BRAUWELT International | Knowledge for the beverage industry

Europe/Russia

Sales boom for Guinness 0.0

Ireland | Diageo will invest EUR 30 million (USD 32 million) in its Dublin brewery St James's Gate to keep up with the rising demand for its alcohol-free Guinness, which was launched in 2020. Media reported in October that sales of Guinness 0.0 on draught increased by almost 50 percent last year.
The Americas

Athletic’s non-alcoholic beers outsell competition in America

USA | Considering that Heineken said in 2019 it would invest USD 50 million each year on marketing Heineken 0.0, it is a big victory for US craft brewer Athletic that this year it overtook Heineken 0.0 as the best-selling non-alcoholic beer in America. Not enough, at the supermarket chain Wholefoods it has become the top-selling beer overall.
Europe/Russia

Ireland: Publicans do it themselves and brew their own beer

Ireland | Why has no one done this before? Around a dozen of prominent Dublin and Cork publicans invested EUR 1.8 million (USD 1.9 billion) in a new brewery that officially opened on 12 November.

The Americas

Prohibition 2.0? Review of dietary guidelines riles alcohol industry

USA | The US Dietary Guidelines 2025-2030 are being updated, and the alcohol industry fears that this edition could bring the first change in alcohol guidance since their inception in 1980 if it touts that there are “no safe levels”.

Europe/Russia

Heineken buys stake in Gillian Anderson’s G Spot drinks

United Kingdom | Heineken is pushing further into the Beyond Beer space. In early November it was reported that the Dutch brewer has acquired a minority stake in the UK-based functional drinks brand G Spot.

Asia/Australia

Coopers Brewery defies the struggling Australian beer market

Australia | A new lager beer release plus a surge in homebrewing kits fuelled strong sales growth for Australia’s largest independently-owned brewer Coopers. It posted a 1.5 percent rise in total beer sales for the 2024 financial year (ended 30 June), defying a year-on-year 2.6 percent decline in total Australian beer sales. Coopers’ beer sales, excluding non-alcoholic beers, hit 787 000 hl, up from 776 000 hl the previous year.

Europe/Russia

The “no safe level” message has reached Germany

Germany | An organised, well-funded, international opposition to the alcohol industry is having no trouble getting its message across in German media too. The liberal national newspaper, Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung, headlined on 3 November that drinking alcohol is a risk and it is best not to drink at all, accompanied by a photo of several glasses of beer.

The Americas

Coca-Cola’s alcohol strategy: It’s a long game

USA | It has been a while since we have heard comments from The Coca-Cola Company on its beverage alcohol strategy, and it could be a while before we will find out about their ultimate plans.

Europe/Russia

Sin tax revenues decline as governments need to stuff budget holes

United Kingdom | For years, the trio of sin taxes – alcohol, cigarettes and fuel – have bolstered state budgets. At the same time, governments were fighting sin. As they all knew: sin taxes lead to lower consumption as people change their behaviour. Now that there is a shortage of sinners, governments need them. How ironic.

Current issue

BRAUWELT International 5

Editorial
Table of contents

placeholder img 01 — Image galleries
Brussels Beer Challenge 2024

BRAUWELT on tour

109th International Brewing & Engineering Congress

25 Mar 2025 - 27 Mar 2025

Trends in Brewing

06 Apr 2025 - 09 Apr 2025

Craft Brewers Conference & Brew Expo America

28 Apr 2025 - 01 May 2025

News from institutes and associations

Brewers Association announces reduction in force

USA | At the end of November 2024, the Brewers Association conducted an internal restructuring of the organization to maximize support to their members, realize greater efficiencies, adapt to rapidly evolving industry dynamics, and set up the association and its incoming CEO for success in 2025.

Reviews

BrauBeviale 2024: Positive signals from the market

Nuremberg | Following the conclusion of BrauBeviale 2024 in Nuremberg on Thursday, 28 November 2024, it is once again clear that the brewing and beverage industry continues to prioritise communication and information exchange. With 30,821 visitors, around 84 per cent of which from Germany and the European Union, BrauBeviale confirms its position as the leading European meeting point for the industry.

Reviews

European Beer Star 2024: Coveted awards went to 26 countries

Nuremberg | This year's European Beer Star winners were presented with their awards in front of several hundred guests at a festive awards ceremony at BrauBeviale in Nuremberg. The most successful brewery in the European Beer Star 2024 is Firestone Walker from the USA, while the best German brewery in this year's competition is Brauerei Riegele from Augsburg.

Company news

Ferrum and KHS take over H. F. Meyer

Germany | As of 1 January 2025, Ferrum Packaging AG, manufacturer of can seamers for the beverage industry, and KHS GmbH are to take over H.F. Meyer Maschinenbau GmbH & Co. KG.

Reviews

Brussels Beer Challenge 2024: Quality and diversity win

Ghent | This year, the prestigious Brussels Beer Challenge was held in Ghent, a city known for its historical charm and cultural richness. It took place from November 5th to 7th at the Saint Peter’s Abbey, a venue that underscored the rich cultural tradition of the region.

Market

UK brewery closure rate slows in Q3 2024

United Kingdom | For the first time in 2024 some regions of the UK have seen their overall brewery number rise, with the overall net closure rate across the UK also slowing, according to figures released last month by the SIBA (Society of Independent Brewers) UK Brewery Tracker.

Company news

Steinecker’s biomass conversion concept wins German Sustainability Award

Germany | Steinecker GmbH, a subsidiary of Krones, has been honoured with the 2025 German Sustainability Award (GSA) in the “Products” category, which is being presented for the first time this year to recognise standout projects offering sustainable solutions. Steinecker submitted its biomass conversion concept Phoenix BMC for the transformation field Climate and won first place.

People and Positions

Christian Schubert joins BrewingScience reviewers panel

Nuremberg | The scientific magazine BrewingScience is pleased to announce that Dr. Christian Schubert joins its reviewers team as an expert in the field of special analytics. His current research focuses on the ageing stability of beer and the importance of additives in the brewing process.