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Key Points
Non-alcoholic beer keeps its vitamin B6, just like regular beer — and some versions, especially those with alcohol removed after fermentation, can have even more, in one case delivering nearly 59% of your daily needs.
Vitamin B6 comes from ingredients like malt, barley, and brewer’s yeast and plays a role in mood, brain health, and energy metabolism, with brewing having little effect on its levels.
Even so, non-alcoholic beer isn’t a health drink — experts say it lacks key nutrients and shouldn’t replace more nutrient-dense foods in your diet.
Beer is rarely considered a health drink, but it contains several vitamins and minerals your body can use. While nonalcoholic beer strips out the ethanol, new research finds it still contains many of the health-supporting nutrients found in “regular” beer.
The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, specifically looked at vitamin B6, a nutrient linked to mood support. For the study, researchers analyzed 65 different beers for their nutritional content.
The researchers discovered that alcohol-free lager and regular lager had no significant difference in their vitamin B6 content. However, nonalcoholic beers that had their ethanol removed after fermentation had higher vitamin B6 levels than those made using yeasts that produce less ethanol.
Related: These Are the Best Nonalcoholic Beers in America, According to the Best of Craft Beer Awards
Some nonalcoholic beers may have an edge over standard beer in vitamin B6 content. The researchers discovered that the average lager in the study provided 20% of the American dietary allowance for vitamin B6, while one nonalcoholic lager delivered nearly 59% of the recommended daily amount.
The findings are a clear win for nonalcoholic beer. While dietitians stop short of calling it a healthy beverage, many agree it’s information to keep on the back burner. Here’s why.
What is vitamin B6 — and why does it matter?
Vitamin B6 is a water-soluble vitamin that’s naturally present in some foods, added to others, and available as a supplement, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). “Vitamin B6 is an important nutrient… It plays a role in making neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine that can boost our mood — that’s a big benefit of this nutrient,” says Jessica Cording, RD, author of The Little Book of Game Changers.
Related: Global Beer Consumption Is Shrinking — Except in This Category
But vitamin B6 does more than that. “Vitamin B6 is important for brain health, energy metabolism, and for overall optimal cellular function,” says Sonya Angelone, PhD, RDN, a nutritionist and registered dietitian based in San Francisco. Vitamin B6 also helps the body metabolize protein, according to Katy Willbur, RD, LDN, a registered dietitian and clinical instructor at Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy.
How does nonalcoholic beer keep its nutrients intact?
It likely comes down to how both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beer are made, according to Michael Rychlik, PhD, study co-author and chair of analytical food chemistry at the Technical University of Munich.
“Malt contains significant amounts of B6 and, therefore, B6 as a water-soluble vitamin is easily transferred into all kinds of beers, if produced from malt,” says Rychlik. “Fermentation obviously has only a minor impact on total B6 content of both beer types.”
Angelone agrees. “The amount of vitamin B6 in beer, regardless of the alcohol content, comes from the barley, wheat, and brewer’s yeast, which contain B6 naturally,” she says. “The fermentation process may actually make B6 more bioavailable, not destroy it.” Because alcoholic and nonalcoholic beers are made with the same ingredients, both will have high levels of vitamin B6, Wilbur says.
What non-alcoholic beer gets right (beyond skipping alcohol)
The study didn’t compare the health effects of drinking alcoholic versus nonalcoholic beer. But dietitians point out that the NA version may have an edge in terms of overall health. “For those that enjoy beer, a nonalcoholic option is a way for them to enjoy the same taste without the associated alcohol intake and potential negative side effects,” Wilbur says. Nonalcoholic beer also tends to be lower in calories than alcoholic versions, Angelone says.
But nonalcoholic beer may support mood beyond its vitamin B6 content. “You get some of the potential benefits of drinking beer without the negative consequences that can come with alcohol, like mood disruption and sleep disturbances,” Cording says. The social aspect of drinking nonalcoholic beer with friends can further support mood, she points out.
Still, Angelone doesn’t recommend drinking nonalcoholic beer solely for its vitamin B6 content. “These drinks are not nutrient-dense — they lack protein, fiber, and other important nutrients,” she says. “NA beer can be over-consumed if it is thought of as a ‘healthy’ beverage.”
How to get more vitamin B6 in your diet
Beer isn’t the only way to get vitamin B6 in your diet. “Vitamin B6 is found in many foods in the American diet, including fish, organ meats, potatoes, non-citrus fruits, and fortified cereals,” Wilbur says. “Eating a balanced diet with whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and unsaturated fats will help you consume enough vitamin B6 through your diet.”
Related: 28 Medal-Winning US Beers From the 2025 Brussels Beer Challenge
While nonalcoholic beer shouldn’t be considered a vitamin B6 supplement, Rychlik says there’s potential value in having a nonalcoholic beer when you’re socializing with friends. “Beer can be an important contributor to B6 supply,” he says. “When thinking about health aspects, alcohol-free is to be recommended.”
Reviewed by
Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLEC: Lauren is an award-winning registered dietitian and three-time book author, with more than 22 years in the field.
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