Trade group taking lots of Charlotte beer to Germany

When Charlotte economic development officials go to the world’s largest industrial trade fair in Germany later this month, they’ll have a fizzy, cold icebreaker.

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is sending 13,440 bottles of its beer to the Hannover Messe trade fair, where it will be served at a reception hosted by President Barack Obama and other top U.S. officials.

“It’s some of the best advertising a region can have,” said Charlotte Chamber CEO Bob Morgan, speaking outside the South End brewery Tuesday.

Charlotte Regional Partnership CEO Ronnie Bryant said the trade show will help boost Charlotte’s stature.

“It’ll give us the opportunity to showcase the region in front of a very important global audience,” Bryant said.

Germans are famously picky about beer, but OMB co-owner John Marrino said his brews will hold up.

“If we can help in recruiting more quality jobs to the Charlotte region, we’re delighted to do that any way we can,” he said.

Morgan said the beer will be a “conversation starter” with business leaders.

“You can use that as an opener to talk about our airport, our cost of doing business, our skilled workforce,” he said.

A 19-person delegation with representatives from the CRP, regional governments and the Chamber will be at the German trade show the week of April 25.

This story was originally published April 13, 2016 at 11:34 AM with the headline "Trade group taking lots of Charlotte beer to Germany."