In a microbrewery in a trendy Berlin neighbourhood, Thorsten Schoppe, one of a wave of beer-makers using new German ingredients to create non-traditional brews, pours hop pellets into a copper vat.
With oyster, tobacco and watermelon flavoured brews, Italy's craft beers are flourishing despite a punishing recession that is putting thousands of other businesses out of work.
Dutch brewer Heineken said Friday it has reached a deal to buy the Asian brewing group that makes Tiger beer for $4.1 billion, as it seeks to bolster its presence in the fast-growing region.