That’s courageous. Kirin plans to produce its Ichiban Shibori draft beer in Brazil as of March 2014, Japanese media report. The Japanese probably hope to benefit from increased demands for beer forecasted for the 2014 World Soccer Cup to be held in the country.

Cereal research of the highest caliber

Casting a glance through the MEBAK Collection of Brewing Analysis Methods, it is almost impossible not to stumble across the abbreviation AACC, which stands for the American Association of Cereal Chemistry, the world’s largest research organization on topics concerning cereals. The organization was founded in 1915 by US millers with the goal of developing standardized and thus comparable analysis methods. One hundred years on, what was once a partnership of convenience has now become an international organization boasting close to 2500 members. European brewers also make substantial scientific contributions, especially the laboratory at the Carlsberg Research Center. In order to acknowledge the international nature of the contributors, an “I” was added to the abbreviation for the organization (AACC-International).

On September 18, 2013 MBAA-members attending drinktec in Munich met at the Krones-booth for a photo session. MBAA-President Horace Cunningham personally welcomed the group. He was very satisfied with the growing number of members, especially the still young MBAA-District Europe with its MBAA-District Europe chairman, Prof. Jens Voigt, University Trier. This group is comparatively small, but is growing fast and already shows 74 members since the exhibition.

The European Beer Star (EBS), Europe's leading beer competition, keeps on breaking one record after another. This year's EBS saw another significant increase in popularity with 1,512 beers entered from 40 different countries, up from 1,366 last year. In late August an international consortium of connoisseurs consisting of 102 master brewers, beer sommeliers and expert journalists from 25 countries gathered for a blind tasting held at the Doemens Akademie, Gräfelfing, Germany to select the best beers in the world, now in 51 separate beer categories (previous year 50).

It’s time for Africa

Around 200 delegates attended the 14th IBD Africa Section Convention which was held in Ghana’s capital city Accra during March 2013. Here is a summary of the Convention.

The cultivation of spring barley is turning out irregularly this year. In Germany, France and Denmark it is decreasing. Only Great Britain has enlarged its acreage. In almost every growing area it was sowed late. Losses of yield are expected.

Nine beers and one cider were named as overall Champions of The International Brewing Awards 2013 at the end of April at a presentation in London’s Guildhall that marked the end of this year’s competition.

The International Brewing Awards 2013

For breweries, comparative taste-testing has long been a proven method for evaluating their products. However, an unbiased opinion regarding the quality of the brewmaster’s favorite beers is only possible through independent assessment. Whether the beer is to be evaluated by a scientific institute or through participation in one of the many international competitions depends on a brewery’s point of view – the former promotes quality while the latter largely benefits marketing.

Ninety-six medals were presented on 15 February to brewers and cider makers in The International Brewing Awards 2013, after a three-day judging session at the National Brewery Centre in Burton-upon-Trent.

You win some, you lose some. Diageo, the world’s number one drinks company, may have been successful at clinching a USD 2.1 billion deal for a majority stake in India’s largest spirits company, United Spirits, in November 2012, but ultimately failed to secure a takeover of Jose Cuervo, the world’s top-selling tequila brand, which is to stay with its Mexican owners, the Beckmann family.