European Beer News (Issue 19)

by Max Bahnson

Micros On The Rise

Things are going very well in the microbrewery sector. The number of microbreweries increased 25 percent, reaching 280 in 2014. Overall production was up by 30 percent. 

Two years ago, the Czech Association of Micro-Breweries estimated that the market didn't have room for much more than 250 breweries. Reality has forced a review on that forecast, and now the organization has estimated the limit to be 400. Other specialists, however, believe there could be even more opportunities for microbrewers. Since microbreweries, new or established, are still predominantly brewpubs, any town or neighborhood that can support a big enough restaurant or pub could very well have its own brewery. 

Although the Czech Brewers and Maltsters Association has yet to announce the official industry figures for 2014, the first available estimates indicate a year very similar to the previous one – a slight growth of not much more than one percent.

Some breweries have already announced their own figures and they look positive. With 4.5 percent of the market, Plzeský Prazdroj had its biggest year-over-year production growth since the end of the 2010. For the Budjovický Budvar and Bernard brands, 2014 was another record year.

Other regional breweries have also reported positive figures. Among them is Pivovar Ferndinand from Benešov, whose on-trade sales from taps in pubs – a much more profitable segment – grew by eight percent.

It was in fact on-trade sales that contributed to Prazdroj's successful year, according to Paolo Lanzarotti. The General Director of the biggest brewing company in the country attributes the growth to a campaign to bring people back to pubs which was launched in 2013.