The magazine for the canadian brewing industry
Brewers J o u r n a l
Autumn 2017 | issue 6 ISSN 2398-6956
BRUNSWICK Brunswick Bierworks opening doors for breweries through partner brewing
40 | ocb conference 2017All you need to know
50 | cowbell putting blyth on the brewing map
58 | why training is key to your brewery
Mash, Wort, Trub, Ale, Lager, Liquid Gold; No matter how you say it, it’s all fluid to us. With over 70 years of experience controlling and monitoring fluids of all kinds (yes, even steam and glycol) we have the know-how and expertise to maximise the efficiency of your brewery. Better yet, we can design, build and fully automate your dream, state of the art brewery completely in house. Let us show you how we can make your ideas flow. www.burkertbrau.com
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(905) 632-3033
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brau@burkert.com
Mash, Wort, Trub, Ale, Lager, Liquid Gold; No matter how you say it, it’s all fluid to us. With over 70 years of experience controlling and monitoring fluids of all kinds (yes, even steam and glycol) we have the know-how and expertise to maximise the efficiency of your brewery. Better yet, we can design, build and fully automate your dream, state of the art brewery completely in house. Let us show you how we can make your ideas flow. www.burkertbrau.com
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(905) 632-3033
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brau@burkert.com
le ad e r
INFORM & EDUCATE
W
elcome to your new look Brewers Journal Canada! The brewing industry continues to grow, develop and innovate. New breweries are opening, existing breweries are expanding and drinkers are being treated to fresh takes on muchloved beer styles, while others are pushing the boundaries even further. With that in mind, we caught up with Scott Simmons, the new president of Ontario Craft Brewers on the eve of the association's annual conference, the Ontario Craft Brewers Conference and Suppliers Marketplace. Simmons took on the role in August and, as someone who previously held the role of vice president of marketing and development at The Beer Store, has strong views on the future of brewing in Ontario and beyond. "I am excited about the future. Having spent seven years in this industry previously, it’s incredible to witness the growth that has taken place in the time since,” he explains. “Back then I was probably dealing with less than 20 breweries. Sure, growth has been gradual but in the last three years it has really exploded.” Simmons tells us: “What I find amazing is how people’s tastes and interests have developed. So many people drink craft beer now. People want quality, they want provenance, something unique. And people want to learn. The art of making good beer is such a science and I still see tremendous growth here in educating and informing people of the skill that goes into that. Looking at Ontario, craft beer accounts for roughly 6% of the market but I see no reason why it can’t triple that in the next five or ten years. That can happen through informing and educating people.” Though fresh in the role, Simmons is ready for the association’s sixth annual conference. For new brewers looking to make their mark in this
brewersjournal.ca
editor's choice How Brunswick Bierworks is bringing partner brewing to Canada. And with it, lots of fantastic beer - page 32
growing field, Simmons has some words of advice. "Beer is a tough business to crack as it’s capital intensive, and there is a lot of expertise and knowledge needed. Lots of smaller businesses need help and education. You need to be looking and thinking about the whole picture. There are hurdles, sure, and there is a lot of competition in places like Ontario from mainstream brands and imports, too,” he adds. "But we have a very thirsty audience, There is a science and art to making beer. Wine has done so well in romanticising their product, its production, the provenance and how it pairs with food, too. The same opportunity applies to beer, whether that’s for local consumers or on a larger scale when it comes to things like tourism. These opportunities exist.” I hope this issue of the Brewers Journal help inform and educate. We will continue to develop with this fantastic industry. Thanks again for all of your support. Tim Sheahan Editor
Autumn 2017
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co ntac t s
contacts Tim Sheahan Editor tim@rebymedia.com +44 (0)1442 780 592 Richard Piotrowski Canada Bureau Chief richard@rebymedia.com +1 647 975 7656 Jakub Mulik Staff photographer Jim Robertson Head of sales jim@rebymedia.com +44 (0)1442 780 593 Johnny Leung North American Sales johnny@rebymedia.com +1 647 975 7656 Jon Young Publisher jon@rebymedia.com Reby Media global head office 42 Crouchfield, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP1 1PA, UK
SUBscriptions The Brewers Journal is a quarterly magazine mailed every Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Subscriptions can be purchased for four or eight issues. Prices for single issue subscriptions or back issues can be obtained by emailing: sales@rebymedia.com
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Autumn 2017
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system, without the express prior written consent of the publisher. The Brewers Journal Canada ISSN 23986948 is published bimonthly by Reby Media, 42 Crouchfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1PA, UK. Subscription records are maintained at Reby Media, 42 Crouchfield, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP1 1PA, UK. The Brewers Journal accepts no responsibility for the accuracy of statements or opinion given within the Journal that is not the expressly designated opinion of the Journal or its publishers. Those opinions expressed in areas other than editorial comment may not be taken as being the opinion of the Journal or its staff, and the aforementioned accept no responsibility or liability for actions that arise therefrom.
Brewers Journal Canada
“A fine beer may be judged with one sip, but it’s better to be thoroughly sure.” - Czech Proverb
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co nte nt s
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Cover story 32 - Brunswick Bierworks is on a mission to revolutionise the beer landscape in Canada, opening doors for breweries both local and overseas.
COMMENTS 15 - First Key on building a brewery 19 - Mason Personal talk trademarks 22 - The Food Safety Alliance on ATP testing 24 - CarbonTap look at draught maintenance 26 - Assurances Palldium Insurance take on the issue of contract brewing 28 - McLean Hallmark look at contamination 30 - NDL Keg put the spotlight on kegs
Sector | training & education 58- Ensuring your team has access to the best training and education available to them are essential facets of any progressive, forwardthinking business. The brewing industry is no different. We look at some of the best on offer
science | management 66- Escarpment Laboratories talk yeast management and the best techniques to utilise
show preview | OCB Conference 40 - All the talks and exhibitors not to miss at the the sixth annual OCB conference
science | basic alcohol 72- Gary Spedding from BDAS on why it is key to have alcohol and extract info on hand
Meet The Brewer | cowbell 50- How Cowbell is putting Blyth, Ontario well and truly on the brewing map with a 26,000 square foot destination brewery
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science | yeast 79- Renaissance BioScience ask whether yeast can undergo an industry hop-like explosion
Brewers Journal Canada
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n e ws
Muddy York opens taproom M
uddy York Brewing Co has opened its new taproom, featuring an eleven-foot high tap tower, made from
mid-century hydraulic pipes and boasting twelve taps from which a rotating roster of beers will flow. The vintage industrial space, has been constructed from mainly salvaged materials, and designed by brewery co-owners Jeff Manol and Susan Michalek. The taproom pours beers such as Gaslight Helles Lager and Storm Glass IPA, alongside seasonals including Haberdasher Hefeweizen and Brick Maker Common. In addition to bottles for sale, visitors can purchase 12oz pours of whatever is on tap or can choose to sample beers in a flight of four 5oz glasses. The team is also promising a few surprises as well; with “big” beers that aren’t often available in the Muddy York Bottle Shop, as well as beers on cask. “Opening a taproom has been a dream since I established Muddy York Brewing Co. in 2013,” explained brewer and proprietor Jeff Manol. “It’s the perfect way to showcase the many varieties
She said: “We believe that this will become a destination for fans of craft beer and their families to
of beers that we brew here, and it allows us to interact
sample our product line as well as a place for events,
directly with the community.” Michalek added.
corporate gatherings, and private parties.”
