The problem: non-alcoholic beer without flavor
In Portugal, for years, non-alcoholic beer has been treated as a secondary product. Something created merely to “tick a box” and show that big brands also have an inclusive option. The result? Beers that fail to excite anyone.
For many consumers, the experience is always the same: a watery drink, lacking body, lacking personality, and often lacking anything that reminds us of the pleasure of drinking a good beer.
The big industry process: efficiency and margins above all
Most large producers use a process called dealcoholization.
In practice, the beer is first fermented with alcohol and then the alcohol is evaporated using heat or similar industrial techniques. The problem? Along with the alcohol, many of the aromas and flavors that make beer interesting are also lost. What remains is a liquid with no identity, made to refresh, but not to be savored.
At its core, for the industry, non-alcoholic beer was never about taste. It was always about efficiency, profit margins, and having one more product to respond to consumers who don’t drink alcohol.
Beer culture in Portugal: beer as a refreshment
To a large extent, the blame doesn’t lie only with the industry. In Portugal, beer has for decades been seen simply as a summer refreshment. Something to drink ice-cold, without much attention to flavor, raw materials, or brewing tradition.
Meanwhile, abroad—in Germany, Belgium, Spain, and the United States—the culture of non-alcoholic beer has evolved. New craft brands have shown that it is possible to create alcohol-free beers full of flavor, authenticity, and even added functionality.
The Pace proposition: breaking the stagnation
This is where Pace comes in.
We didn’t come to “fill a shelf.” We came to prove that non-alcoholic beer can be:
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Flavorful – with body, freshness, bitterness, and complexity.
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Craft – made with attention to detail and respect for ingredients.
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Functional – enriched with electrolytes and reduced in gluten.
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Conscious – for those who want to enjoy a beer without giving up health, performance, or lifestyle.
Why this matters
Portugal doesn’t need another boring “non-alcoholic beer.” It needs brands that challenge the status quo and bring innovation, flavor, and purpose.
Pace exists to show that beer can be more than a refreshment. It can be a moment of pleasure, connection, recovery, and conscious choice.
The future of non-alcoholic beer in Portugal is not just about existing—it’s about having flavor, attitude, and purpose.
And that future starts now, with Pace and with other fellow craft brewers who are beginning to venture into the waves of non-alcoholic beer.
