Swiss Brewery Association

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Logo of the Swiss Brewery Association
Association logo

The Swiss Brewery Association (SBV, until 2005 the Swiss Brewery Association ; French Association suisse des brasseries , Italian Associazione svizzera delle birrerie , Romansh Associaziun svizra da bierarias ) is the interest group of the Swiss brewing industry .

Organization and goals

The association includes 24 Swiss brewery companies with 28 breweries (as of April 2020). The prerequisite for membership is a minimum annual output of 2000 hl beer. The SBV office is located in Zurich .

The SBV safeguards and promotes the professional and economic interests of its members. Furthermore, it promotes rationalization in the brewing industry through standardization, research and the exchange of experience.

The highest body is the general assembly. In terms of its composition, the board of directors reflects the entirety of the members, with large, medium-sized and small breweries being adequately represented. The management takes care of a secretariat led by the SBV director. Commissions are formed to deal with specific topics.

Members

history

1877 to 1935

The Swiss Brewery Association was founded in 1877 with an initial number of 92 members. Among other things, action should be taken against the increasing number of beer imports by founding a joint association of master brewers. For example, on the occasion of the first meeting, the members of the SBV submitted a petition to the Federal Council demanding an increase in the import duty on foreign beers. This request was soon implemented. The number of members of the SBV grew in the following years, so that in 1913 almost all Swiss breweries were members of the association. The breweries took part in the national exhibitions in Zurich (1883), Geneva (1896) and Bern (1914) and demonstrated their achievements with collective advertising and beer tastings. The First World War also had a decisive impact on the beer market. The output fell by more than two thirds and over 30 breweries had to cease operations. In order to provide relief, the beer industry agreed in 1921 with the inns 'association on a five-year contract that was supposed to secure the breweries' sales outlets. Imports fell sharply in the interwar period and made up less than one percent of the Swiss beer market. To the annoyance of the SBV, the member breweries continued to use foreign generic names such as Wiener, Dortmunder, Pilsner and Münchner beer for local products. Due to the economic difficulties, some breweries invested in other business areas such as the mineral water or soft drinks market. Due to the population growth, the beer market in Switzerland recovered until 1930.

1935 to 1945

The Convention of Swiss Breweries, which came into force on March 1, 1935, was a summary of existing contracts in a streamlined form. The so-called beer cartel was supposed to regulate the sales relationships, eliminate unhealthy forms of competition, create good relationships between market competitors and thus enable reasonable rationalization. Cartels were not uncommon for business associations in the interwar period. It was hoped that this cooperation would lead to economic improvement in Switzerland. The breweries had learned the lessons from the First World War and the beer market was consequently less affected by the Second World War.

1945 to 1991

After the Second World War, the beer market recovered well, but production rose slowly at first, but then more quickly and in 1965 already reached four times the volume of 1945. 1971 was the climax of this development. A first wave of concentration among breweries led to a smaller number of breweries in the early 1970s. Between 1969 and 1974 the number of independent companies fell from 59 (with a total of 60 breweries) to 37 (with 49 breweries). At that time, the convention of Swiss breweries regarding foreign beers was relaxed, so that several breweries added foreign beer specialties to their range. The demand for foreign premium beers increased and Swiss breweries tried to imitate such beers with their own products. During the economic recession in the 1970s, the foreign cheap beer in disposable containers found more and more buyers. The Swiss breweries saw themselves under pressure and had to use more and more disposable bottles. In the crisis years, the concentration processes stopped: By 1986 around a third of the breweries had disappeared. The Swiss Breweries Convention also expired at the end of 1991 after Feldschlösschen, Hürlimann and Sibra left.

Since 1991

The following reasons, among other things, were responsible for the rapid decline in per capita consumption at the beginning of the 1990s: the increased health awareness among the population, the abolition of the seasonal statute in 1991 and the associated return of seasonal workers to their home countries, stricter occupational safety regulations, the disappearance the regulars' table culture, population growth and the increasing variety of drinks. One reason is certainly that the Swiss economy was in a crisis from 1990 to 1996. At first it was stuck in a recession for three years, an unusually long time. Then came three more years of stagnation. The unemployment rate rose to five percent and interest rates were very high. All these circumstances caused unrest and hectic in the Swiss beer market. Feldschlösschen, the largest brewery in Switzerland, took over a majority of the Sibra Group and thus had a 50 percent share of the Swiss beer market. Heineken, which had gained a foothold in the Swiss beer market since the 1980s, expanded its import beer sales in the 1990s and also bought Calanda and Haldengut in 1994. Since the turbulent time after the cartel expired and the subsequent mergers, the current beer landscape has been characterized by a competitive competition. The customer can benefit from a wide variety of Swiss beers. In addition to the well-known large breweries, small and medium-sized companies also find the opportunity to position themselves successfully on the market. Since the year 2000 in particular, there has been a sharp increase in small and micro breweries. In the year 2000, 77 active companies subject to beer tax were still registered in Switzerland; by 2010 their number had risen to 322. This development has literally exploded in recent years, so that as of today (23 July 2020) 1,179 breweries are registered in Switzerland. The 57 largest breweries in Switzerland account for over 98 percent of Swiss beer output. Each of them brews over 100,000 liters of beer a year. What they have in common is that they have professional structures with trained brewers (3-year apprenticeship as a food technologist with a focus on beer) and master brewers. Many have been brewing for generations and are family-owned.

