Grolsch

The brewery was established by Willem Neerfeldt in the town then known as Grol, and the brand name is a direct corruption of that original place name. Production remained centred on the founding region for most of Grolsch's history until a purpose-built facility opened in Boekelo, near Enschede, in 2004, consolidating operations into a single modern site. In 2016, Asahi Breweries acquired Grolsch from AB InBev for approximately €2.55 billion, bringing the brand under Japanese ownership while retaining its Dutch production base.

Grolsch 0.0% takes a different technical path from many mainstream AF lagers. Rather than brewing to full alcoholic strength and then removing the alcohol, Grolsch uses a specialist yeast through a full fermentation process that naturally produces no alcohol at all. The result is a fresh, hop-forward pilsner with a naturally green hop aroma and a clean, crisp finish.

In 2020, Grolsch extended its AF lineup with a dark autumn beer developed with master brewer Guy Evers, incorporating a natural chilli extract to deliver warmth and balance. Grolsch was the first large Dutch brewer to introduce a dark alcohol-free beer in this style, a meaningful departure from the pale lager formats that dominate most mainstream AF ranges.

Distribution is multi-channel and international, with the AF products available through mainstream supermarkets and specialist retailers alike. The AF range is kept deliberately compact: two focused products rather than a broad parallel lineup, backed by over 400 years of Dutch brewing history. For sober-curious drinkers who want a familiar European pilsner character in 0.0% form, Grolsch's global reach makes the AF options genuinely accessible.