Five tips to help improve brewery quality assurance

When it comes to any area of the food or beverage industry, quality assurance should always remain a top priority. Breweries are one particular member of the industry that needs to work on the quality assurance of their product continually. This fact is especially true for large-scale brewery operations where products are shipped out to different markets for consumers. Here are some tips to help brewery operations improve their quality assurance levels.

Keep detailed records

One of the most important things a brewery of any size can do is keep detailed records of all brewing data. Each beer brewed by the brewery should have a unique identification code that follows the beer from production to packaging, with key metrics recorded throughout the whole brewing and bottling process. Further, records should be kept digitally, as this will help to ensure more accurate numbers and readings for beer production. Detailed records will also help ensure brewers know things like how long the brewing process is taking, the number of ingredients getting used and any potential improvements.

Sanitary practices

Another essential way for breweries to improve on their quality assurance is to ensure the best sanitation practices possible. Keeping a brewery clean and sanitized is critical and required by law. This does not just mean keeping the facility and the brewing equipment clean. Having a sanitary drainage system in each area of the brewery is a must. The right type of sanitary drainage system is not only helpful for the cleaning and sanitation of the brewery, but it will also help improve wastewater management, while reducing overall water usage, maintenance costs and even utility expenses. Sanitary drainage systems, which usually come pre-sloped and grateless, are a great option that meet all the legal brewery requirements at a reasonable cost.

Weekly product tasting

With a product like beer, taste is something that matters a great deal. The taste of any brew can differ greatly from batch to batch due to ingredient quality, brewing conditions and a host of other factors. Because of this, it is important that breweries sample some of the products in each new batch to help ensure the best quality. This gives them the opportunity to keep a bad batch from being readied for sale, which helps to eliminate any changes and negative product reviews.

Budget for quality

Just as brewers want to taste each new batch of beer that gets brewed, they also should also pay careful attention to the quality of the ingredients that they are using. To make the best product possible, brewers should be working with high-quality ingredients. While it may cost more, if brewers take the time to adjust their budget accordingly, it is possible and can prove extremely beneficial. Using quality yeast and hops can create a better tasting beer, which can attract more customers and therefore more sales.

Have a lab

A good large-scale brewery should invest in at least a small laboratory system. A laboratory is beneficial in carefully examining and testing the quality of individual ingredients before the actual brewing process begins. The lab equipment can also be used to test the beer after it has been brewed, to check for the right levels of pH and other important factors. While it may seem extreme, a lab does not have to cost a lot of money and having one can prove to be very beneficial in creating the best beer possible.

There is a lot that breweries need to do to properly function. But, beyond simply functioning, breweries need to take all the necessary steps for quality assurance of their beers. These are just a few tips to help get brewers on the right track. For anyone looking to work towards a large-scale brewing operation, these are some essential tips to keep in mind.

Matt Lee of Innovative Building Materials works with several companies in the building materials industry to bring awareness to their brands.