The launch of OMG! (Oh My Guts!) Probiotic Beer brings a new perspective on healthy drinking
Probicient, a National University of Singapore (NUS) food technology spin-off, has launched OMG! (Oh My Guts!) Probiotic Beer, the world’s first ambient-stable probiotic wheat beer. The brand is distributed by local Singaporean firm Zesty Gut Pte Ltd and is brewed using a patented technology developed by the NUS’ Department of Food Science and Technology. Consequently, unlike most alcoholic beers the product allows consumers to enjoy the consumption experience without such post-drinking discomforts as bloating, while also supporting gut health.
The new probiotic beer is brewed with water from the manmade freshwater Qiandao Lake in Hangzhou, China, along with wheat, malt, barley malt, oats, probiotic cultures, orange peel, coriander, seeds, hops and yeast. Each bottle has a ABV of 4.2% and contains less than 100 calories.
Its probiotic health benefits arise from using advanced fermentation techniques and micro-encapsulation of probiotic strains to ensure a minimum of one billion colony forming units (CFUs) per bottle, according to the brewers. This amount is considered enough to help maintain a healthy gut microbiota, effective digestion and nutrient absorption.
In addition, the product contains phenolic compounds that act as powerful antioxidants to protect the body from oxidative stress by neutralising harmful free radicals which are linked to aging and chronic diseases like cardiovascular conditions and neurodegenerative disorders.
Amino acids that are associated with strengthening the gut barrier, modulating immune responses and supporting mood and cognition via the gut-brain axis, are also produced during the fermentation process. The brew also contains postbiotic metabolites that exhibit anti-inflammatory effects that are beneficial for individuals with irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease.
The product has secured the licences required for sales and distribution in Singapore and is compliant with additional food safety requirements by local authorities including the Singapore Food Agency due to its probiotic content.
Initially, the producers are focusing on the Singapore market. The beer is already available for purchase on various e-commerce sites such as Shopee and Lazada, and key retail and distribution partnerships with supermarket chains and speciality stores are being sought.
In the next phase, the push will be to promote OMG! in Southeast Asian markets such as Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam through e-commerce and international distributors.