Fernie Brewing launches Fresh Hop Pale Ale
F
ernie Brewing Co has taken the wraps of the second
seasonal treat even more exclusive. If you see some on the shelves chances are they won’t be there long so make sure to snap it up if you want to be sipping some this fall.”
annual release of its early autumn seasonal.
Fresh Hop Pale Ale is a 6% beer available in 650ml
bottles. It is dry hopped with Cascade from Red Tractor Farms in Skookumchuck, which results in a Pale Ale with distinctive hop aroma and bitterness, showcasing the floral, spicy and citrus characters of Cascade. The brewery explained: “Fresh hopped beers aim to showcase a different aspect of hoppiness, relying on
Lake of Bays Brewery announces new brewhouse
L
ake of Bays Brewery has officially announced the launch of The Huntsville Brewhouse.
The brewhouse, which follows more than a year of
highlighting the crisp fresh flavours that do not overload
planning, will feature an extra-small batch brewing facility
the senses. In comparison to typical hoppy beers, a fresh
that will include a full kitchen and seated capacity of 70+
hopped beer showcases the delicate and is reminiscent
people.
of newly cut grass, or citrus that has been just peeled. Yep. We are talking that fresh. “The key to achieving this bright flavour is timing. In order to earn the “Fresh Hop” status, the hops must be picked, transported, and brewed within a 24 hour window.
Street-facing windows that draw up to welcome in the fresh air, and the potential to open a sidewalk patio, this is sure to be a new favourite in the downtown core, the company said. They added: “You can expect all of your Lake of Bays
This usually means a long, sleepless night for brewers but
favourites plus experimental one-offs and seasonals as
the final product is undoubtedly worth it.
we let our brewers go wild with six 6 HL fermenters. We
“The complex process of creating a fresh hop beer means that it is brewed in smaller batches, making this
brewersjournal.ca
might even bring back a few favourites …. (Mocha Porter, anyone?).”
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Moosehead Breweries to open new small batch brewery
S
aint John-based Moosehead Breweries has
opportunity to enjoy fresh beer on the floor of the new
confirmed it will open a new brewery and taproom at
brewery.
its existing Main Street West site in May 2018. The small-batch brewery will feature a 20-barrel
The small-batch brewery will serve as the beginning and end point for Moosehead Brewery tours, that the
brewing system and a 3-barrel pilot system, allowing
company started offering in June 2017. More than 1,000
the company to create new beers in smaller quantities
visitors have taken part in tours so far.
for offer at retail, on-site in the tap room or at bars and restaurants. “As a company, we’re excited to have the flexibility to experiment in ways that can be difficult within our primary brewhouse,” explained Andrew Oland, President and CEO of Moosehead Breweries. He added: “We have a talented team ready to bring
The new brewery, while will result in new hires at the company, follows a decision by Moosehead earlier this year to park plans for a small-batch brewery on the Saint John waterfront. “The entire team at Moosehead has worked incredibly hard to bring our small-batch vision to life in a way that I know is going to delight both new and existing
incredible new innovations to life and I can’t wait to
Moosehead fans,” said Karen Cousins, director of brewery
introduce these new beers to Saint John and to Canada.”
experiences.
According to the company, the new small-batch brewery will provide “a complete Moosehead experience”. The brewery will feature a retail store, growler fill
She added: “Housing the new small-batch brewery within our historic brewery allows us to uniquely bring together our past and our future as one of Canada’s
station and a selection of Moosehead merchandise for
leading brewers, and reaffirms our commitment to our
sale while an on-site tap room will give drinkers the
Saint John home.”
The Exchange Brewery takes wrap off latest vintage
well as a surprising, but very pleasing fruitiness. It has more yeasty esters on the nose, with a nice dry finish. I find it more complex and compelling now,” said
N
iagara-on-the-Lake-based The Exchange Brewery has taken the wraps of its latest Belgian Pumpkin
Christine Nagy, brewer at The ExB. To compare, the new 2017 Pumpkin Ale is more pumpkin-foward and sweeter, without being too
Ale.
The beer, which is from its Vintage Reserve Series is lightly spiced, brewed with loads of pumpkin and aged in large oak casks. The Belgian Ale has then been bottleaged for a year, building increasingly complex flavours. A recent tasting panel revealed that the Vintage brew
overwhelming. It shows earthy notes and delicate hints of vanilla. Younger, it displays less Belgian ester and the hints of cloves and cinnamon are more subtle as well. With a medium body and moderate carbonation, it is a well-
kept its subtle pumpkin profile and built extra layers of
rounded pumpkin ale, perfect for the Fall season, the
spice and esters. It developed an assertive carbonation as
brewery said.
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Autumn 2017
Brewers Journal Canada
trusted by
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Black Oak Brewery Rebrands
B
lack Oak Brewery has rebranded the tallboy cans it
‘Canadiana. Stripes & Canoes’ theme that would evoke
sells in the LCBO and grocery stores.
painted paddles, hiking trails and the Great Outdoors.
undertaken a full revamp of its website.
in 473ml cans earlier this year available exclusively in
The Toronto, Ontario-based brewery has also Black Oak Brewery has worked with designer-
Love Fuzz was the first brand to receive the new look the Black Oak retail store, followed by Beat the Heat in
illustrator Cai Sepulis to evolve from its “dated branding”
June that was available in LCBO’s and grocery stores.
to an innovative design that taps into their Canadian roots.
Revamped Pale Ale and Nut Brown will now be available
The original inspiration for the new brand overhaul came from our great outdoors- cottage life and camping adventures with a fresh, retro colour palate and unique
to consumers as of this week in LCBO and grocery stores across Ontario with 10 Bitter Years to follow. Black Oak Brewery has also revamped its website,
fonts to give off the feel of a hand painted cabin sign, they
working alongside Kyle Hosick and Chris Elsworthy from
explained.
Addrenaline Media to create a new site to showcase the
Black Oak says the original plan was to go for a
NSLC details beer and cider discovery events
new branding.
wood can be imparted on a beer with one of Halifax's original craft breweries, North Brewing, and one of its newest, 2 Crows Brewing.”
T
he Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation has outlined a
The following Wednesday, October 18, Emily Tipton &
series of events designed to craft beer and cider.
Henry Pedro, beer engineers /co-founders, Boxing Rock
“Discover the world of wine, spirits and beer in this
event series led by industry hosts. In each week of the
Brewing Co focus on ‘(Un)traditional Autumn Beers’ “What makes an autumn beer? Do seasonal beers
series, you’ll have the opportunity to learn from a different
have to follow the seasons? Learn all about autumn
expert and experience a guided tasting of unique
seasonal beer varieties, then challenge that information.
products they’ve selected,” they explained.
