United Kingdom | Carlsberg and British brewer Marston’s have announced a deal on 22 May 2020 to jointly own seven breweries, prompting comment that this is a fire sale by another name.

United Kingdom | Although Marston’s patching up with Carlsberg smacks of a fire sale, the general view is that the deal has more to do with London’s brewer Fuller’s quitting brewing, than with the current lockdown on pubs.

Czech Republic | It’s been a long wait for Czech beer lovers. After pubs were shuttered on 13 March 2020 because of the covid-19 pandemic, the government only eased restrictions on beer gardens on 11 May and indoor premises on 25 May.

Germany | Because of covid-19 and the lockdown, Bavarian brewers have seen their turnover nearly halved so far. While domestic beer sales declined only 1.5 percent in the first quarter 2020 over the same period last year, April would prove a cruel month.

Belgium | AB-InBev, supermarket group Delhaize and La Lorraine Bakery Group have introduced a bread “à la Leffe”, made with the eponymous beer. For every five loafs of the bread sold in Delhaize’s stores, the three will donate an 800 gram family loaf to Belgian food banks.

United Kingdom | One of the UK’s largest pub operators, JD Wetherspoon, has floated the idea of reopening its pubs in late June, but many in the hospitality industry see that as wishful thinking.

Belgium | AB-InBev was the last of the European brewers to report first quarter results. On 7 May 2020 it said that it sold 10.5 percent less beer than a year ago.

Austria | When Europe’s governments put hospitality venues into lockdown in March, the effects were severe. Heineken’s beer sales alone dropped 15 percent over 2019. The second quarter will be worse, despite some countries cautiously reopening pubs and restaurants.  

Switzerland | The country’s oldest craft brewer Unser Bier from Basle, calls itself lucky that 2019 was another profitable year and that it is debt-free. It is already noticing a massive drop in turnover as the on-premise, where it makes half of its revenues, has been shuttered since 16 March 2020.

Switzerland | The number of brewery openings rose 11 percent in 2019, to reach 1,132 breweries, after only 32 breweries in 1990 and 81 in 2000. However, most of them – 811 – are really nano-breweries with an annual output of under 20 hl beer.