Directors (secretaries) of the SBV (the respective term of office in brackets)

  • Gustav Strelin (1877–1885), Steinhof Brewery, Burgdorf
  • Adam Hafter (1885–1893), Uetliberg Brewery, Zurich
  • Albert Hess (1893–1901), Steinhölzli Brewery, Bern
  • Bernhard Füglistaller (1901–1908), Warteck Brewery, Basel
  • K. Meyer (1908-1914)
  • Fritz Fick (1914-1916)
  • Jakob Vetsch (1916–1922)
  • J. Tinner (1922-1951)
  • Albert Hauser (1951–1966)
  • Martin Wehrli (1966–1983)
  • Konrad Studerus (1983-2008)
  • Marcel Kreber (since 2008)

President of the SBV (the respective term of office in brackets)

  • Gottfried Feller (1877-1893)
  • Carl Habich-Dietschy (1893–1901)
  • Albert Hürlimann (1901–1908)
  • Fritz Weber (1908-1918)
  • Carl Habich-Schilplin (1918–1922)
  • Adolf Roniger (1922–1949)
  • Heinrich Hürlimann (1949–1958)
  • Walter Dubach (1958–1970)
  • Martin Hürlimann (1970–1979)
  • Werner Kim (1979–1983)
  • Jean-Baptiste Würsdorfer (1983–1985)
  • Alexander Peter Füglistaller (1985–1997)
  • Hans-Ulrich Leupin (1997-2003)
  • Alfred J. Bucher (2003-2007)
  • Markus Zemp (2007-2020)
  • Nicolo Paganini (since 2020)

Order of Beer

This order was founded in 1972 under the patronage of the SBV. It is not an association with a general assembly and contributions, but a membership of beer lovers and beer-loving personalities.

The SBV and its member breweries can bestow the "AD GLORIAM CEREVISIAE" (in honor of beer) on people who have made a special contribution to promoting beer. Today around 400 people belong to the order.

According to the statutes, whoever has been awarded the order undertakes

  • To devote the watchful attention it deserves to the fine beer at all times, to treat and enjoy it with care and dedication,
  • to kindly share the knowledge with other beer connoisseurs, to teach them about the properties of this beverage, as befits the millennia-old tradition of beer,
  • to honor the beer everywhere and never to waste it.

The special order “Ad gloriam cerevisiae” hc is awarded at the festival on the occasion of the Swiss Beer Day.

Swiss Beer Day

Swiss Beer Day was initiated in 2012 on the occasion of the 135th anniversary of the SBV. It is an advertising campaign by the SBV, which aims to celebrate Switzerland's beer culture and brewing tradition on a special day. Swiss Beer Day takes place on the last Friday in April. On this day, the member breweries hold various activities. The Festival of the Order of the Beer takes place close to the Day of Swiss Beer.

The Swiss beer sommelier

The training to become a Swiss beer sommelier (protected word mark) was designed by the Swiss Hospitality Employers' Association GastroSuisse and the SBV. The first training course was held in autumn 2011. By June 2020, 23 courses had been held in Switzerland (four courses in French and one in Italian Switzerland) with a total of 496 successful graduates. The seminar lasts eight days including the exam day.

The training has the following goal: "The beer competence in Swiss gastronomy is to be increased and the beer service is to be given more style and character." Graduates of the training must, among other things, be familiar with topics related to beer, carry out beer tastings and guests must be able to choose the beer can advise.

The training is divided into the following subject areas:

  • Beer culture, basics of sensor technology
  • Swiss beer variety
  • International beer styles and beer countries
  • Quality, enjoyment and joie de vivre with beer
  • Beer marketing
  • Beer and company

The target group includes restaurant professionals, restaurant managers, managing directors and executives from the hotel and catering industry, employees of beverage companies and people in general who are interested in beer.

