Competitions | The Brewers Association is proud to announce the success of its Export Development Programme (EDP) American craft brewery members at two prestigious international beer competitions - Brussels Beer Challenge and European Beer Star - where an impressive haul of medals was garnered on both occasions.

Berlin | Dr Björn Klotzbücher took up his position as the new Managing Director of VLB Berlin on 1 July 2025. He succeeds Dr Josef Fontaine, who will step down from this position at his own request in October 2025. The areas of finance, IT, human resources and research will remain under the responsibility of the previous Managing Director, Gerhard Andreas Schreiber (CFO).

Berlin | On 1 July 2025, Martin Dubrowsky took over the position of International Sales Manager at the Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei in Berlin (VLB). He succeeds Roberto Biurrun, who has left the VLB at his own request after ten years to take on a new professional challenge at Jürgen Löhrke GmbH.

Petr Košin new chairman of EBC Brewing Science Group

Brussels | At the recent 14th Technical Meeting of the EBC Brewing Science Group, held 20–22 May in Budapest, members were asked to approve the successor to Gert De Rouck, the director of the brewing pilot plants at KU Leuven (Technologiecampus Gent). Gert De Rouck had become the chairman in 2019 and the end of his term of office necessitated the search for a replacement chair. This was forthcoming in the person of Petr Košin, the production director at Budweiser Budvar, based at České Budějovice, Czech Republic, a national brewery run and supported by the Czech state.

Berlin | The Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei in Berlin (VLB) e.V. is initiating a significant generational change: After more than two decades of dedicated service as VLB Managing Director, Dr. Josef Fontaine will hand over the position in October 2025. His successor will be Dr. Björn Klotzbücher, who will take up his position at the VLB on 1 July 1 2025.

Warsaw | On Tuesday, 13 May 2025, the Brewers of Europe’s General Assembly elected Mr Christian Weber, CEO of the Karlsberg brewery and current president of the German Brewers’ Association (Deutscher Brauer-Bund), as its new president.

16th International Trends in Brewing: Cutting-edge brewery research

Leuven | From 6–9 April 2025, what was now the 16th International Trends in Brewing symposium, jointly organised by the KU Leuven, TU Berlin, University of Nottingham, Oregon State University, Ghent University and Italian Brewing Research Center, was held at the KU Leuven under the motto of “innovations in products and processes”. Around 300 participants, some of them from very far afield, convened at the historic main university hall of the KU Leuven, which this year is celebrating its 600th anniversary, to attend various lectures, poster sessions and a technical exhibition.

Mainburg | On April 3 and 4, the members of MEBAK met in Mainburg at the invitation of Hopsteiner. As part of the supporting program, the participants were informed by Martin Waldinger about the internal breeding program for new hop varieties, especially with regard to the necessary characteristics for consistent quality despite the challenging current environmental conditions. This was followed by a tour of the new propagation of hops. Dr. Christina Schmidt also presented the extensive analytical facilities before Frank Peifer rounded off the tour at the pilot-brewing plant.

Europe | The US announcement of 20% reciprocal tariffs on all EU products will create losers on both sides, across the society and economy. However, it is the addition of Beer to Annex 1 on aluminium derivative products facing a 25% tariff that is particularly concerning to Europe’s ten thousand breweries.