Exchange of know-how at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada

This year’s Young Scientists Symposium on Malting, Brewing and Distilling (YSS) took place in the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Chico, California, USA, under the overall chairmanship of Prof. Charles W. Bamforth (University of California, Davis). Young scientists from many nations met at the foothills of the Sierra Nevada from April 21st to 23rd in order to present their researches in the area of brewing and distilling technology.

China Craft Beer Conference & Exhibition 2016

The wave of craft beer engulfing the world has spared neither China nor the rest of Asia. Exact figures for craft breweries are not currently available for the Chinese market. Reports vary widely; between 200 and 4000 craft breweries are currently operating in the Middle Kingdom. NürnbergMesse China has taken full advantage of this trend by organizing the first China Craft Beer Conference & Exhibition (CBCE) together with its partner The Beer Link, held May 26th and 27th in Shanghai. BRAUWELT International was there.

Bottle fermentation – revival of an old technique

When looking at craft beers on shop shelves, the term “bottle fermentation” appears on the labels with increasing frequency. Shoppers interested in buying beer wonder what this actually means. And many brewers also ask themselves the same question. So let’s have a closer look at bottle fermentation technique and also at the associated pros and cons.

“What is different now?”

Achieving growth in a saturated market – this is a lofty ambition all companies hold, not only those in Germany but also those in the international beer and beverage sector. Companies looking for support in this endeavor will find it in a small but exclusive consulting firm, founded in 2009 by two managers from the industry. The fact that brewing and beverage companies often do not typically seek such management consulting services should not be seen as a deterrent, but rather as an opportunity. After all, it is clear that the need exists…

Celebrating diversity

“Celebrating Diversity of Beers and Beer Styles” was the motto which attracted many attendees to the International Malting and Brewing Symposium ‘12th Trends in Brewing’ in Ghent, Belgium. The symposium, held from April 3rd to 7th 2016, was jointly organized by the KU Leuven, the TU Berlin and the University of Nottingham. The explicit goal of the Trends in Brewing is to bring brewing scientists and brewers together, and this concept has long proven successful. With fifty percent of the attendees hailing from 23 different countries, the conference has become a well-established event on the calendar of the international brewing industry.

500 years of Beer Purity Law

On 23 April 2016 the 500th anniversary of the proclamation of what has become known the world over as the Purity Law Decree was celebrated. When brewing beer in accordance with the German Purity Law, only barley malt, water, hops and yeast may be used. On the penultimate weekend in April, this was the occasion of a large celebration in Ingolstadt, Upper Bavaria, where the Purity Law Decree was first proclaimed. Almost 900 master brewers came from all parts of Germany and even from Europe and beyond.

Service as the primary focus

“Novel conditions lead to adaptations in one’s own structures.” This was the conclusion of an interview held at the BrauBeviale in mid-November 2015 in Nuremberg with Joachim Gehde and Pascal Piroué, the managing directors of Simon H. Steiner Hopfen, which is based in Mainburg. The new investments in Spain and France were the primary topic of conversation.

“The 'regulars' call and everyone comes”

In keeping with tradition, Gerhard Ilgenfritz, President of the Association of Private Breweries in Bavaria (Private Brauereien Bayern [EV]), opened the BrauBeviale on the first day of the trade fair, November 10th 2015 in Nuremberg. Members of the public, including numerous honorary guests from the arenas of politics, culture and trade, listened to his welcome speech describing the challenges of 2015, the ongoing craft beer boom and a preliminary look at the upcoming celebrations for the 500th anniversary of the Reinheitsgebot.

Everybody starts small

In 2012, the VLB Berlin launched the European MicroBrew Symposium at the BrauBeviale in Nuremberg, and it has been held there every year since. The first time the event was held it might have still been considered a small get-together with 70 in attendance, but not anymore. ‘Micro’ would now be a poor term for describing the event itself, though it does involve topics concerning microbreweries.

Sunshine in Florida

The 2015 Annual Meeting of the MBAA took place in Jacksonville, Florida, from 8-10 October 2015. In addition to numerous scientific presentations and contributions from the industry, the program included various workshops and a well-attended trade exhibition. New engineering developments and scientific research results as well as new insights into raw materials were also presented. The opening speech about health effects of beer reflected an important aspect in times of rising importance of nutritional awareness.