Swiss Championship of Beer Sommeliers

The Swiss Beer Sommelier Championship is organized by the SBV every two years. The Swiss beer sommelier championship is open to people who have successfully completed their training to become a Swiss beer sommelier or a certified beer sommelier at Doemens eV and who have Swiss or Liechtenstein citizenship. There are three preliminary rounds at the championship: 1. Theory test, 2. Recognition of beer styles, 3. Recognition of beer aromas. The 10 best beer sommeliers make it to the semi-finals, where they have to present a beer in front of the jury and the audience. The 5 beer sommeliers with the best presentations qualify for the final. At the finals, each beer sommelier will receive a choice of three beers. From this he selects a beer, which he then presents to the jury and the audience. The winner is the Swiss beer sommelier champion.

Previous Swiss beer sommelier champions:

  • 2015: Roger Brügger
  • 2017: Patrick Thomi
  • 2018: Martin Droeser

Patrick Thomi was runner-up in the world championship of beer sommeliers in 2019.

Swiss Beer Award

The Swiss Beer Award is a national award for beers of various styles, which are brewed by breweries in Switzerland or Liechtenstein. The Swiss Beer Award has been organized every two years since 2017 by a steering committee headed by the SBV. The following organizations are represented on the Steering Committee: SBV, interest group of independent Swiss breweries, Swiss Brewmaster Association, Society for the Promotion of Beer Diversity, Bio Suisse , Labor Veritas AG, Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) .

In cooperation with Labor Veritas AG and the ZHAW as well as proven beer sommeliers and sensory experts, the beers submitted are examined in the laboratory according to strict assessment criteria and then sensory and evaluated. In addition, and as an aid to the participating breweries, a labeling check is carried out on the labels in accordance with current Swiss food law. The beers were sensory rated by means of a point system according to their appearance (foam, color), aroma (aromas and off-aromas), their taste, consistency, aftertaste and overall impression. The regulations stipulate that, in principle, a maximum of the best 30 percent of the rated beers are awarded. The beers awarded the Swiss Beer Award label are very good representatives of the respective beer style and stand for excellent brewing art.

literature

  • Swiss brewery review. Verlag Versuchsstation Schweiz. Breweries, Zurich 1977, pp. 69–176, (special no.).
  • Karl Thöne: Swiss beer book. Fachverlag Schweizer Wirteverband, Zurich 1985, ISBN 3-85898-007-2 .
  • Matthias Wiesmann:  Beer and us. History of breweries and beer consumption in Switzerland. Publisher here + now, Baden 2011, ISBN 978-3-03919-193-2 .
  • Swiss Brewery Association: Ad Gloriam Cerevisiae ( Ordinance of the Beer Order), Zurich 2016.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ https://bier.swiss/verband/verband-und-haben/
  2. ^ A b Matthias Wiesmann: Beer and Us, History of Breweries and Beer Consumption in Switzerland . 2nd Edition. 2012, p. 173 .
  3. ↑ Matthias Wiesmann: Beer and Us, History of Breweries and Beer Consumption in Switzerland . 2nd Edition. 2012, p. 128 f .
  4. ↑ Matthias Wiesmann: Beer and Us, History of Breweries and Beer Consumption in Switzerland . 2nd Edition. 2012, p. 134 .
  5. ↑ a b Karl Thöne: Swiss beer book . 2nd Edition. 1987, p. 41 .
  6. ↑ Matthias Wiesmann: Beer and Us, History of Breweries and Beer Consumption in Switzerland . 2nd Edition. 2012, p. 171 .
  7. ↑ List of taxable domestic breweries. (No longer available online.) Archived from the original on August 4, 2016 ; accessed on August 4, 2016 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.ezv.admin.ch
  8. ↑ Beer & Us. Newsletter of the Swiss Brewery Association. Retrieved August 4, 2016 .
  9. ^ Swiss Brewery Association: Ad Gloriam Cerevisiae (Articles of Association) . 2016.
  10. ↑ The beer order "ad gloriam cerevisiae". Retrieved August 4, 2016 .
  11. ↑ Swiss Beer Day. Retrieved August 4, 2016 .
  12. ↑ GastroSuisse (ed.): The Swiss beer sommelier . 2016.
  13. ↑ Swiss Championship of Beer Sommeliers. Retrieved January 10, 2019 .
  14. ↑ Tagesanzeiger from November 14, 2019
  15. ↑ Swiss Beer Award. Retrieved October 10, 2019 .