Switchback Brewing is bringing non-alcoholic beer production fully in-house, installing a BrewVo® de-alcoholization system at its Burlington, Vermont brewery and expanding its role in the growing NA beer category. The move positions the employee-owned brewery to scale production of Switchback N.A. while also offering contract non-alcoholic brewing services to other brands across the East Coast.
The investment follows sustained demand for Switchback N.A., which quickly moved beyond a limited or experimental release. With equipment now arriving, Switchback is targeting early 2026 to begin full on-site non-alcoholic production.
Founded in 2002, Switchback Brewing Co. is best known for Switchback Ale, an unfiltered, naturally conditioned flagship built around balance, consistency, and drinkability. The brewery says those same principles are guiding its approach to non-alcoholic beer, both for its own portfolio and for partners seeking high-quality NA production.
Non-Alcoholic Beer Production Moves In-House
Switchback framed the transition as a quality-driven response to demand rather than a short-term experiment. Switchback N.A. proved to be more than a test release, prompting the brewery to commit to permanent, in-house NA capability in Burlington.
By moving production home, Switchback gains tighter quality control, greater production planning flexibility, and expanded capacity. The brewery has emphasized that non-alcoholic beer is now treated as a core product line rather than a side project.
President and brewmaster Bill Cherry said Switchback N.A. works because it tastes like Switchback. Bringing the process in-house allows the brewery to protect that character while delivering the consistency and reliability required for non-alcoholic beer at scale.
Flavor-First Technology
Switchback selected the BrewVo® system from Sustainable Beverage Technologies for its focus on flavor integrity and its performance in competitive beer judging. BrewVo-produced non-alcoholic beers have earned more medals at major beer competitions than any other NA production method.
In blind judging panels, BrewVo-made beers have even been recognized alongside full-strength alcoholic beers. According to Switchback, that validation mattered in choosing a system capable of preserving the brewery’s established flavor profile.
The patented BrewVo® process combines membrane separation with nested fermentation to gently remove alcohol while preserving aroma, mouthfeel, balance, and the underlying structure of the beer.
The brewery describes the result as a non-alcoholic beer that drinks like beer, not a substitute. Drinkers familiar with Switchback Ale are meant to recognize the beer immediately.
East Coast Contract Production Hub
With BrewVo® now installed in Vermont, Switchback will serve as the East Coast production location for BrewVo-manufactured products. The Burlington facility will collaborate with breweries and beverage brands looking to produce non-alcoholic beer without building their own de-alcoholization systems.
Switchback says the facility is designed to support partners seeking consistent, scalable NA production, proven flavor retention, and a brewery-to-brewery working relationship grounded in shared standards.
Vice president and plant engineer Gretchen Langfeldt said the goal is to be a reliable and transparent production partner. The company emphasized that non-alcoholic beer still demands the same care, experience, and respect for process as full-strength brewing.
Operational Details and Capacity
The Burlington build-out includes a mix of new and high-quality used equipment, a practical approach reflecting current market conditions while reinforcing a long-term commitment to quality.
Switchback cited several operational benefits of bringing NA production in-house, including tighter process control, expanded capacity, and greater batch-to-batch consistency.
By combining BrewVo technology with its existing brewing expertise, Switchback says it can offer partners immediate access to advanced non-alcoholic production without the capital costs, technical complexity, or operational risk typically associated with building NA capability from scratch.
Market Implications for Non-Alcoholic Beer
Switchback framed the investment as a response to a broader capacity gap in the non-alcoholic beer market. While consumer demand continues to grow, the company said there remains a shortage of production capacity that prioritizes quality and flavor parity with full-strength beer.
At a time when many breweries are pulling back, Switchback views non-alcoholic beer as a disciplined opportunity for growth. The brewery sees its BrewVo investment as a way to meet its own needs while supporting other breweries looking to enter the NA space without compromising standards.
Equipment installation is now underway in Burlington, with Switchback targeting early 2026 to begin full in-house non-alcoholic production. For more information on non-alcoholic production partnerships, visit: www.switchbackvt.com/contract-
Photo credit goes to New England Food & Farm.