This fits with the Boxing Rock Brewing Co's tag line that
Taking place through October, three events cover
our products are both Legendary and (un)traditional,
the disciplines of barrel aged beer, unfiltered beer and
helping customers to think outside the box and have fun
Autumnal beers.
learning and trying NS Craft Beer,” they explain.
On Wednesday, October 11, Peter Burbridge, North
And October 25, Jeremy White, founder and
Brewing Co. & Mark Huizink, 2 Crows Brewing look at
alesmith of Big Spruce Brewing Co, looks at unfiltered,
barrel-aged beer.
unpasteurized beer.
The organisers said: “Today, many craft brewers are
They said: “Since the beginning, Big Spruce has
using wood to influence the flavour and aromatics of
focused on using as many local ingredients as possible,
their beers, by aging them in barrels. Barrel-aged brews
which includes hops grown on their farm, and their own
can represent the height of a brew master's talent and
water which is rich in mineral content, and particularly
passion, as it makes for the most complex expression
suited for hoppy and dark beer styles. Learn more about
possible in terms of the aroma, taste, mouth feel and
this certified organic brewery in a session with its founder
finish. Learn more about how the unique character of
and alesmith Jeremy White.”
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Krones' Craftmate success K
rones, the German equipment manufacturer, has
with the filler modelled in an open design and therefore
experienced ongoing success with its Craftmate can
easy to clean. On a space front, the filler, in addition to the valve rack
filler, the company said this month. The machine has a new pitch circle diameter of 1,080
and the seamer, have a “very small footprint” with the
millimetres, for the small output range of 12,000 cans an
electronic component cabinet being directly connected
hour when filling 16-oz cans.
in a space-saving configuration.
Krones explained that the new filler was designed
Krones added: “The latter also accommodates the
with stringent requirements on oxygen pick-up, filling
pneumatic control system for the compact-design valve
accuracy, CO2 consumption and hygiene.
rack, which, together with the product tank, is located
Features of the machine include; the insertion of
directly behind the filler, with the seamer right next to it,
CIP cups by hand before cleaning, while ann automatic
which is electronically block-synchronised by means of
external foam-cleaning feature or a hot water flushing unit
servo technology. “The newly developed can filler for craft beer has been
can be integrated as optional extras. “During the development work, care was also taken
conceived as a volumetric machine with 24 filling valves.
to ensure that filler and seamer can be shipped in a sea
Three pneumatic diaphragms each serve for controlling
container, so as to keep the transport costs down. This
the filling process.
means that the first-time user receives an affordable
“The generously dimensioned machine doors make for
machine in the field-proven Krones quality right from the
optimum access to the filler room, and a Krones touch-
start, plus the service support that comes with it,” the
screen with operator prompting ensures ultra-simple
manufacturer added.
operation.”
The Craftmate filler can, for the first time, be operated
Finally, the machine has been dimensioned for filling
without lifting cams. This reduces the number of
cans in the 211/202 standard format but can also be
components, and enhances the machine’s accessibility
optionally equipped for the 204/202 to 300/209 formats.
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NSI INTRODUCES INNOVATIVE
Rectification BUILT BY BREWERS FOR BREWERS
Through rectification technology, Newlands has helped Cowbell Brewing Co. make a big impact on the North American brewing industry and the environment. This new technology reduces their total evaporation from a typical 6% down to 2% while still achieving the same volatile extraction and flavour profiles. The reduction of evaporation means they can brew more beer using less energy and less water. Newlands - Building with Passion, Engineering & Craftsmanship.
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B uilding
a
B rewery
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Bring the South to the North Building a brewery means developing a detailed business plan and careful consideration through the design, build, and start-up phases. Lynn Mcllwee and Michael Tysarczyk from First Key Consulting walk us through these essential stages and how they implemented them with Andina Brewing Company, a South Americaninspired brewery that is a destination in Vancouver’s beer scene.
without cutting corners,” explain Andrés Amaya. As the process started it took months of searching for the Amayas to find a site – a 107-year-old building in the heart of East Vancouver’s burgeoning brewing district. The attractive location and a facility with ample room for growth made the place a “perfect” fit for the brothers. Selecting an older building created multiple challenges for the team, but one-by-one the Amayas worked with First Key to find the right solution for each issue. The brothers knew if they cut a corner or overlooked a problem early on it would harm their ability to deliver a consistent, high-quality customer experience, which remained their vision for Andina thoughout. By gaining a deep understanding of the Amayas’ vision
by Lynn Mcllwee & Michael Tysarczyk
and goals for Andina, First Key provided guidance that allowed the brothers to focus their time, effort, funds and other resources on the things that mattered most.
V
That included recommending the right brewery layout
ancouver, British Columbia is surrounded by
to fit the building and meet expansions plans. First Key
majestic mountains and rippling water, not unlike
also prepared the brewery equipment list, including
Colombia, the birthplace and long-time home of
the process, packaging and utilites requirements, and
brothers Nicolás and Andrés Amaya. Consequently, the Amayas felt at home when they
then sourced and procured the equipment on behalf of the brothers. Given the volume projections for their first
arrived in B.C. in 1998. As they explored the scenic terrain
five years, the choice was made to purchase a 20 bbl
they also became curious about new beers, trying as
brewhouse to meet near and long-term plans.
many local offerings as they could find at the time. Soon
Building a brewery that focused on sustainability was
they were enjoying beers from across Canada, captivated
also an important part of Andina’s mandate. Their spent
by the bold new flavour profiles.
grain is used as animal feed, as many breweries do, but
Along the way they mentally took notes – and started
they didn’t stop there. Andina is the first brewery in the
to plan what would become Andina Brewing Company,
world to use a self-contained heat pump, the Pirahna,
a South American-inspired brewery that is now a
developed by International Wastewater Systems. It
destination in Vancouver’s beer scene.
uses a heat exchanger to extract thermal energy from
The story of how the Amaya brothers turned their dream into reality is a study in persistence, planning and partnership. Nicolás and Andrés launched their
wastewater which is then recycled and used for domestic hot water heating for the building. As construction progressed, the Amayas worked
efforts in 2014 by piecing together a high-level plan for
on a brand and marketing plan. A key step in bringing
Andina. Without the know-how to build a brewery, they
together the brewery’s overall story was a foundational
sought the advice of local brewery owners and industry
branding workshop that was facilitated by First Key’s
professionals. This included partnering with brewery
Commercial Services Director in Vancouver.Working
consulting firm First Key, which assisted them with the
with Andrés, Nicolás and Claudia Amaya, Andina’s
project, from developing a detailed business plan and
Communications and Marketing Director, the group
through the design, build, and start-up phases.
outlined the brewery’s purpose, vision, core values and
“There is no doubt that without the assistance of the
brand attributes combining the Colombian roots of the
local breweries and First Key, we would have had a bigger
brand with the unique nuances of the Vancouver market.
