I apologize up front if my suggesting that the uplifting message in “A Change is Gonna Come” has anything to do with beer, but when a press release arrive this morning from Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei in Berlin (more often referred to as VLB) Sam Cooke’s beautiful voice echoed in the background.
Immediately preceding this year’s Brau Beviale the first European MicroBrew Symposium – Market, Trends and Technology takes place on the 12th and 13th November in Nuremberg, Germany. The symposium addresses craft and micro brewers mainly from Europe. The language is English.
Basically emanating from the USA, a popular trend is evident in many European countries towards individual and craft-made beers. In line with this trend the first European MicroBrew Symposium takes place on the 12th and 13th November 2012 in Nuremberg, Germany – directly preceding the Brau Beviale. The symposium addresses owners, technical managers and brewers from European and German micro breweries and pub breweries as well as their suppliers. In line with the symposium’s international character the presentation language is English.
Besides an overview of the international market trends in this segment the symposium focuses primarily on technical/technological aspects of beer production. In addition to general concepts for small-scale brewery plants the rich variety of products available by variations to the raw materials, process parameters and yeasts as well as the necessary quality control will be presented and discussed. Furthermore representatives of Firestone Walker Brewery (USA), Bell’s Brewery (USA) and the Brauhaus Lemke (Berlin) present insights into their successful concepts. A visit to the Steinbach Bräu in Erlangen completes the symposium. Subsequently all participants have the opportunity to visit the Brau Beviale which is the world’s leading capital goods trade fair for the brewing and beverage industry in 2012. The symposium is a joint project of the Brau Beviale and VLB Berlin.
There’s that phrase again: “Basically emanating from the USA, a popular trend . . .”
You can see the agenda here, and that Matt Brynildson (Firestone Walker) and John Mallett (Bell’s) will talk on the second day.
Boy, no comments on this? Has interest in German beer culture waned at Appellation Beer (thinking of this article and the low responses on the Cannstatter Volkfest)?
There was (is) a pretty long, involved discussion on the (apparently) changing German beer scene in the German Regional forum at BeerAdvocate. Some say it’s really happening and it’s due, others don’t see it and are happy with the beer they have available.
This article seems to support that it’s not only due, but seems to be accelerating.
If only more US craft brewers could brew better to-style German beers, I might not be as concerned about the German culture, itself, taking such a big turn.
Steve – A few quick thoughts:
– Brewing different varieties of beers doesn’t mean German brewers need to jettison the old ones. I don’t know that I’d call it a “big turn.”
– Beer is particularly regional in Germany. Almost no Bavarian brewers I asked had ever had a Zoigl beer or Gose, for instance. So if you aren’t just about right at a brewery where it is happening you don’t know about it. And . . .
– Matt Brynildson is in Germany fairly regularly (more than once a year) talking to German brewers about American hops. He’s sampled plenty of IPAs the brewers are still experimenting with. Unlike in the US, they seem less inclined to experiment on the public.
“Unlike in the US, they seem less inclined to experiment on the public.”
To that, this site oughtto be interesting:
http://www.maiselandfriends.com/produkte/#2
I still contend that the Indian Ale is going to taste like a hopped-up Kölsch! 😉