Belgium | For years, the Opwijk production site, where the Affligem brand is brewed, has been threatened with closure. Now Heineken is getting serious and said the 400,000 hl production site, some 20 km northwest of Brussels, will be shuttered this summer. According to the Dutch brewer, it is too small and fails to reach environmental benchmarks.

United Kingdom | Perhaps Lion perceive that the craft beer bubble is about to burst and they need to dispose of their UK craft beer ventures before this becomes widely known?

Germany | The covid pandemic also led to massive losses for the German brewing industry in 2021. According to the German Brewers' Association, beer sales dropped 3.4 percent in 2021, compared to the previous year's record decline of 5.5 percent.

Ireland | Following the introduction of minimum unit prices for alcohol on 4 January 2022, some alcohol has almost doubled in price at Irish shops and supermarkets.

United Kingdom | BrewDog has launched a workplace code, following an independent review into accusations of bullying at the brewery and pub group.

Czech Republic | Over the past decade, the Czech Republic has seen a veritable upsurge in small breweries. There are now about 500 minibreweries operating across the country, with more than 30 being established in 2020.

Russia | The Ministry of Industry and Trade proposes to start compulsory labelling of beer and low-alcoholic drinks from 1 September 2022. It is assumed that from this date mandatory electronic labels will need to be put on kegs, and from 1 December on the other types of beer packaging. A trial is currently underway, which will end on 31 August. The move is to dry out counterfeit beer.

United Kingdom | Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company closed its London Fields Brewery in December 2021, with an eye to selling the craft beer brand just four years after buying it for a reported GBP 4 million (USD 4.9 million).

Prestigious award | A Scottish family business has been honoured with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for International Trade. PureMalt Products Ltd is one of 205 organisations UK-wide to receive the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2021.

Denmark | It has been a busy year for Royal Unibrew, a mid-sized Danish multi-beverage company, serving markets in the Nordics, Baltics, Italy, Germany, and France.