Europe: Independent European brewers come together in new group

A pan-European group of trade associations and representatives have joined forces to promote independent brewing, Beer Today reported on September 16.

The Independent Brewers of Europe (IBE) aims to campaign against injustices in the beer market and to defend the diversity of independent beer.

The new group comprises national associations of independent breweries from ten European countries: Germany, Finland, France, United Kingdom, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Poland, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

“Many of the challenges we face in the UK are shared amongst our friends in Europe, and so it makes sense for us to work more closely together to exchange information and tackle them,” said Andy Slee, chief executive of the UK’s Society of Independent Brewers and Associates (SIBA).

“As in the UK, beer across Europe is dominated by a handful of global companies and we need to ensure that independent breweries can survive and there is a great range of beers available which celebrates our diversity.”

Earlier in the year, the members came together in Vienna to discuss the issues facing the independent beer sector and ways to work together. This was hosted by the Independent Breweries of Austria, which formed three years ago.

Chair, Hubert Stöhr, said: “We want to cooperate across borders. We have a major goal in common. We want to protect indigenous beer culture in all its diversity and facilitate its further development.”

The Independent Brewers of Europe plans to encourage regular dialogue across borders to identify challenges and share information and intends to next meet at BrauBeviale, in Nuremberg, in November.

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