In the summer of 2003 a brainstorming session at the Anker Brewery came up with the idea of developing a system for beer without carbonation. The immediate reason behind this was the acute shortage of barrels, which was holding back turnover. In December 2005 a breakthrough was achieved: Beer in a box. This brought about a revolution in how Anker beer from Nördlingen is packaged.

A clever idea
One of the most important problems in relation to exporting is the transportation of packaging for reuse. Whilst bottled beer is generally sold in non-returnable bottles, that is not possible with beer in barrels. Barrels, after they have been emptied, have to be returned to the brewery so they can be refilled. The costs associated with this have to be included in the cost price. A second problem consists of the high investment in barrels and the risks of losing them. The idea was thus to develop an inexpensive disposable system for beer in barrels.

A revolutionary dispensing system
The solution was to remove as much of the CO2 as possible from the beer, before putting the beer into barrels. Without carbonation there is no pressure in the barrels during transportation. This low-CO2 beer can be poured into plastic bags, just like for example milk. When the low-CO2 beer is poured at bars and restaurants, it is sucked out of the bag with underpressure and is enriched with CO2 via the Beer Carbonator on the way to the dispensing tap - restoring its original concentration: a revolutionary dispensing system. This new technology, suitable for all sorts of beer, is an inexpensive alternative for traditional beer barrels and extremely valuable in the export market.