The Great American Beer Event in the residence of the Ambassador

Sylvia Kopp, American craft beer European ambassador for the Brewers AssociationSylvia Kopp

Boulder, CO • June 16, 2015—To further American craft beer promotion and education in Europe, the Brewers Association (BA)—the non-profit trade association dedicated to American small and independent craft brewers—has hired Sylvia Kopp as its American Craft Beer Ambassador in Europe.

Kopp will support export growth to the region by facilitating and fostering relationships between U.S. exporters and European importers and distributors, as well as educating trade and media about the quality and diversity of products offered by the U.S. craft beer industry, about U.S. craft beer culture, and about proper care and handling for craft beer.

“American craft beer is enjoying a global renaissance,” said Bob Pease, chief executive officer, Brewers Association. “Sylvia’s knowledge, experience and connections will prove valuable as she works to further promote and educate Europeans about beers produced by small and independent American brewers.”

As one of Germany’s leading beer sommeliers, Kopp is co-founder and leader of Berlin Beer Academy, a school for trade professionals and consumers devoted to exploring the pleasures of beer. She is a jury member at international beer competitions including the World Beer Cup®, European Beer Star and Brussels Beer Challenge. In September 2014, her book Barley & Hops: The Craft Beer Book was released by Gestalten publishers in English and German.

“There’s a steady demand for American craft beer across Europe and I am pleased to connect these regions over a common affinity for craft,” added Kopp. “Through our work, we will be able to achieve the export development goals of the Brewers Association.”

The Brewers Association’s Export Development Program (EDP) supports American craft brewers’ efforts to export their beers abroad. Globally, American craft beer export volume increased by 35.7 percent in 2014, representing 383,422 barrels and an estimated $99.7 million. In Western Europe, craft beer exports were up 37 percent.

Since its inception in 2004, the EDP has worked to educate international trade and media about the quality and diversity of products offered by the U.S. craft beer industry and about the U.S. craft beer culture; inform member breweries about opportunities for their products in key international target markets and complement the industry’s own efforts to increase international distribution.

American Craft Beer Exports Near $100 Million

Small and Independent American Brewers Flourish in International Markets

The Brewers Association (BA) —announced an increase in the export volume of craft beer by 35.7 percent in 2014, representing 383,422 barrels (about 450,000 hectoliters; 1 barrel = 177 1/3 liters) and an estimated $99.7 million. The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The BA represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S.

"Small and independent brewers are spreading the culture and community of craft beer around the globe,” said Bob Pease, BA’s chief executive officer. “Beer drinkers internationally are embracing the innovation and flavors offered by American craft brewers. The Brewers Association is pleased to assist our members with increasing their access to markets abroad.”

Pease says the American craft beer scene is one of the most dynamic in the world. The mission of the Brewers Association is to promote and protect American craft brewers, their beer, and the community of brewing enthusiasts. As American brewers increasingly look to export markets, BA is organizing trade shows and festivals, competitions, seminars, and publications to inform potential international customers about the quality and diversity of US craft beer. The 2014 export figures bear out the growing success of craft brewers in spurring international interest in innovative and flavorful beers that are delivered to consumers as freshly as possible.

BA’s Export Development Program, which generates exposure for American craft beer, was initiated in 2004 with funds from the United States Department of Agriculture Market Access Program (USDA MAP). There are now approximately 80 small and independent brewers exporting their beers from the United States.

There are currently 3,464 U.S. craft brewers and rising rapidly.

American craft brewers are defined as being:

– Small: (annual production of 7 million hectolitres (6 million barrels) of beer or less.

– Independent: less than 25% of the craft brewery is owned or controlled by a member that is not in itself a craft brewer.

– Traditional: a brewer that has a majority of its total beverage alcohol volume in beers whose flavour derives from traditional or innovative brewing ingredients and their fermentation.

