San Francisco-based Fort Point Beer Co. has entered the rapidly growing non-alcoholic (NA) beer category with the launch of Non-Alcoholic Fort Point, a new line of nuanced and approachable NA beers inspired by its bestselling core offerings. The debut features NA versions of two fan favorites: KSA Kölsch Style Ale and Villager San Francisco Style IPA, both crafted to deliver the same flavor and aroma as their alcoholic counterparts.
The move comes as the NA beer market continues to surge, with California alone seeing a 30% year-over-year growth in the category. Fort Point’s decision to start with NA versions of its bestsellers reflects its commitment to innovation and staying true to its brand identity.
“Our goal wasn’t to make a great NA beer. We wanted to make NA beer that tasted like the real thing,” said Mike Schnebeck, Director of Brewing Innovation at Fort Point. “You don’t see many craft breweries creating NA versions of existing styles because it’s inherently more challenging to get right, but we’ve always prided ourselves on innovation and doing things differently.”
A Three-Year Journey to Perfect NA Brews
The development of NA KSA and NA Villager was no small feat. Fort Point spent three years refining the recipes, conducting over 20 pilot batches for NA KSA alone—the most the brewery has ever done for a single product. The result is a pair of NA beers that stay true to Fort Point’s signature style: accessible, approachable, and full of flavor, yet containing less than 0.5% alcohol by volume.
NA KSA offers a light, crisp profile with notes of fresh bread and orange blossom honey, while NA Villager is a balanced NA IPA featuring hints of citrus, stone fruit, and floral aromas.
A Unique Brewing Process
Unlike many NA beers that rely on dealcoholization—a process that removes alcohol after brewing—Fort Point’s NA line is crafted using a specialized yeast that minimizes the conversion of sugar to alcohol during fermentation. This innovative approach allows the brewery to produce its NA beers locally in the Bay Area, a point of pride for the company.
“San Francisco has always been a part of our DNA. The city inspires the styles we brew, the stories we tell, and the way our brand looks and feels,” said Dina Dobkin, Fort Point’s Chief Brand Officer. “We’re proud to be the only San Francisco-based brewery making non-alcoholic beer in six-packs. We hope NA KSA and NA Villager deliver a sense of nostalgia, whether drinkers are enjoying an old favorite for the first time in years or just experiencing Fort Point in a different way.”
Availability and Market Impact
NA Fort Point is now available at bars, restaurants, and retailers across California, as well as at Fort Point’s San Francisco locations. The launch aligns with the growing trend of Dry January and the increasing demand for high-quality NA options among health-conscious consumers and beer enthusiasts alike.
With its entry into the NA beer market, Fort Point Beer Co. is not only expanding its product lineup but also reinforcing its reputation as a trailblazer in the craft beer industry. As Schnebeck noted, “We’re excited to introduce a new approach to the growing category.”
As the NA beer market continues to thrive, Fort Point’s latest offering is poised to make waves, combining the brewery’s signature craftsmanship with the rising demand for non-alcoholic alternatives.
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