United Kingdom | Although craft beer has entered its second decade, there are no signs that the segment has reached a peak. Research from accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young shows that hopefuls are still entering the brewing industry. About 200 new brewing licenses were issued in the UK in the year up to 31 March 2022, bringing the total number to 2,426.

United Kingdom | It was not to be. Australian brewer Lion announced the sale of its UK-based operations, including the Magic Rock and Fourpure breweries to the newly launched venture Odyssey Inns, effective 8 August 2022. The sale marks Lion’s retreat from the UK.

United Kingdom | It is a big worry. Gen-Zers, also known as post-millennials, because they will come of age this decade, do not take to beer in such a big way as previous generations did. Beer marketers are confounded: How to attract them to the category? Heineken thinks it got the answer: Heineken Silver.

United Kingdom | The UK pub chain Wetherspoon is charging its customers as much as GBP 6.29 (USD 7.70) per pint at some London pubs – more than twice that it charges outside the capital.

Belgium | At the end of August, Heineken will turn off the lights at the Affligem brewery in Opwijk. Although the official reason for the closure is plausible enough – the plant is subpar Heineken’s sustainability standards – it still raises pertinent questions.

The Netherlands | Heineken, on 1 August, posted higher-than-expected first-half earnings, as consumers bought more beer despite inflationary pressure. However, the world’s number two brewer shelved its margin target for 2023 as costs rise.

Russia | Sometimes sanctions against Russia take a long time to bite. In late July, shops in Moscow were still selling off stockpiles of international beer brands, Reuters’ correspondents reported.

Germany | A Munich court is to decide over the summer if Munich’s Paulaner brewery may continue to call its cola+orange lemonade mix “Spezi”, or whether it will need to pay royalties to the trademark owner, the Augsburg brewer Riegele.

Ireland | Drinks company Diageo, which owns Guinness, is to build a EUR 200 million (USD 205 million) brewery near Newbridge in County Kildare, some 60 km to the west of Dublin. It is expected to go on-stream in 2024 with a capacity of 2 million hl.

France | It has taken French anti-terrorism prosecutors almost a year to open an investigation into allegations of potential complicity in war crimes, made against Groupe Castel in the Central African Republic (CAR).