For over 40 years, Piero Perron was one of the figureheads of Italy’s brewing industry. He was President of Heineken Italia, the market leader with brands like Birra Moretti, Cruzcampo, Dreher, Heineken, Ichnusa and Mc Farland.

Independence seals are gaining ground around the world. During EurHop Rome Beer Festival, Unionbirrai, which represents Italian craft brewers, introduced a seal which is to protect true Italian craft and independent breweries.

The European Patent Office (EPO) in early October 2018 has upheld two patents on three brewing barleys, granted to both Heineken and Carlsberg in 2016, but they will be reduced in scope. As an EPO spokesperson told media, there is no longer the possibility of patenting features that are “of natural origin”. Therefore, there is now a “limited scope of protection”. However, the spokesperson was unable to explain exactly what is restricted by the patent.

What do we know about the Finns, except that they like to tango, sauna and spend their summers at lakes infested with killer mosquitos? That’s about it, or? Little did we know that the Finns have beaten a path to relaxation which only involves a pair of warm socks, internet access, a few cold ones and bags of crisps. To reach the Finnish Zen state of mind, you don’t need to book yourself into an expensive ashram where alcohol is forbidden and all you get to eat is unappetisingly vegan. All it takes is to read Miska Rantanen’s delightful, politically incorrect book and teach yourself this wholly egalitarian practice.

More and more observers appear concerned by AB-InBev’s high level of dividend payout. As they see it, this prevents the world’s biggest brewer from cutting its debt load quickly. Already, AB-InBev’s debt load has put pressure on its share price. It has already lost a fifth of its value since the beginning of the year.

The loss of Miller Genuine Draft and Staropramen might cost AB-InBev Efes about 1 percent in market share, Russian media report. Before the end of the year the licensing contract between Molson Coors and AB-InBev Efes for the two brands in Russia will come to an end.

Fearing teething problems at its new plant will impact sales, Germany’s Holsten brewery has delayed again relocating production from its current downtown Altona/Hamburg site to its new location on the outskirts.

Beware of Twitter, where a few followers can force a humiliating show of apologies. A recent offer of free beer by Scofflaw to supporters of US President Trump in the UK sparked an international kerfuffle within hours of posting.

The boss of Coopers Brewery has been appointed President of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD), the brewing and distilling industries’ largest global body. Dr Tim, as he is called, is Managing Director of the largest Australian-owned beer company, located in Adelaide.

“If three quarters of your drink is the mixer, mix with the best,” is the argument tonic water brand Fever-Tree wants you to believe. Because if you do, spending a small fortune on what is basically a soft drink by another name will not hurt you.