challenge on our hands. Our main objective since we
To complete the picture, First Key also connected with
started this enterprise was to do things the ‘right way’
Andina’s Colombia-based branding expert Lucho Correa
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B uilding
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and designer Leo Espinosa of Salt Lake City to ensure
India Pale Ale that features hints of honey and prominent
alignment of the brand.
aromas of citrus and tropical fruit. The other three flagship
The core of the brand is reflected in the brewery name
beers, or principales, are the Totuma Kölsch, which is their
- Andina refers to a woman from the Andes, the famed
best seller, Melcocha Andean Mild Ale and the Ay Ay Ay,
mountain range that runs through Colombia and down
a flavourful Pale Ale. Andina worked with First Key on the
the western side of South America. The name would
beer development, which included trial brews, tasting and
represent the Amaya family’s history and culture. Beer,
analysis to compare to the original intent. Recipes were
malt and mountains all have feminine references in the
updated and re-brewed as required to get the optimum
Spanish language. As the Amayas describe it, “Andina is
results.
feminine, innovative, majestic, vibrant and friendly!” Fast forward to 2017, and take a drive in what is
Andina’s Head Brewer, Andrew Powers, collaborates with Nicolás on recipes that can include fruit only found in
affectionately known as “Yeast Van” because of the influx
South America, panela (raw, unrefined whole-cane sugar)
of breweries. A bright yellow building adorned with a
from Colombia and malt from Patagonia Malt, which has
vibrant 30’ x 60’ mural of Andina’s “La Pola” girl greets
cultivated and malted barley in Chile since 1896. Though
visitors as they venture down Powell Street. This building
the focus on South American ingredients adds some
has become a landmark in Vancouver not only for its bold
complexity to the supply chain process, the flavours they
colour, but for the culture and hospitality it shares with its
impart make Andina’s beers distinctive.
community. The Andina brewery is not only unique from an
Case in point: the use of panela. After some experimentation, Andrew, a Siebel-educated brewer
architectural standpoint, but also for the feeling of family,
trained in Germany, determined that when it is paired with
home and warmth that envelops visitors. The music, the
certain malt, it enhances the natural flavours and shortens
conversation and the lively ambiance all stand out, as do
fermentation time.
flavorful brews such as the Melcocha Andean Mild Ale
Seasonal beers are released every couple of months
and South American snacks, including plantain and yucca
and often focus on fruit from South America, including
chips. The tasting room inhabits the charm of the Amayas’
lulo, a fruit that has green pulp and a citrus flavour.
Andean heritage with traditional art, crafts, clay pots and woven baskets accenting the décor. This is the atmosphere that the Amaya family has
The Amayas have given the same care and attention given to the food offered at Andina, which is 100% organic and ocean friendly. Customers are treated to a perfect
created with their new brewery, which has become a
fusion of eight kinds of ceviche (seafood, vegetables
popular location in the local beer scene as well as with
and fruit “cooked” on citrus juice instead of heat), based
Vancouver’s South American community.
on traditional recipes from Ecuador, Peru and Colombia
“Working with the Amaya family, the design intent
- all created by Andrés Amaya. The plantain and yuca
was to create a space that brought Colombian culture,
chips are served with a Colombian sauce that is an
textures, landscapes and atmospheres into the heart of
interpretation of salsa as well as homemade Arepa,
Yeast Vancouver. A wood and steel screen that wraps the
which are corn patties and cheese served with Hogao (a
space and the splashes of bright colours on the bar are
warmed Colombian sauce).
derived from Colombian textile patterns. The bar itself
Andina’s merchandise also embraces Colombian
is shaped and located to encourage the vibrant social
culture. In addition to the usual growlers, shirts, toques
interactions and hospitality that Colombians are known
and hats, the brewery offers a beautiful sombrero-style
to exemplify.” says Bill Uhrich, Simcic + Uhrich Architects,
hat and bracelets made from organic material and hand-
who were the Project Architects for Andina.
crafted specifically for Andina.
Andina’s brews also reflect their passion for flavourful
The collective efforts of the Amayas has led to Andina
beer that is approachable to the novice beer drinker.
providing a great customer experience that treats visitors
The Monita Blonde IPA, one of four flagship offerings,
to a warm atmosphere, great beer and a peek into their
is a great example. It is a lighter take on the standard
rich cultural history.
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Brewers Journal Canada
T rademarks
Co m m e nt
DIY Strategies for Creating and Protecting Distinctive Names and Marks One of the necessary ingredients to a great brewery is a distinctive name, and the recipe for a distinctive name includes creativity, searching its availability and setting it up for legal protection, explains Cynthia Mason, trademark lawyer at Mason Personal Corporation.
be good names, because they appear coined in a predominantly English or French market. Names that should be avoided include descriptive words, geographic names, or words and terms that are a play on other known brands, titles or characters. From the outset, these kinds names face challenges. They aren’t unique identifiers that customers can use to distinguish between competitors, and in the case of a name that is a play on another brand, title or character, there is a risk of liability for trademark infringement. Even
by Cynthia Mason
if an infringement suit has little to no merit, a bigger and better funded complainant may still make a claim on the
Y
ou can always count on an entrepreneur to
chance the smaller defendant will cave under the threat of litigation.
add creativity to the mix, and when it comes to
Seach and search again
searching the availability of a name and legally
protecting it, that’s where a lawyer or trademark agent can add real value. But lawyers and agents can also add real costs. To maximize on your legal budget and avoid the bitter taste of wasted search costs, follow these simple naming principles and DIY search strategies. The best names are original or coined words that have
O
nce you have a great name in mind, the next step is to conduct searches to see if it is available for your intended use.
There are various levels of searches available. A
no dictionary definition and have never been used before.
lawyer or trademark agent can provide you with a
Words that have meaning but are completely arbitrary
comprehensive search that covers trademark and trade
in relation to the business or product can also serve as
name registries, as well as other private databases, with
distinctive names. Foreign language, non-descriptive
additional investigation into any potentially relevant
words that have no geographic significance can also
references. This level of search is the most inclusive
brewersjournal.ca
Autumn 2017
19
Co m m e nt
T rademarks
available, and it is recommended before launching any
name is available as a .COM and a .CA is, therefore, a
new name or mark.
must. If these domain names are available, register them
But before investing in a comprehensive search,
immediately. A short 1-year term is inexpensive and will
you can conduct a few very basic searches (for free!)
put a hold on the domain name for your future use. If you
to quickly see if your proposed name is already use.
ultimately decide on a different name, you can always let
If your searches don’t turn up any obvious obstacles,
the registration lapse.
you can then work with a professional to conduct a
If the .COM or .CA of your business name is not
comprehensive search and gain a greater level of
available, take a close look at how it is being used. Is it
assurance that the name is available and unlikely to lead
being used by someone in a competing or related field? If
you down a rabbit hole of potentially costly legal troubles.
