Another tough year for Italy’s craft brewers

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.

Europe/Russia

London’s Gipsy Hill Brewery sold to Sunrise Alliance Beverages

United Kingdom | Sunrise Alliance Beverages, a group backed by several former SABMiller people, is emerging as another roll-up of distressed UK craft breweries. On 30 October, Sunrise acquired Gipsy Hill to prevent the south London brewer from falling into administration.

Europe/Russia

SIBA launches “Indie Beer” mark amid craft beer confusion

United Kingdom | Surveys show that many consumers are unaware that previously standalone breweries are now owned by the Big Brewers. In an effort to put this right, the Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA) has launched the “Indie Beer” mark on 22 October.

Europe/Russia

Heineken Ireland ordered to pay EUR 29,000 to sacked employee

Ireland | And we thought only craft breweries were rough and tumble workplaces, where banter and colourful language were the norm between male co-workers. It happened at Heineken too. The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ordered the brewer to pay some EUR 29,000 (USD 31,500) to a sacked employee. It argued that Heineken’s local HR team ignored the rough masculine work culture at its brewery when it concluded that the employee had engaged in the bullying and harassment of two colleagues – which he denied.

Europe/Russia

Carlsberg maintains profit forecast despite lower volumes in third quarter

Denmark | Danish brewer Carlsberg slightly missed analysts’ forecasts when it reported third quarter 2024 results on 31 October. Carlsberg reported that volumes fell in the third quarter, as poor summer weather across Europe and a consumer downturn in China hurt beer sales. Organic volumes fell 0.2 percent, whereas analysts had estimated the company to grow volumes during the quarter.

Europe/Russia

BrewDog “near return to profit” as pre-tax losses rise in 2023 financials

United Kingdom | BrewDog was late in reporting its 2023 financials. The numbers were certainly better than last year’s, but the Scottish beer, drinks and pub operator still spilled red ink.

Europe/Russia

Austria: Coke recalls 28 million bottles

Austria | What a challenge. Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola HBC is recalling 28 million half-litre plastic bottles across a range of brands, fearing some could contain small pieces of metal after a glitch in one of its bottling plants. Reportedly, a sieve had burst during production.

Current issue

BRAUWELT International 5

Editorial
Table of contents

placeholder img 01 — Image galleries
Brussels Beer Challenge 2024

BRAUWELT on tour

BrauBeviale

26 Nov 2024 - 28 Nov 2024

109th International Brewing & Engineering Congress

25 Mar 2025 - 27 Mar 2025

Trends in Brewing

06 Apr 2025 - 09 Apr 2025

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.

News from institutes and associations

MAGB Chairman congratulates sector for strong trading year

London | The Maltsters’ Association of Great Britain (MAGB) held their AGM once again in London on 5th November 2024. The MAGB Chairman, Charles Tozer, described how the sector continues to perform strongly on the back of firm trading from both brewers and distillers. He explained further that the sector continues to invest for the future in malting capacity, decarbonisation and by working closely with the barley supply chains to embed improved environmental practices which will meet the longer-term sustainability goals of all parties in the brewing and distilling sectors.

Reviews

How South Africa’s Intervarsity Brewing Competition is fermenting a new generation of brewers

South Africa | I’s a warm, sunny day in Bloemfontein, the lesser known of South Africa’s three capital cities. This is not a part of the country usually associated with beer culture, but once a year, brewers and beer judges arrive for the annual Intervarsitybrew Brewing & Tasting Competition, which took place from 24–26 October 2024.

Company news

BrewingScience September/October issue out now

Nuremberg | End of October, the latest BrewingScience issue was published online. The scientific online-journal BrewingScience features peer-reviewed scientific papers with impact on the brewing industry. The brief article abstracts below provide a good initial overview of the content.

Previews

Drink Japan to take place 20–22 November 2024

Japan | Drink Japan 2024 is back this November 20–22, and it’s bigger than ever. The 9th edition, set to return to Makuhari Messe, Japan, boasts of two expanded and enhanced zones ready to show off the latest industry technology to hundreds of professionals in attendance.

Reviews

Latest American craft beer trends from the re-imagined Great American Beer Festival

Denver | As the American craft beer landscape continues to evolve and change, so too must the festivals and events associated with it. Nowhere is this more evident than at the latest iteration of the Great American Beer Festival (GABF), the largest public tasting event in America. Organised by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade association for small and independent American craft brewers, the 42nd GABF took place in Denver, Colorado, from 10–12 October 2024, and drew approximately 40,000 people who eagerly descended on the state capital to sample the 2500 beverages from 600+ breweries, cideries, distillers and other beverage producers.

Previews

EBC Symposium 2025: Call for abstracts now open

Brussels | The EBC Symposium 2025, taking place from 18–20 May 2025 in Budapest, will focus on sustainable beer packaging; innovations in keg & tank-beer installations; and beer dispense technology & quality. The call for abstracts is now open until 3 February 2025.

Market

Mintel’s global food and drink trends for 2025

London | Leading market intelligence agency Mintel has announced key trends that will shape the global food and drink industry in the years ahead. In 2025 and beyond, expect to see more focus on blood sugar and hormone health, while food and drink will play an increasing role in mental health management. There will be an increase in diversified ingredient sourcing, while technology and agriculture will have to be more closely interlinked.