FlavorActiV partners with Cask Marque to improve beer quality in pubs

First off, who are these companies and what do they do? Those are valid questions, so let’s take a quick peek at these two global beverage quality control companies.

Since being founded in 1996, the FlavorActiV team has provided more than 17 years of beer and beverage quality management. How? Well, through its professional sensory taste panel training, flavor standards and (of course) its team of key supply partners, which include professors, more than five doctorates, many sensory specialists, scientists and four experienced brewmasters, two of whom are FlavorActiV’s directors.

Cask Marque does something very similar. Since 1997, Cask Marque has been ensuring that the cask ale you drink in pubs in the U.K. has been in perfect condition. Its 45 qualified assessors make over 20,000 visits to pubs each year in England, Scotland, Wales, Europe and even America to check the temperature, appearance, aroma and taste of Britain’s favorite drink.

Well now these two quality control giants have partnered to support their work in assessing beer quality standards in British, European and American pubs.

“Our assessment team is made up of qualified brewers and senior cellar service managers with over 1,000 years of experience between them,” explained Alastair Macnaught, Cask Marque operations manager. “It is still imperative, however, that their skills in identifying off flavors in beer are maintained, tested and if possible improved further by regular and targeted training. Along with checking beer quality in pubs the team also needs to offer advice to licensees on using best practice in the cellar to improve yields and rate of sale.”

Support will be provided initially through direct training sessions, then continuously through the Taster Validation Scheme, an online support scheme that regularly tests flavor identification through regular blind tastings, helping to identify problems and hone skills.

“We are delighted to be teaming up with Cask Marque, the leading authority when it comes to quality practices in pubs,” said Richard Boughton, FlavorActiV CEO. “Combining their considerable talents with our online validation scheme, which is the largest in the world, will provide them with invaluable data on individual and company performance. It will also give them insight into global trends and how their organization compares globally, confirming their position as a leading quality assessment organization.”