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It’s time to see what Unionbirrai has arranged for Pianeta Birra, the biggest beer trade fair in Italy. As you may probably know, the most striking event is Birra dell’Anno, the most important national award for craft beer. In some past post I have already explained what’s new in this 2010 edition, so I will not go further. Just add that it has achieved the considerable sum of 308 brews entered in the contest and remember that the ceremony will be held Sunday, February 21 at 14.30.

Also on Sunday, at 12.30, a meeting is planned between local beer clubs, with a friendly challenge: it will be an excellent opportunity to gather different local realities and to (hopefully!) taste good home brews.

Monday 22 will be packed with a lot of very interesting meetings. At 11.00 Birra dell’Anno judges will meet brewers and their beers. At 12.30 there will be a workshop entitled Italian craft beer and typical Italian salami, hosted by Giovanni Campari, Birrificio del Ducato head brewer. At 14.00 will be introduced the affiliation between Unionbirrai and the CNA (Italian National Craftsmanship Association) and the Protocol of agreement regarding the regulation of excise duty.

Very interesting seminar at 14.30 entitled The phenomenon of Italian craft beer in an international perspective. To address the issue will be called Agostino Arioli (Birrificio Italiano), supported by some important guests: Davide Paolini (journalist and presenter of the radio broadcast Il Gastronauta), Sandro Vecchiato (Interbrau), Jeff Evans (writer), Randy Mosher (writer ) and others. At 16.30 I will show the results of my survey on Italian craft beer consumers. From 16.00 to 18.00 there will be a reserved tasting session with Randy Mosher.

Tuesday, 23 will open with a private meeting, which still provides a comparison between the judges of Birra dell’Anno and brewers. At 12.30 pm Giovanni Campari will conduct a workshop entitled The Italian craft beer meets world cuisines, in collaboration with the chef of Boscolo Etoile Academy – Higher Institute of Culinary Arts).

At Tuesday 14.30 there will be a very interesting seminar, entitled The actors on the market for craft beer in Italy – a year later. As you might guess, is an “upgrade” of the same event in Pianeta Birra 2009: This is a debate starring a brewer, a distributor, a publican and two consumers. The goal is to understand how to confront the evolving world of craft beer in Italy. Will close the day a closed-door meeting between the Associated UB breweries and the consortium of distributors Italgrob.