The Early Years | The European Brewery Convention celebrates its 70th anniversary this year. Before World War II there was no international organisation looking after brewers, brewing and beer. In those days, there was a clear dichotomy of brewing practices – the Anglo-Saxon and Irish top fermented beers on one hand, the Bohemian-Czech, German-Austrian and Danish bottom fermentation systems on the other. Brewing practices were often a mix of time-honoured recipes and continuous improvements tying up tradition and observation.

One year after moving into the premises in Regensburg’s TechBase and successful completion of its first projects, the Innovation Lab was officially inaugurated in October 2017.

The Neutraubling-based company communicated in a press release dated 25 October 2017 that order intake increased 10.0 per cent to EUR 2,696.8 million in the first three quarters. Adjusted for acquisitions, the increase was 5.9 per cent. The orders growth was especially strong in Western Europe. Orders on hand at the end of September 2017 were up 14.2 per cent year-on year, from EUR 1,167.0 million to EUR 1,332.6 million.

On September 6, 2017, Diversey announced that the purchase of the business by Bain Capital Private Equity from Sealed Air Corporation (NYSE:SEE) is complete. They will now be a standalone company that will include the Diversey Care division of Sealed Air as well as the food hygiene solution business that was part of its Food Care division. Dr. Ilham Kadri, appointed CEO of Diversey upon completion of the sale, commented: “As an independent business, we will have the ability to be smarter and more agile than ever before as we introduce enhanced technology and innovation. As we work together with our formidable new ownership, our customers will be our singular focus.”

As the UK continues to sever its political ties with the EU, it was only fitting that the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD), an organization with 5000+ members, re-established its links to its continental constituents by organising a two-day seminar in Salzburg, Austria at the end of June 2017.

Gabriela Basařová, J. Šavel, P. Basař, P. Basařova, T. Leysek: The Comprehensive Guide to Brewing – From Raw Material to Packaging, 2017, 856 pages, hardcover, Fachverlag Hans Carl GmbH, Nuremberg, 159.00 EUR, ISBN: 978-3-418-00842-4.

Just in time for drinktec, Fachverlag Hans Carl will publish two new volumes: “Das Große BRAUWELT Lexikon der Biersorten” by Horst Dornbusch and “The Comprehensive Guide to Brewing” by G. Basařová, J. Šavel, P. Basař and T. Lejsek.

Is this the new entrepreneurial swagger: “My house, my car, my wife, my dog, my brewery”? Arguing that “craft” has become too blurry a term, the Craft Beer Industry Association (CBIA) recently redrafted its membership rules which now put the focus on ownership. What was the CBIA has become the Independent Brewers Association. The implications are momentous. By signalling the end of cohabitation with corporate craft brewers, Australia’s independents have opened a political front of “us against them”.

There is only one constant in the brewing industry at the moment: change. This is also the case at Doemens in Gräfelfing, Germany. A time to make change for the positive. “The brewing profession is now sexy again!” exclaims Doemens’ Managing Director Dr. Wolfgang Stempfl at the start of our joint interview with the new Managing Director Dr. Werner Gloßner at the end of March 2017. His declaration reflects pride in the industry, optimism for the future and the spirit of participation in the greater change rippling through the entire industry at this time.