FREEDL

FREEDL is a nonalcoholic craft brewery located in the Italian Alps, according to the producer's website. The SWZ reported that the company was founded in 2019 by Maria-Elisabeth Laimer and her brother Max Laimer in Lana, South Tyrol, as Italy's first handcrafted alcohol-free beer; female-chefs.com dates the founding to approximately five years ago in South Tyrol, also crediting Laimer and her brother. The producer's beers are brewed at a brewery converted from a garage at the Pfefferlechner Buschenschank in Lana, where, per the SWZ, the family had been brewing craft beer exclusively for in-house service since 2005. According to the Listen Notes podcast, the brand was built up initially in Italy before launching in Germany.^[1]

The SWZ explained the brand's name: 'Freedl' is derived from Fred (short for Alfred), with the double 'e' incorporating the English word 'free'. According to that account, the brand intentionally chose a male name to counter the perception that alcohol-free beer is only for pregnant women.^[1]

Maria-Elisabeth Laimer -- Founder. Maria-Elisabeth Laimer founded FREEDL; the producer's website refers to her as a Co-Founder, and an interview describes her as the founder. The magazine Mein Geld reported that she grew up in an entrepreneurial family with a hotel, restaurant, and in-house brewery, and in an interview she said she grew up in a gastronomic family environment, experiencing all roles from dishwashing to service. The same interview recounts that she worked in the start-up industry after periods abroad before co-founding FREEDL, and that she surprised her Sommelière examiners with a non-alcoholic beer presentation at her first exam. She is described in an interview as one of few women in the beer industry, with a focus on non-alcoholic beer. Der Bierprediger describes her as the creative force behind Freedl, based in South Tyrol.^[2]

Götz Spieth -- Brewmaster. FREEDL's brewmaster is Götz Spieth, according to the SWZ.^[1]

FREEDL describes its approach, on the producer's website, as rethinking the entire beverage category from the ground up, rather than merely imitating traditional alcoholic products. The producer states that it makes all-natural, handmade craft beverages. The producer's website also presents a curated non-alcoholic bar guide for South Tyrol, positioning the region as one of Europe's hubs for high-quality culinary experiences and mindful drinking.^[3]

On the sustainability side, the producer's website states that FREEDL produces small upcycled bags made from discarded malt sacks, created in collaboration with the Berufstrainingszentrum (BZG), a vocational training center in Bolzano. Per female-chefs.com, FREEDL incorporates beer waste into a vegetable garden as compost as part of a local circular economy initiative.^[4]

Per female-chefs.com, FREEDL focuses exclusively on non-alcoholic craft beer produced in South Tyrol, with three core beers referred to as 'Casual Biere'. The producer's website lists a craft beer lineup that includes FREEDL Classic, FREEDL Calma, FREEDL Citrino, FREEDL Carica, and a mixed box called FREEDL Tutto Misto. Mein Geld and the SWZ describe these as non-alcoholic beers, and FREEDL's own and several outlets' accounts consistently place the production in South Tyrol (Südtirol).^[4],[5]

Beyond the beers, the producer's website states that FREEDL has introduced a sparkling tea as its newest product innovation; female-chefs.com adds that this Sparkling Tea was developed to fill the role of a celebratory 'pop' moment drink, distinct from the beers. The producer also operates a merchandise line called 'Dolce Club' that extends the brand beyond beverages.^[4],[6]

The core production thesis, as reported by Mein Geld, is a 'Functional Brewing' approach in which alcohol never forms during the brewing process, rather than being removed at the end — an approach the source says preserves the beer's aroma and flavor. Per the same source, the non-alcoholic beers are produced in a specially developed brewing process using innovative recipes in the small family-owned brewery in Lana, South Tyrol.^[2]

Special yeast organisms. The SWZ reported that FREEDL uses special yeast organisms that had previously been used by only a handful of breweries in Europe, with technical support from the Technische Universität Berlin.^[1]

Alpine spring water. According to Mein Geld, the brewing water is sourced directly from a nearby spring, naturally filtered through the Calcareous Alps. The producer's website notes that FREEDL Classic, a Pale Ale, is brewed with this alpine spring water alongside malt and different hop types.^[2]

Citrus & hops. Per the producer's website, FREEDL Citrino is brewed with lemon zest, malt, and different hop types, and contains no added sugar and no artificial flavors.

Grain sourcing. The SWZ reported that FREEDL sources its grain together with other South Tyrolean craft breweries — totalling about a dozen — from South Tyrolean farmers, and is permitted to use the South Tyrolean quality seal.^[1]

On production scale, the SWZ noted that FREEDL tripled its brewing capacity in the winter preceding the article (early 2024) while remaining at a low production volume compared to industrial breweries. female-chefs.com reported that the beer was sold out for three months because all tanks had been pre-sold, after which larger tanks were purchased.^[1]

Across the range, the producer's website pairs its beers with food occasions. FREEDL Classic, with a slightly malty and fresh aroma, is suggested for light lunches and as an aperitivo; Der Bierprediger describes Classic as having a sweet aroma, a very drinkable character, and a slightly bitter finish. FREEDL Citrino, described as yellow and evoking Italian limes, is paired with summer barbecue, tacos, and slightly spicy dishes.

The producer's website describes FREEDL Calma — which it classifies as an 'AperoBeer', a category it claims as the first of its kind — as pairing well with light, Mediterranean dishes on hot summer days, and with dishes that traditionally use basil, particularly pizza and pasta. Süddeutsche Zeitung tasters, as relayed by the producer, found an aroma of alpine herbs and mountain basil as a top note, a hint of pepper, fine foam, and a golden yellow liquid, with a tangy and refreshing main drink, brief malt sweetness, slightly ethereal basil, and a delicate sweetness with a pleasant honey note in the aftertaste.

The producer's website states that FREEDL collaborates with the Berufstrainingszentrum (BZG), a vocational training center in Bolzano, to produce small upcycled bags made from discarded malt sacks. The SWZ reported that grain is sourced jointly with about a dozen other South Tyrolean craft breweries from South Tyrolean farmers.^[7]

The producer's website reports that FREEDL was selected as one of the top 10 highlights at Taste 2024 in Florence, as featured in Forbes Italia.^[8]

FREEDL Calma received recognition in two tests, according to the producer's website and Der Bierprediger. Süddeutsche Zeitung awarded it a score of 10/10 points in its alcohol-free beer test, placing it first in the category of nonalcoholic beers. Der Bierprediger reported that Freedl Calma was awarded Platinum at the International Craft Beer Award by Meininger.