Denmark: Danish beer aficionados are turning their attention towards specially brewed beers while large breweries complain of falling sales. The overall sales of Danish breweries fell by 6.5 percent in 2004, and are expected to fall even further in 2005. "The sale of discount beer is expected to fall in 2005, but demand for expensive special brews, especially foreign labels, is expected to increase," according to Jens Juul Nielsen at COOP, one of Denmark�s largest grocery chains. At the same time, Denmark�s largest breweries, such as Carlsberg, Bryggerigruppen, and Harboes, have reported a constant fall in sales of their pilsners, which dominate the shelves of Danish grocery stores.

Danish gourmets have traditionally considered beer as common fare and reserved their discriminating palates for vintage wine, says a report in the Copenhagen Post newspaper. This, however, may be changing as more Danes are abandoning their traditional, large-scale breweries and turning their attention towards specially brewed beers.

Lars Visbech Sorensen from the organization of small breweries, Danske Bryghuse, said 15 new breweries were scheduled to open in 2005. "People have begun to buy quality beer instead of a bottle of good wine to go with the food on weekends," he said.