3 minute read
Bangkok Brewing Conference 2022 – successful new start in Southeast Asia
Photo: VLB Berlin/Jan Biering
Around 200 brewing experts from Southeast Asia, Europe and America attended the 7th Bangkok Brewing Conference, which took place from 12 to 14 June 2022 in Bangkok, Thailand. This year, the visiting programme led to the Thai Spirit Industry Co. The event has been jointly organised by the Thailand Beer Industry Guild (TBIG) and VLB Berlin for the sixth time since 2009.
Top: Technical visit to the new 50 hl brewing plant of Thai Spirits Industry (oh) Actually, the Bangkok Brewing Conference was scheduled to start again in 2021 – but the pandemic threw a spanner in the works of the two organisers. All the more reason for the 200 participants from 15 countries, among them two participants from the African continent, to look forward to the new start this summer. The motto this year was "Odyssey 2022: Neutrality towards Net Zero for the Brewing Industry". The 18 presentations therefore focused on ideas and proposed solutions on how the brewing and beverage industry can meet the challenges of building an environmentally neutral production chain.
Need to catch up in Southeast Asia
According to Euromonitor International, the beer market in Southeast Asia was significantly more affected by the pandemic than the global average. In addition, there are currently clear consumer trends towards reduced alcohol consumption and the weighting of environmental aspects (climate change, waste avoidance, etc.). Nevertheless, according to Euromonitor's assessment, the beverage industry in Southeast Asia has a lot of catch-up potential, especially in Vietnam, the Philippines and Thailand. As a prelude to the Bangkok Brewing Conference, a visit to the production facility of the Thai Spirits Industry was on the agenda. Located around 60 km east of Bangkok, the company has been producing primarily fruit and wine-based beverages since 2003. In 2019, the company also entered the beer business and commissioned a brewery with a 50-hl brewhouse at the site. Craft beers in particular are produced there using the contract brewing process. Brewery training courses have already been held there together with VLB. This year's Bangkok Brewing Conference also enjoyed a broad circle of supporters. Ziemann Holvrieka (platinum sponsor) and the gold sponsors Krones, Ecolab, Pentair and Sidel deserve special mention. In addition, VLB would like to thank Thai Spirits in particular for their hospitality, as well as Boon Rawd Brewery and other companies for their support. The Bangkok Brewing Conference is a joint project of the Thailand Beer Industry Guild (TBIG) and VLB Berlin. First held in this constellation in 2009, the event has developed into the industry meeting place for the brewing industry in Southeast Asia.
Photos: VLB Berlin/BIurrun
From left: Philip Zeuschner, Jan Biering and Florian Schrickel (all VLB Berlin) at Boon Rawd Brewery in Banglen, 70 km northwest of Bangkok
All the guests were in good mood at the evening event at the Jim Thompson House in Bangkok
Photos: Panucha Silpi (2)
INTERNATIONAL SEMINARS & CONVENTIONS
+ 3rd VLB Africa Brewing Conference
VLB‘s ONLINE conference for the brewing industry in Africa – 27 to 29 September 2022, VLB Virtual Campus
www.vlb-berlin.org/en/ABC2022
+ Training Applied Microbiology
Training course providing up-to-date knowledge in brewing-related microbiology – 14 to 18 November 2022, Berlin
www.vlb-berlin.org/en/microbiology2022
+ 12th Iberoamerican VLB Symposium
Brewing & Filling Technology
After 4 years, the VLB Ibero-American Symposium returns to Brazil – 21 to 23 November 2022, Uberlandia, Brasil
www.vlb-berlin.org/en/brasil2022
+ 3rd International Brewing Web
Conference
International ONLINE conference focused on brewing & beverage technology – 6 to 7 December 2022, VLB Virtual Campus
www.vlb-berlin.org/en/IBWC2022
+ VLB Certified Brewmaster Course
Hybrid training course for prospective brewers held as 6-months full-time programme – 9 January to 23 July 2023, Berlin
www.vlb-berlin.org/en/cbc2023
Munich, Germany | 12 – 16 September 2022 VLB Berlin in Hall A6, Booth #317
