AB InBev Opens State-of-the-Art De-Alcoholisation Unit at Magor Brewery in South Wales
AB InBev has inaugurated a new de-alcoholisation facility at its Magor brewery in south Wales, which forms part of a site producing over 1 billion pints annually of popular beers including Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois. This $3.9 million investment represents a significant technological advancement in the production of alcohol-free beer.
The new unit uses vacuum distillation in large stainless steel columns to remove alcohol at reduced atmospheric pressure, thus avoiding high temperatures to preserve the original beer flavor. Brian Perkins, AB InBev UK's head, highlighted that modern technology has successfully overcome past taste challenges associated with alcohol-free beer. He also noted the additional capital costs involved in de-alcoholisation but affirmed that consumers pay fair prices, often comparable to regular beer.
AB InBev currently offers 29 no-alcohol brands, including Corona Cero and Budweiser Zero. Alcohol-free beers contributed to a 27% increase in global revenue in the latest quarterly update. Among new products, Stella Artois 0.0 draught was launched at Wimbledon and is undergoing trials in select UK pubs ahead of a wider rollout in 2026.
The UK beer market was valued at over £13.5 billion in 2024, with demand for no-alcohol beer growing by over 20% annually since 2019. It currently accounts for about 2% of beer volume, and industry projections by IWSR anticipate this will rise to 4% by 2029. Susie Goldspink from IWSR described the 0% beer segment as the most dynamic part of the market with substantial growth potential.
The £3.9 million de-alcoholisation installation solidifies Magor as an innovation hub in the brewing sector, which remains cautious in the UK market. Chris Bryant, the minister for trade policy, attended the opening and emphasized the importance of transitional relief worth £3.2 billion for business rates. He framed AB InBev's investment as vital for protecting jobs and boosting local production of alcohol-free beer in Wales.