you think your customers would visit the website and be
These free preliminary searches are all done on
confused, you could be risking lost future revenues when
publicly available databases that are easy to navigate.
your customers can’t easily find you online. Even worse,
Included below are links to these databases and
you could be risking a trademark infringement or passing
instructions for DIY searching a proposed name or mark.
off suit from that website owner. The Internet is the largest publicly available database
Trademark register
of words and terms in use anywhere in the world. Running Google searches for your name, or your name along with the generic name for your business or products (e.g. beer,
T
he trademarks database of the Canadian
brew, brewery), should give a good idea in the first couple
Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) is available
of pages of results if the name is already in use. Any
online here, and it includes all registered
online references to the name can be examined closer
and pending Canadian trademarks. The database is
to see if they relate to a competing or related business or
searchable by a range of fields including trademark,
product, or if they show commercial activities carried on
owner and goods or services. A solid beginning strategy
in Canada. The internet may be borderless, but trademark
is to search your proposed name in both the trademark
rights are only enforceable in the country or countries
and trademark description fields. You can also narrow
where there is actual trademark use, meaning where
the search results by Nice Classification, which is the
branded products are sold or services are provided. The
internationally accepted system of classifying goods and
use of a mark in Australia, for example, may not affect the
services in trademark applications. The most relevant
legal availability of that mark for your use in Canada.
Nice classes for breweries are Classes 32 (beer and
For every trademark or trade name reference that
non-alcoholic beverages), 33 (wines and spirits), and 43
comes up in your searches of the Trademarks Register,
(providing accommodations, food and drinks).
online dictionaries and the Internet, ask yourself how the reference affects your marketing plans. Is the name or
Online dictionaries and domain names
mark used by another brewery? Or is it used in a related field, such as on wines, spirits or other non-alcoholic
Q
beverages? Are consumers likely to think that your
uick searches of any online dictionary, such as
businesses or beverages are in some way related? Or
Dictionary.com, Urban Dictionary and Wikipedia,
would the reference create a negative connotation for
will tell you if the name has any descriptive
your name or your beer?
meaning in relation to your business or your beer, whether
If you answer yes to any of these questions, you should
intentional or not. Descriptive words are not capable of
re-think the proposed name. If your preliminary searches
trademark protection under Canadian law, unless they are
have identified obstacles, it is quite possible, even likely,
combined with other distinctive words or designs. CIPO
a comprehensive search will only confirm the name is not
and the courts take a negative view of companies who
available. Its easier and a lot less expensive to start with a
seek to monopolize words and terms that are commonly
name that has no potential conflicts or risks of trademark
used in an industry to describe products or product
infringement.
attributes. Think you can own “craft” for use on beer? Think again. Every business needs a website, and it just makes
Once you have a great name and you know it is available for your use, set it up for strong legal protection by filing a trademark application. Then you can focus
sense for your domain name to consist of or contain
your attention on brewing a distinctive beer to match that
your business name. Searching whether your proposed
name.
20
Autumn 2017
Brewers Journal Canada
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02-10-2017 15:01:13
Co m m e nt
S anitation
Monitoring Sanitation in Breweries Using ATP Testing There are many ways of ensuring that the sanitation procedures have done a good job of cleaning the equipment and the brewery to get it ready for production. Of course nothing can substitute for ensuring that the employees have the right chemicals, equipment and manpower to do the job properly in the first place but it is still necessary to monitor the effectiveness, explains Adam Brock, president of the Food Safety Alliance.
remains after cleaning. ATP is used to trigger a reaction between the compound luciferin and the enzyme luciferase. This causes a flash of light to occur and is exactly how a firefly blinks light. Sometimes the test is called the Firefly Test. Several scientific supply companies sell kits for monitoring sanitation using this technique. The kits contain a small hand-held luminometer, an instrument which measures light output. Special swabs are also supplied which contain all the necessary reagents. The selected surfaces are swabbed using a prescribed technique and inserted into the instrument. No special preparation is needed. The amount of light is generally measured in some sort of Relative Light Unit (RLU) reading. The higher the reading, the more ATP was
by adam brock
present. Therefore a high reading indicates a surface that contained either a lot of micro-organisms or residual particles or likely both. In addition to surfaces the test can
S
anitation procedures have changed over time.
also be employed on rinse water samples to check on
Traditionally this was done by visual inspection;
Clean-In-Place (CIP) systems.
however it is also wise to use other methods. The
use of ATP testing is an example of just such a method. What is ATP testing? All living cells, including
What are the advantages of ATP testing? As just noted there is a wide range of applications. The major advantages are the rapid result, generally in in a minute
micro-organisms, contain universal energy molecules
or less, and the ease of use. Many companies have
called Adenosine Tri- Phosphate (ATP). It is present
the brewers do the testing as a way of ensuring that
in food and beverage residues, too. This makes it an
equipment is clean even before applying sanitizer. That
excellent indicator of whether a surface is clean. Using
way corrective action can be taken if necessary. The test
something called bioluminescence (production of light
is also very inexpensive.
by a biological process) we can measure how much ATP
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Autumn 2017
Many of the kit suppliers will have pre-set limits on the
Brewers Journal Canada
S anitation
Co m m e nt
RLU reading to define what is good or bad but it is wise
cleaned properly it’s very hard to keep flavours consistent
to also do preliminary work in each brewery or even each
and often leads to off flavours.
particular tank or vessel. to set your own limits based on what is necessary for your particular needs. ATP testing should not entirely replace doing microbial swab testing since this is related to the effectiveness of
Cheap chemicals by the drum can lead to very expensive in use cost or inefficient cleaning. ATP can verify your in use cost vs price per drum. For Example: A brewery who was running a product (blended
the sanitizing step as opposed to the overall cleaning.
caustic) that retailed for $350 per drum ($1.71 per L) at
Microbial testing is also needed to check for specific
2%. Once we swabbed with ATP we found we had to run
organisms. Since the ATP testing does not differentiate
in excess of 5% to achieve desirable results. 100 L’s of
the source of the ATP it is not possible to always compare
cleaning solution should cost $3.42(at the manufacturer
plate counts to RLU results. Generally breweries find that
recommendation of 2%) in chemical but once verifying
in only about half the cases is there agreement.
with ATP to achieve the desired result the actual in use
Another advantage of ATP testing is the ability to track and trend data using either built-in or stand- alone
cost was $8.55 (5%) in chemical. We replaced the $350 per drum product with a $500
software provided by the supplier. This allows the user to
per drum product ($2.44 per L) and verified with ATP. The
pin down hot spots and trend the overall picture. Some
higher priced product achieved slightly better results at
software even allows for easily interpreted visual graphs.
only 1.5% compared to the cheaper product at 5%. 100 L’s
ATP is a great way to do a heads up comparison of
of cleaning solution using the higher priced product was
the common chemicals used in breweries. In the past
$3.66 in chemical. Even though the product was $150
we’ve seen many low cost chemicals come to market and
cheaper per drum to achieve the same results the cost was
although they leave the tanks and vessels visually clean
actual $4.89 higher for every 100L’s of cleaning solution.