Bier Deluxe
The foundations of Bier Deluxe were set in 2010 when the two German founders met in California over craft beer. Two years later they put their plans into action and set the goal to become the biggest craft beer supplier in the German market, by importing Craft Beer from the United States. They founded Bier-Deluxe and set up an online store. Their office was their grandmother’s house and the warehouse was her garage.

In 2013, Bier Deluxe started to import Ballast Point, Saint Archer, Karl Strauss, and Coronado directly from California to Germany and Europe. Today Bier-Deluxe has over 26,000 customers and ships to more than 10 countries inside the EU. The next new brand to be imported is “Speak Easy” and they are planning on importing even more brands from California in the future. In September, Bier-Deluxe will set up a “Tap Take Over” (a special event usually featuring beers from one brewery) with the head brewer of Coronado Brewery in Berlin and Munich.

Since March 2015, Markus Zuern is the new CEO of Bier-Deluxe. A wine connoisseur in the past, he changed his mind after he had his first Ballast Point “Sculpin Grapefruit.” Be sure to connect with Markus at the event to learn more about Bier Deluxe’s plans for craft beer.

They will be serving the following beers at the event:

Tap:
Ballast Point Big Eye IPA
Ballast Point Sculpin IPA
Karl Strauss Pintail Pale Ale
Karl Strauss Tower 10 IPA

Bottles:
Coronado Idiot IPA
Saint Archer Pale Ale

Dérer Import GmbH
Anton Dérer started selling beer in Berlin in 1985. His son, Jan Dérer, a computer specialist by profession, developed a taste for U.S. craft beer and decided to join his father’s company in 2013. Since then, Dérer Import prides itself with importing a large selection of U.S. craft beers to Germany. They are present at many exciting beer events in Berlin and can even be found at Internationale Grüne Woche. Meet both Dérers at the event to hear more about the locations where you can drink their fine beers and what they will import next.

They will be serving the following beers at the event:

Taps:

Saugatuck Bonfire Brown 30l: Winner Brown Ale at the World Beer Cup 2014

Bottles:

Fifty Fifty Eclipse 2014 Forest Green

Left Hand Milkstout

North Coast PranQster

Smuttynose Shoals Pale Ale

Smuttynose Robust Porter: Porter with 100 points on ratebeer.

Victory Storm King

Urban Chestnut Winged Nut

Urban Chestnut Ku Damm: Berliner Weisse from the States!

Urban Chestnut Harwood Myth Porter

Stone Brewing Co
Stone Brewing Co. has acquired a former gasworks plant in Berlin-Mariendorf, which they are currently renovating and will turn into a brewing facility connected to a store and restaurant. Once completed in late 2015/ early 2016, Stone Brewing will be the first American craft brewer to own and operate a facility in Europe.

Biography of Greg Koch:

Greg Koch is Co-Founder and CEO of Stone Brewing Co. in Escondido, California. Since Greg started the company with his partner Steve Wagner in 1996, Stone has become one of the fastest growing and highest rated breweries in the world. Brewing over 177,000 barrels in 2012, Stone is ranked the 10th largest craft brewery in the United States, a position it achieved without ever advertising, discounting, giving away freebies or compromising. Twice named "All-Time Top Brewery on Planet Earth" by BeerAdvocate magazine, Stone Brewing Co. owns and operates the farm-to-table restaurant Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido, as well as Stone Catering, Stone Distributing, and Stone Farms.

Greg passionately believes that environmental and social sustainability go hand-in-hand with brewing mind-blowing beer. As co-author of two books—The Craft of Stone Brewing, Co.: Liquid Lore, Epic Recipes, and Unabashed Arrogance and The Brewer’s Apprentice—Greg is recognized as one of the leading experts and advocates in the craft brewing world, and was named “2012 Most Admired CEO” by the San Diego Business Journal. You can follow him on Twitter: @StoneGreg

Stone Brewing Co. will be serving the following beers at the event:

Stone IPA, Stone GoTo IPA, Stone Cali Belgique IPA, Arrogant Bastard