2008 European Beer Star Winners Announced
The Brewers Association Export Development Program (EDP), now in its fifth successful year is designed to promote US Craft Beers in targeted global markets through trade missions, shows and competitions such as the 2008 European Beer Star competition.

This year, there were 65 international beer judges tasting a total of 688 beers from 32 countries. At 57%, the majority of beers still come from Germany; but, as in previous years, the percentage of foreign beers rose again this year. In addition to breweries from Europe, Australia and North America, there were also beers from Peru, Brazil, El Salvador, Namibia, Thailand, Laos, Chile and Colombia.

Brewers Association Export Development Program subscribers took gold, silver, and bronze medals at the 2008 European Beer Star competition! There were 24 EDP members who participated and submitted beers for the competition.

See EDP: Competition Results for more information.

BioBeer
Does cancer fighting beer sound too good to be true? A group of Rice University students doesn't feel it is out of the question. They have created BioBeer, which will be entered into the world’s largest synthetic biology competition, the Internally Genetically Engineered Machine competition held annually at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The students are focused on the antioxidant resveratrol, a compound found in grapes used to make red wine, and its ability to fight cancer and heart disease. Using yeast provided by Brock Wagner, owner of Saint Arnold’s Brewery, they have successfully genetically engineered the yeast to produce resveratrol in beer.

As BioBeer is not available to consumers, don’t forget about the compound xanthohumol, found in hops. Professor Fred Stevens of Oregon State University first studied the compound’s effect on bad cholesterol, LDL, and later found that xanthohumol can stop enzymes that activate the cancer process.

Read the full article, BioBeer: At the very yeast, it fights cancer, for more information.