the ATP tells a different story. ATP also allows you to dial
Food Safety Alliance is presently evaluating an ATP
in the best concentrations with your current supplier. You
testing kit. We intend on being able to show customers
may be running you chemicals at a higher than needed
both the benefits of using ATP tests and the better results
concentration.
using our cleaning compounds and procedures. Contact
When selecting a chemical supplier for your brewery be sure to verify the chemicals work at the recommended
us for further details. In summary, the use of a highly sensitive and
concentrations. Visual checks are a first indicator but
repeatable test such as for ATP will save you time, money
not verification. If your tanks and vessels are not being
and ensure a strong sanitation program.
brewersjournal.ca
Autumn 2017
23
Co m m e nt
maintenance
Up Your Game As consumers demand more for their money, it is time for the Canadian draught beer industry to step up and deliver. Your beer deserves better, your brand deserves better, and your customers will thank you for it, explains Mike O’ Brien owner of Ontario’s CarbonTap.
cleaning procedures. Unfortunately, old habits die hard, and without legal mandate to require otherwise, many long standing licensee owners are reluctant to change their cleaning standards, often citing “cheap” and “fast” as reasons to stick with the status quo. In the case of draught quality, and cleaning standards, the age old adage of “you get what you pay for” could not be more accurate. While Mechanical Recirculation Cleaning is quite common in the U.S, most draught lines in Canada are unfortunately still using the Pot & Kettle method to clean
by Mike O'Brien
their lines. With Pot & Kettle cleaning, a cleaning pot is used to pour a caustic/toxic chemical in to the lines and left to sit stagnate for 20 minutes, before flushing the lines
F
or a brewery, cleaning and sanitation are an integral
with water (hopefully) and re packing the lines with beer.
part of it’s day to day operations, and a critical
Pot & Kettle cleaning is little more than a warm bath for a
factor in its ability to control quality. The last thing a
beer line, and is simply ineffective at adequately cleaning,
brewer wants is for anything to come in contact with the
and does very little at removing or preventing the build
beer, causing any off flavourings that could negatively
up of organic materials that accumulate inside a draught
impact its flavour and aromas, or effect the overall quality
system. Pot & Kettle cleaning also allows for cleaning to
of the beer.
be done without removing beer faucets. One look inside
Unwanted yeasts, bacteria, microorganisms, and other
a faucet that has not been disassembled and cleaned in
organic/inorganic materials, can potentially ruin a batch
quite some time is enough to convert most people in to
of beer, spread throughout the brewery and contaminate
bottle drinkers.
brewing vessels, and equipment. But for so many
Mechanical Recirculation on the other hand, uses a
breweries, the ability to control quality ends when the
pump to recirculate cleaning solution and water through
product leaves the door. By the time its in the consumer’s
the draught system at a higher than normal pressure.
hands, how it ultimately tastes, is left up to a number of
The goal with Mechanical Recirculation is to isolate as
various factors, from transportation, storage, delivery,
few lines as possible, while maximizing the total number
and in the case of draught beer, how clean the draught
of circulations in the 15-minute cleaning period. The
system is, that its being served through. Regardless of
increased effectiveness of Mechanical Recirculation
whether the brewery, or the licensee pays for the line(s) to
allows for the ability to use non-toxic, non-caustic,
be cleaned, the brewery’s commitment to quality should
environmentally friendly cleaning products, and allows
extend to the licensee level.
the technician to circulate water in a direction counter to
Although most people have likely never given it a
the normal direction that beer travels through the system.
thought, many might be surprised to know, that unlike
It is the constant, high pressure, mechanical circulation,
food storage and handling regulations, or the standard
as well as the added ability to agitate (creating air bubbles
of quality a commercial kitchen must follow to pass a
in the system) that allow for a much more volatile, and
health inspection, at the time of this article, there are no
effective method of not only breaking down the softer
laws or regulations in Canada, that mandate the quality
materials, like proteins and yeasts, but the more difficult
or cleanliness of a draught system. Unlike other countries
minerals, like calcium, or beerstone, that build up on the
around the world, along with many states across the U.S,
inside of your draught lines over time.
there are no laws or regulations that require a draught
The term “line cleaning” itself, is problematic, as it
system to be built to any specific quality or standard, or
minimizes the scope of what we’re trying to achieve
to be cleaned or maintained in any way, let alone to any
during cleaning. As in the brewing process, cleaning,
specific frequency, standard or process.
and quality control should be a focus at every step of
Canada’s draught beer industry is an unregulated black art, with varying degrees of quality, standards, and
24
Autumn 2017
the process – with draught system maintenance, this includes ensuring that any part of the system that comes
Brewers Journal Canada
maintenance
Co m m e nt
in contact with the beer must be of a certain quality, and must be cleaned as part of regular draught maintenance. With every cleaning, beer faucets should be removed, disassembled, soaked and scrubbed. Shanks, couplers, and foam on beer detectors (FOBS) should all be cleaned thoroughly and on a regular basis, to prevent the growth of mould, yeasts, bacteria and minerals. Beer lines inside the cooler, between the FOBs and couplers should also be changed out on an annual basis. Beer is a consumable product, and while dirty draught lines are highly unlikely to cause serious illness, the sheer fact that something won’t kill you, should not excuse a breakdown in quality control, or hygiene. Until laws or regulations are passed to mandate the quality and cleaning processes of draught systems, or until such time as health inspectors have it as part of their inspection mandates, licensees in Canada face no penalties for non-compliance, and have no other motivation to clean or maintain their draught systems for any reason other than their own personal morals, or values in providing their customers with a clean, fresh, and safe product. Ultimately, it is the brewer’s beer being served through these lines. Leaving the cleanliness, and ultimately, the reputation of your beer and brand, in the hands of a licensee, may ultimately prove to be more costly than the surprisingly affordable cost of having your lines maintained on a regular basis, and to a standard that is sure to leave your customer with a positive experience. Over the last few years I’ve been witness to a slow but steady movement, from people on all sides of the industry, who believe in, and appreciate the importance of setting a higher standard for draught quality. With so many new craft breweries popping up every month, today’s beer landscape is growing increasingly more crowded. In an industry with so many varying degrees of standards and practices, more and more breweries, bar and restaurants are looking for any way to set themselves apart from the rest of the pack, often turning to social media to promote their higher standards of draught quality. Ultimately, the breweries that set themselves apart
Mike O’ Brien is the owner of CarbonTap, a company that builds draught Towers and installations as well as MEchanical recirculation/agitation line cleaning. He
from the rest, will be the ones who provide a consistent,
us currently completing his Prud'homme Master Beer
and quality product. As consumers demand more for
Sommelier Program, and is a Prud'homme Instructor.
their money, and brewer’s demand more for their beer,
O’Brien was a Guest Speaker at the Master Brewer's
it is time for the Canadian Draught Beer industry to step
Association of the America's Technical Conference on
up and deliver. Your beer deserves better, your brand
Draught Quality and Line Cleaning Standards. They work
deserves better, and your customers will thank you for it.
with a number of breweries across the Province.
brewersjournal.ca
Autumn 2017
25
Co m m e nt
insurance
Insurance for Contract Breweries Contract Brewing is here to stay, and growing in popularity. The unfortunate reality is that sometimes-bad things happen to good brewers; taking reasonable steps to protect the business is prudent. By and large property insurance is inexpensive and easy to obtain, so there is no excuse to go without. Speak to your insurance advisor and make sure that all bases have been covered, explains Greg Strahl, commercial insurance specialist at Assurances Palladium Insurance.
