The German paradox

And you thought that only the Gaul vintners with their French Paradox could gall a brewer. Actually, their neighbours across the Rhine don’t find that a difficult task either. Sadly, in this case it’s brewers who are dipping their pen in gall. Why? It’s called the German paradox. For years, Danstar Ferment AG, a subsidiary of Lallemand, has been engaged in researching and developing a yeast rich in zinc for the German market. Not necessarily for the German market alone, but for a start. Should readers start to wonder: "Hang on, can this be in accordance with the Reinheitsgebot?", be assured that this was the idea: to develop a live yeast with organically metabolised zinc whose nutrients could be metabolised by the brewer’s yeast in the course of fermentation. But not in Germany...

Focus on new plants: Brouwerij der Trappisten van Westmalle cvba, Belgium:A new valve control and indication unit in operation

The long established Trappisten Brewery in Westmalle, Belgium, were keen to install the new "ThinkTop"® control and indication unit into their

Focus on new plants: Pivovorna Union LjubljanaHigh-tech in the syrup room

In preparation of Slovenia’s membership in the European Union, the most modern syrup room technology was implemented in the heart of southern Europe:

Brewery Lasko and Tuchenhagen Brewery Systems: strong partners since 1979

The Brewery Lasko AG is located in Slovenia which borders on Austria, Italy, Hungia and Croatia. Before 1991, Slovenia was the northern-most republic of former Yugoslavia.

Focus on new plants: Bischofshof Brewery, Regensburg New yeast propagation improves fermentation process and beer clarification

Regular propagation of fresh yeast together with an adequate oxygen supply is now regarded as the most important prerequisite for an active yeast of high fermentative ability, with all the positive effects this has on beer quality and the production process. Christian Gresser of Regensburg has now planned and built a propagation plant in a two-tank configuration having a gross tank volume of 162 hl, installed in Bischofshof Brewery in Regensburg/Germany. All yeast for the production of bottom-fermented beer can be produced in the two propagation tanks running in parallel; pitching is normally carried out only with freshly propagated yeast.

A special aeration nozzle built into the conical tip periodically aerates the cylindroconical tank which has no fixed internals (Fig.
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The City, the pubs and women The revolution of the British leisure industry

Honestly, we are innocent. We did not know a thing. That Danone sold Kronenbourg after we had published our 1999 European beer report - pure coincidence. That Whitbread’s and Bass’s beer interests came up for sale after our UK beer report was out - another coincidence. You think that’s too many coincidences? Come to think of it, you may be right. Before Bass, S&N and Whitbread change beyond recognition, let’s stop the wheel of the UK’s pub industry roulette for a moment.

What a year it was that was. Who would have thought that the bedrock names of British brewing, as we have known them for, indeed, centuries, would disappear from the face of the earth in the course of a few months? If the Iron Lady had known the consequences of her deeds ... Or perhaps not......
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Disposal completed

Scottish & Newcastle announced its much heralded sale of its Center Parcs holiday business for £670 million. As expected, the buyer is a grouping including French holiday company Pierre & Vacances and financier DB Capital Partners. The deal will be completed before the end of this calendar year.

On the acquisition trail

Sun Interbrew bought 80 % of the Rohan Brewing Company, one of the Ukraine’s leading brewers with a 14 % market share. The price was reported to be US$30 million. Rohan, which is located in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, reported profits of US$5 million for 1999. In 1999, Sun Interbrew had a market share of 23% of the Ukrainian beer market, where it already owns the Chernigov, Mykolayiv and Simseropol breweries.

Investment boost

Interbrew plans to spend more than US$25 million in its four breweries in Bulgaria within the next three years to increase production capacity. The Belgian brewer owns the breweries of Kamenitza, Astika, Burgasko and Pleven whose beer volumes translate into a 43 % stake of the Bulgarian market according to company figures. Its rival Heineken controls 28 % of the beer market.

Peroni acquires Birra Malto

The Peroni Group, a market leader in Italy with a 28 % share, has acquired the Albanian Birra Malto AG, Tirana. It is estimated that this operation has an annual capacity of 80,000 hl. Market share has supposedly dropped from 37 % to 22 %. By 2002, an annual overall output of 500,000 hl is anticipated in Albania, 40 % up on 1998.