Membrane Filtration Technology for the Production of Alcohol-free Beer
Supporting small to large feed rates, and configurable for both batch and continuous processes, the dedicated AromaPlus system is built on our reverse osmosis (RO) membrane filtration technology. Whichever process you choose, the AromaPlus technology removes alcohol to 0.5% or to 0.05% ABV.
Frame-mounted and ready for installation, the AromaPlus unit includes filtration modules fitted with special reverse osmosis membranes, pumps, internal piping, a clean-in-place (CIP) dosing unit and control technology for semi-automatic operation. The unit layout is modular, enabling the alcohol content of the beer, desired degree of dealcoholization and other factors to be adapted according to the specific process. Depending on their size, AromaPlus units are designed to batch process 50 to ≥ 1.000 hL per day, although larger dealcoholization units for continuous processing are available.
Reverse osmosis works at filtration temperatures of approximately 10 to 15 °C, presenting no thermal stress to the beer. The composite membranes allow water and alcohol to pass through and, as such, essential ingredients that comprise the aroma, color and turbidity are retained. GEA uses thin-film polymer membranes because they have a higher chemical resistance than the cellulose acetate membranes originally used for dealcoholization.
The AromaPlus system is also cost-effective, so that even smaller breweries can consider investing in a dedicated dealcoholization unit on site.
Presented by The Brewers of Europe and produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions, the GEA, film is part of the Brewing Ambition series, which gives a snapshot of a European beer culture with a strong heritage and a bright future ahead.
Adnams Brewery (UK) responds to growing low-alcohol demand by producing award-winning Ghost Ship 0,5% using GEA’s AromaPlus membrane dealcoholization technology .Fergus Fitzgerald, Adnams Head Brewer wanted to get close to the flavor and sensation of Ghost Ship 4.5% abv, Adnams’ main seller.
GEA’s reverse osmosis dealcoholization technology preserves the original character of the Andechs wheat beer.
A Scandinavian first for dealcoholization of beer with the GEA AromaPlus.
GEA cross-flow filtration with robust ceramic membranes are used for the effective recovery of beer from tank bottoms. Modular plants are supplied on compact skids in three standard sizes with processing capacities of approximately 250 hl, 500 hl and 1000 hl per day depending on the dry solids content of the product.
It is now possible to recover more than 90 percent of a spent caustic solution by using pH-resistant nanofiltration (NF) membranes. Benefits include reduced operating costs and better performance.
Condensate from evaporation plants is used as boiler feed water, process, cooling, and rinsing water or is directly discharged into a drainage ditch. For this purpose, the condensate must be purified. Impurities in the condensate can be removed by membrane filtration, in the particular case by reverse osmosis, and high condensate qualities can be...
GEA’s cross-flow membrane filtration units have been specifically designed to deliver a clear, colorless, tasteless and aroma-free neutral alcoholic base. The neutral alcohol base used in a hard seltzer derives from a fermentation process with no distillation step.
Non-alcoholic beer: Preserving the magic of taste
Staying Close to Our Customer
Staying Close to your End Customer
What if your favorite chocolate didn’t require cocoa beans and your coffee was locally produced? As climate disruption, price hikes and ethical concerns hit two of our most beloved indulgences, scientists are reimagining how we produce them – using microbes, not monocultures. The goal: preserve the flavor and properties of coffee and chocolate while minimizing carbon emissions and improving food resilience.
Ports now compete not just on logistics, but on sustainability. At Greece’s Piraeus port, an advanced processing and recovery facility recycles ship waste oil into fuel. Equipped with GEA’s high-performance centrifuges, it sets a new benchmark for state-of-the-art, environmentally responsible port operations.
The 2022 CO2 shortage forced breweries to review their dependency on global supply chains. Many were forced to close, unable to carbonate their products. At its breweries in Germany, OeTTINGER GETRÄNKE is turning its own CO2 into a powerful lever for independence and sustainability – with the help of CO2 recovery technology from GEA.