Who owns what?
U
nderstanding which party is responsible to insure the replacement value of stock, packaging and raw materials is important. Let’s say there is a fire
at the production brewery and the damage is extensive; equipment has been destroyed, and the business is shut down for several months while the brewery is re-built. In addition to the equipment there is also finished product that is destroyed, including that of the contract brewer. How will the contract brewer recover from its financial loss? The production brewery more than likely has insurance coverage for it’s own equipment and inventory, but unless it has been specifically addressed the property belonging to the contract brewer will NOT be covered.
by Greg Strahl
The contract brewery should take out insurance to cover it’s own property (e.g. Kegs, Packaging, Finished product awaiting delivery, merchandise, raw materials, etc.
S
Interruption in business
o, who made this stuff anyway?’ If you ask that question of the average craft beer drinker they probably think the answer is as plain as the hops
in their IPA, but those in the industry know that it is not that simple. Today, a growing number of craft breweries concern themselves only with recipe development, marketing, sales and distribution of the beer. The actual
I
n the scenario above, the production brewery has been shutdown due to an insured loss (fire). It will be at least six months until that operation is back up
and producing again. The contract brewery is also now
production is “contracted” out to a brick-and-mortar
shutdown with no facilities from which its product can
brewer with additional, unused brewing capacity. This
be manufactured. The contract brewery may be able
type of brewer is what The Brewers Association defines as
to mitigate it’s losses by finding a new host brewery;
a “contract brewer.”
however, that may take several months to arrange during
There are a few key considerations to be made
which time the lost revenue will surely be felt. Let’s not
that can affect both the contract brewer as well as the
forget that the original production brewery is probably
production facility that will manufacture the product, and
also seeking a new partner for production of its own beer.
they are as follows.
It may not be possible to obtain sufficient capacity within
26
Autumn 2017
Brewers Journal Canada
insurance
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the immediate geographic area to accommodate the needs of both breweries. The resulting loss in revenue is insurable under a property policy that includes “contingent business interruption” coverage. This should be discussed with the insurance advisors of both the contract brewer and the host facility.
Avoiding potential legal woes
W
e recommend that a formal agreement be established between the contract brewery and the production facility. Among
other things, this contract should contain a “bilateral
Co m m e nt
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indemnification” clause – which is a fancy way of saying, “I won’t sue you, if you don't sue me.” As a part of this clause both parties can agree to waive their rights of subrogation against the other. Without such a waiver it would be possible for the insurers of one party to attempt to recover any losses that have been paid against the 825+ customers and 46 countries
other. For example: let’s say the insurer for the contract brewery pays for a loss of product following a fire at the host facility. By contract that insurance company is now in a position to sue the host brewery to recover what it has paid to its client. This scenario is likely not what either the contract brewery or the host brewery had in mind when they decided to join forces and can be easily avoided with the right contractual language. This agreement will need to be disclosed to the insurers of both operations. Contract Brewing is here to stay, and growing in popularity. The unfortunate reality is that sometimes-bad things happen to good brewers; taking reasonable steps to protect the business is prudent. By and large property insurance is inexpensive and easy to obtain, so there is no excuse to go without. Speak to your insurance advisor
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brewersjournal.ca
Autumn 2017
27
Co m m e nt
contamination
Contamination: Know the Risks The battle against contamination has been waged since the first batch of beer was brewed. Up until recently, it was a matter of simply keeping bacteria and wild yeast out of the brewery. But now sour beers are bringing contaminants into breweries ushering in a new era of precautions, explains Stephen J Smith, Managing director of McLean Hallmark Insurance.
yeast infect an otherwise delicious beer, making it taste downright funky (and not in a good way.) Contamination has always haunted breweries. The processes of making beer are extremely inviting to the invisible creepy crawlies that would corrupt your craft. In response, beer makers have gotten pretty good at sanitization and processes that prevent contamination. Unfortunately, it’s becoming harder than ever before. The recent explosion in sour beer popularity is causing contamination headaches for a lot of breweries looking to jump on the trend. Unlike conventional styles, sours actually require the carefully monitored application of bacteria and wild yeasts to give the beer a pleasant and
by Stephen j smith
refreshing sourness. But what goes great in a Gose tastes awful in an amber ale. And once you’ve introduced a contaminant, even one
S
o, who made this stuff anyway?’ If you ask that
brought in intentionally to your brewery, it poses a risks to
question of the average craft beer drinker they
all other beers you brew.
probably think the answer is as plain as the hops
in their IPA, but those in the industry know that it is not
Here’s what you need to know about beer contamination and how to avoid it.
that simple. Today, a growing number of craft breweries
Causes of beer contamination
concern themselves only with recipe development, marketing, sales and distribution of the beer. The actual production is “contracted” out to a brick-and-mortar brewer with additional, unused brewing capacity. This type of brewer is what The Brewers Association defines as a “contract brewer.”
L
et’s take a minute to meet the bad guys of beer -- in this case, bacteria and wild yeast. While plenty of breweries ruin their own beer by with the over
There are a few key considerations to be made
plication of hops or the addition of cheap flavouring,
that can affect both the contract brewer as well as the
plenty of great craft beer falls to prey to the insidious
production facility that will manufacture the product, and
infection of microbials. Now, if you know anything about
they are as follows.
beer you’re not put off by a bit of yeast. In fact, you’ve
When you’ve poured your heart and soul into
probably come to appreciate its fruity expression in
something, you’re bound to be highly invested in it turning
saisons and belgian ales -- not to mention the fact it’s
out right. Like a cook with a collapsed souffle or the
the reason you get a buzz! But there’s a big difference
parent of a rebellious teen, brewers hate to see their beer
between conventional brewers yeast and the wild variety.
go bad.
Brewer’s yeast has been carefully selected to behave a
Unfortunately, it’s enormously common, and growing more so. We’re talking about contamination -- the kind where unwanted micro-organisms like bacteria and
28
Autumn 2017
certain way and remain highly predictable throughout the process. Wild yeast is a different beast. And while bacteria and beer are becoming more
Brewers Journal Canada
contamination
Co m m e nt
frequently acquainted with the sour trend (Lactobacillus,
from ever coming in contact in the first place. Make sure
for instance) most varieties ruin beer completely. Even
everything remains covered during the brewing process
Lactobacillus becomes a nightmare if it infects non-sours
to minimize exposure to undesirable yeast.
in a brewery. The problem is outside of airtight Nasa labs,
Prepare for the worst
bacteria and wild yeast are all around us in the air and on unclean surfaces. Without taking the proper precautions, it’s all too easy to lose an entire brew. Thankfully, there are steps that can be taken to mitigate the likelihood of contamination.
