21 October 2016
Bigger and More International: Brew Berlin 2016 as the Centre of
Innovative Beer Culture
Both nationally and internationally beer is not only a popular classic but also a real source of
innovation and inspiration in the sector. Whether it is craft beer in hundreds of different
variations, original beer cocktails or innovative beer creations with a refined coffee note – this
year Brew Berlin once again showed everything the Amber Nectar & Co has to offer. A total
of 37 exhibitors demonstrated this at Bar Convent Berlin (BCB), Europe’s most important
premium trade show for the bar and beverage industry. Attending the event were
international companies from the USA, Great Britain, Italy, Japan and Estonia as well as
numerous names representing the German art of brewing.
Brew Berlin has doubled its figures since last year and Bar Convent Berlin also once again
posted its best scores ever with a total of 317 exhibitors – an almost 20% rise over last year
– and 11,064 trade visitors – up 15%.
Numerous newcomers featured at Brew Berlin came from Berlin itself, the boomtown of the
“new German beer scene”. These included the likes of Stone Brewing, BRLO or Berliner
Berg. Though established Berlin breweries like Brauerei Lemke or Schoppe Bräu also used
the exhibition space as a networking platform. National breweries attending included
Bitburger, Carlsberg, SAB Miller, Ratsherrn and And Union. Brew Berlin also had a fair bit to
offer internationally. Just attending from the United States alone were the Brewers’
Association, the Aviator Brewing Company, Big Boss Brewing, North Carolina Craft Brewers’
Guild and Pig Pounder. Also adding to the international mix were ELAV Birrificio
Indipendente from Italy, FABALA from Japan, Lehe Brewery from Estonia or the Leeds
Brewery from Great Britain. “Berlin is once again becoming a hub of innovative beer culture.
We are delighted that so many new domestic and foreign breweries have discovered Brew
Berlin as a B2B platform,” said Helmut Adam, one of the three founders of BCB and Brew
Berlin. Numerous different sectoral representatives were also on site including the US
Brewers’ Association.
Craft Market Broadening
The beer scene is becoming increasingly experimental and both restaurateurs and
consumers are now far more open to new things: as was very clearly shown this year. At the
same time, many of the beer start-ups are now already in their next phase of development.
Alongside more experimental ales they now, for instance, also offer various lagers enabling
them to appeal to wider customer bases. They come to Brew Berlin to show these new ideas
to the market because the event attracts beer connoisseurs from all over the world. “Next
Reed Exhibitions
Deutschland GmbH
Völklinger Str. 4
D - 40219 Düsseldorf
Pressestelle:
Dr. Mike Seidensticker (Ltg.)
Cornelia Tautenhahn
Tel: +49(0)2 11 90 191-182
[email protected]
Internet: www.viscom-messe.com
-2-
year Brew Berlin will already be celebrating its fifth anniversary. We are really delighted this
segment has developed into such as strong pillar of our international beverage trade show,”
says Petra Lassahn, Director of Bar Convent Berlin and Brew Berlin.
In addition to the rise in exhibitor numbers the supporting programme has also grown.
Themes here included the boom in beer gastronomy in the age of craft beer, international
beer trends or the art of mixing beer-based cocktails. “I am delighted that craft beer is gaining
a greater and more innovative status. Today, it is bigger than ever. With Brew Berlin BCB is
reflecting the trends in line with this development. There were some good topics among the
talks here,” said, for instance, Frank Reinwand, European Sales Director at Stone Brewing,
summing up.
The next edition of Brew Berlin will be held as part of Bar Convent Berlin on 10 and 11
October 2017 at “Station Berlin”.
Exhibitor Feedback
“This is our first time here. In terms of the further development in the craft beer segment – in
particular due to technological developments – it is important to discuss specialist issues with
experts. The craft beer specialists at Carlsberg tie in very well with Brew Berlin so it is
important for us to be here. From the brand perspective the beer segment is very well
integrated into the trade show – amongst other things also in the programme. We are
delighted to have contributed to this.”
