quality, tradition, and purity. One that drinkers can not only see on a variety of German beer labels stating “Brewed according to the Reinheitsgebot" but also taste in the quality of the beer brewed according to this tradition. The Reinheitsgebot has become a part of Germany's brewing identity, contributing to the country's reputation as a producer of some of the world's finest beers. The Lasting Legacy The Reinheitsgebot has stood the test of time, its principles transcending its origins in law to become a symbol of quality and tradition in brewing. While the world of beer has expanded and evolved with new styles and brewing techniques, the core values - purity, quality, and tradition - continue to hold a revered place in the heart of the brewing industry. One that we here at Nirvana take very seriously. You’ll only ever find us using the best quality products and brewing methods for our beers. Quality that you can taste.
The growth of Alcohol-Free Beer
As we near the end of 2024, it’s time to reflect on how the world of Alcohol-free has changed over the past year and its growth in the overall drinks market.
Why we love Bavarian Beers
If you’ve tasted any of our Bavarian brews, you’ll probably quite quickly see why we love them. But why Bavarian beers specifically? Well, allow us to explain...
How is Alcohol Free Beer Made?
There are a variety of different methods that can be used to make a beer alcohol-free. Here at Nirvana Brewery, we use at least three different methods for our different types of beer. We’ll be guiding you through our different methods and which beers are produced using each. So you can learn more about what you’re drinking 😉.
