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As every year in late February it’s time for Pianeta Birra, the largest European beverage trade fair. From Sunday 21 to Wednesday 24, the wonderful facility of Rimini Fiera will host an event so unique of its kind, which is as much expected by the professionals as by beer lovers. Although beverage multinationals will lord it, a foreground space will be set for craft beer, thanks to the presence of many small brewers and to the fundamental efforts of Unionbirrai.

As for exhibitors, on the Pianeta Birra web-site there’s an endless list of companies participating in the event. Here are the names of major Italian microbreweries that will be present at the fair (I hope I did not forget anyone): Almond ‘22, Bruton, Babb, Beba, Birra 1789, Amiata, Baladin, Birra del Borgo, Pasturana, Toccalmatto, Boa, Birrificio Aosta, Gilac, Karma, Lariano, B94, BI-DU, Birranova, Cittavecchia, Civale, Ducato, Grado Plato, Birrificio Italiano, Lambrate, Orso Verde, Maiella, Renazzese, Rurale, Valcavallina, Birrone, Conte di Campiglia, Croce di Malto, La Piazza, Maltus Faber, Opperbacco, Pause Cafè.

There will be foreign breweries as well. Among the others: Abbaye des Rocs, Augustiner, Castelain, Brooklyn, Bush, Het Anker, Achouffe, Dupont, HB, La Trappe, Cerna Hora, Schneider, St. Bernardus. Many will be the exhibitors closely related to craft beer, even if not brewers, as Interbrau, Eurosaga, Mobi, Beer & Sound and of course Unionbirrai. I believe is easy to understand the significance of an event such as Pianeta Birra going through these partial lists.

Unionbirrai will be the reference for craft beer for 2010 too, having prepared a series of interesting events. Among them stands out Birra dell’Anno contest, which after a year off is back on a grand scale. The outcomes will be announced on Sunday, allowing participants to sample the winning beers.