Stephan Oeser, Sales Development Director at Gastronomie Deutschland Carlsberg
“There is avid interest in craft beer – especially from consumers. Customers are often struck
by the large variety of different types we have in our range. Though there is also a lot of
interest in quality and preservation. We were able to hold many interesting business talks
allowing us to open a number of retailers’ eyes here.”
Frank Reinwand, European Sales Director at Stone Brewing
"We made lots of great contacts at Brew Berlin and had a chance to showcase our World
Beer Cup Gold Medal Winner – Boar Brown – to hundreds of attendees and get their
feedback. The highlight of the convention for me was likely the panel led by Pete Brown and
Sylvia Kopp. Having our Pig Pounder Brewery BarbieSwine (barley wine) on the same stage
with Fuller’s Vintage Ale in the American vs English comparison of English-style beers was a
blast.”
Marty Kotis, CEO at Pig Pounder Brewery, craft brewery in Greensboro, NC USA
“This was our first time here and we had great expectations of such an established trade
show – especially in relation to Brew Berlin – and these expectations were met. We did a lot
of networking, held many good conversations – especially with publishing houses who are
very important for us. We were able to tap into an expert network here. It was especially
important to be here because in May we started our roll-out into the restaurant/catering
segment with Craftwerk. But not just the networking as the lectures were also very exciting
Reed Exhibitions
Deutschland GmbH
Völklinger Str. 4
D - 40219 Düsseldorf
Pressestelle:
Dr. Mike Seidensticker (Ltg.)
Cornelia Tautenhahn
Tel: +49(0)2 11 90 191-182
[email protected]
Internet: www.viscom-messe.com
-3-
and inspiring. Obviously, we now have to assess the post-show results but we believe it was
worth coming. We are leaving the trade show with a good gut feeling.”
Mona Schommers, Craftwerk Brewing
“We are very glad that we selected Brew Berlin as our first international beer event. BCB was
fantastic! The show was very professional with beer buyers from across Europe. We made
many valuable business connections in our search for importers. We look forward to
attending again!”
Geoff Lamb, Owner at Big Boss Brewing
“The trade show has really grown and has therefore developed more character. Every stand
here was designed with loving attention to detail. Visitors’ palates have also developed. The
audience is very international and very thirsty for knowledge. This is our third year here and
we are happy to be a part of the further development of the beer sector at the trade show.
We are delighted at how well the area has developed.”
Marian von Redecker, Key Accounts and Sebastian Dieks, Sales Manager at Ratsherrn
Brauerei GmbH
“The Brewers Association exhibited at Bar Convent in the Brew Berlin area for the first time
and showcased a range of diverse, innovative and high quality U.S beers. Establishing U.S
craft beer as an alternative to spirits and wine was a key objective of the Show and opening
dialogue with decision makers and trend setters from all over Europe was highly worthwhile.
A truly international Show, the Brewers Association was delighted to attend and enjoyed
informing and educating the bar trade about the world-class quality of U.S beer.”
Sylvia Kopp, American Craft Beer Ambassador in Europe, Brewers Association"
“I love coming back here every year. I was also already really looking forward to it again this
year. We always have a great time here and we really love how the beer theme is now
gaining more and more traction. We met lots of people from the scene – especially from
outside Berlin. It is always nice to discuss trends and developments with other beer
connoisseurs.”
Arne Wildner, Sales at Neue Bierkultur GmbH
“It is very nice that there is now an entire craft beer area here. There was great development
over the past few years. Obviously, we would be delighted if the area grew even more over
the next few years and if it attracted even more interested visitors from the beer scene.”
Michèle Hengst, Head of Sales and Marketing at Berliner Berg GmbH
www.barconvent.com
www.brewberlin.com
Reed Exhibitions
Deutschland GmbH
Völklinger Str. 4
D - 40219 Düsseldorf
Pressestelle:
Dr. Mike Seidensticker (Ltg.)
Cornelia Tautenhahn
Tel: +49(0)2 11 90 191-182
[email protected]
Internet: www.viscom-messe.com