Non-alcoholic beers enter the General Agricultural Competition

Non-alcoholic beer is invited to the General Agricultural Competition. The traditional livestock and local products competition, the final phase of which is organized during the Agricultural Show, now distinguishes non-alcoholic beers. Blonde, white, amber, brown, black, flavored, fruit, herbal beers… Many drinks can participate in the beer contest, but this is the first time that it welcomes these beers with low or no alcohol content, whose consumption continues to increase. grow in recent years.

A ninth category has thus been added to the beer competition for the 2024 edition of the Concours général agricole, dedicated to beers whose volumetric alcohol content (VAT), that is, the proportion of alcohol in the drink, is lower than or equal to it. at 1.2%. However, this is only open to classic non-alcoholic beers, which are not flavored or to which other ingredients such as honey or plants have not been added. Candidates will have to wait until Monday, February 26, the day of the beer contest, to find out the results.

Growing popularity

Driven by growing demand and the resulting expansion of supply, non-alcoholic beers continue to gain popularity from year to year. Sales exceeded €200 million in 2022, up from around €30 million in 2014, according to figures from NielsenIQ. These drinks attract beer lovers who want to reduce their alcohol consumption, without giving up the festive nature associated with alcoholic beverages, but also new customers who do not regularly consume alcohol and can now enjoy beer.

In addition to non-alcoholic beers, sauerkraut is presented for the first time at the General Agricultural Competition. This Tuesday, February 27, an “experimental” competition will be organized that will bring together several Alsatian producers.

In an official Ministry of Agriculture competition, CGA juries examine several thousand samples each year before awarding gold, silver and bronze distinctions. For agricultural or processed products ranging from butter, foie gras and poultry to armagnac, yogurt, jam or smoked trout.