Science of sanitation
W
hile contamination is far from a foregone conclusion, it nonetheless remains an unfortunate likelihood for beer producers.
Even with all the sanitization and careful anti-contaminant steps taken, your beer might become infected.
T
Massive breweries like Budweiser can survive the
he number one thing brewers can do to avoid
massive loss of product contamination can bring. But for
losing their beer to contamination is keeping
smaller, independent breweries a major hit like that can
everything sanitary -- and we mean EVERYTHING.
cause financial ruin. If you’re going to enter the brewing
From the tanks and tools to the water used in the brewing process, everything should be as clean as can be. This is
game, you need to take precautions. That’s why insurance companies offer protection
just as important for homebrewers making beer in their
against contamination and a variety of other beer-related
basement as it is for Molson.
incidences. Having the right insurance through a trusted
As mentioned above, the popularity of sours is forcing
broker will allow for peace of mind in case the worst really
breweries to go to even greater extremes to avoid
does happen. It’s best to look for insurance experienced
microbes. In addition to simply sanitizing, breweries
in the industry, and truly understands your business too.
are segregating their sour beer brewing facilities,
You might lose a round of beer, but at least you won’t
encouraging employees to avoid travel between different
lose your livelihood. The battle against contamination has
parts of the brewery, and asking brewers to wash their
been waged since the first batch of beer was brewed. Up
clothes on a daily basis. If nothing else, this goes to show
until recently, it was a matter of simply keeping bacteria
just how easy cross contamination can be.
and wild yeast out of the brewery. But now sour beers are
In terms of cleaning, an acid wash is the go to method
bringing contaminants into breweries ushering in a new
to deal with bacteria. As annoying as bacteria is, it’s
era of precautions. With proper sanitization and ensuring
more easy to combat than other microbes because the
minimal exposure to airborne wild yeast, breweries can
low-oxygen process of making beer is already difficult
feel pretty confident they’ll avoid contamination. But even
for most strains to survive. Combined with a good acid
the most thoroughly prepared brewers will occasionally
wash, most breweries have gotten pretty good at keeping
have to deal microbial infection
bacteria out of your beer (although of course accidents
The key is to plan for the worst. Beer can be brewed
do happen.) Unlike bacteria, wild yeast is airborne. And
again, but only if you’ve got the resources to start fresh.
worse, it does fine with minimal oxygen and can survive
By purchasing adequate insurance, you’ll have the safety
acid washing. Sanitization is still important, but for dealing
net you need to survive and prosper in the event of
with wild yeast you’re going to want to prevent your wort
accidental contamination.
brewersjournal.ca
Autumn 2017
29
Co m m e nt
K eg
D istribution
The Keg Conundrum Delivering a quality product to the consumer should be the number one priority for a brewery and kegs are ultimately the easiest way to do that, explains Nic Syzdek, national sales manager at NDL Keg.
information to ensure their kegs will endure many rigorous cycles. Normally, warranties cover improper corrosion and welding, though they typically don’t protect brewers from standard wear and tear or improper use.
To rent, own or rent-to-own
T
he main advantage of buying kegs over renting
by Nic Syzdek
is the final price, but you also control your fate! There are no lost keg fees or monthly payments,
S
your kegs can be fully customized to improve brand ome might think making beer is the hardest part
recognition and you can generate maximum revenue
of owning a brewery, but kegging and distributing
from your asset immediately. A brewery can expect a keg
beer is a challenge on its own. On average, brewers can
to make at least three or four turns per year, so brewers
expect to lose roughly five percent of their precious kegs
typically make well beyond their return on investment.
every year. There is no best answer to managing a fleet, which is
The keg rental or lease model can be beneficial to many breweries of various scale, especially for those
why so many different models and suppliers are available.
short of capital. Brewers new to distribution with an
Just like any business, breweries have no guarantees on
unknown history of consumption in the market benefit
ROI, but brewers can take steps to combat keg loss and
from the flexibility of renting kegs. Renting does come
reduce sunk costs. On the other hand, suppliers should
with disadvantages such as long-term commitments to
aim to provide brewers with options and information to
volumes starting at 18 months. Rental kegs typically do
make informed decisions. Between rental agreements,
not include customization options, and the lease cost per
rent-to-own models and buying kegs outright, brewers
keg is estimated to be roughly 10-13 cents per day. At this
have a number of options. Some breweries are content
rate, breweries could outright purchase a new keg in two
with managing a small keg fleet and self-distributing
or three years.
to local accounts. Others have a drive to distribute
Many suppliers are now offering rent-to-own models,
nationwide and require logistics support and an expansive
which can be a good option for cash-strapped breweries,
keg fleet. Despite the distribution network, breweries and
but the final cost is typically well above standard
distributors face the challenge of retrieving kegs.
purchase prices. Another model is pay-per-fill, which
There are steps brewers can take to combat asset
gives a brewery flexibility regardless of how fast the keg
loss and hang on to their shiny kegs. The most common
turns. However, breweries pay rental fees per fill, which
tactic is customization - it’s a lot harder to sell or rent a
tends to make a noticeable cut to margins, especially for
keg with a massive logo or brand name that isn’t your
small-scale breweries.
own! Some of the most popular keg customization
Despite the ownership model, delivering a quality
options include embossing a brewery name into the top
product to the consumer should be the number one
chime, electro-chemically etching a permanent mark of
priority. Kegged beer is not exposed to elements such as
your logo into the keg body, color striping the body of
harmful UV rays that can damage flavor profiles.Kegging
the keg in company colors or silk-screening a custom
beer is the most sustainable practice for breweries
mix of graphics and text around the keg. In an industry
and recommended from an environmental standpoint.
filled with crowded taprooms and distribution centers, it’s
For new breweries, kegging also has lesser up-front
important that your kegs stand out as unique to improve
equipment costs than bottling or canning.
the chances of making the journey back to your brewery. Manufacturer’s warranties are another factor in
Distributing kegs and dealing with keg loss can be a challenge, sure, but kegs are ultimately the easiest way
preventing loss. Most companies offer a warranty from
to distribute your tasty brew to the masses. (And who
one to 30 years long, so buyers should always request
doesn’t love a kegger party!).
30
Autumn 2017
Brewers Journal Canada
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M e e t
th e
b r e w e r
B runswick
B ierworks
Strength in Numbers Brunswick Bierworks is on a mission to revolutionise the beer landscape in Canada. The team’s aims are simple; to foster growth, open doors for breweries both locally and overseas, and to bring Canadian drinkers beers that are as fresh as they are diverse.
on innovation, quality and growth. Their proposition is to enable breweries to expand distribution in the most efficient and cost effective manner, working together to establish packaging requirements, sales & marketing strategies, a route to market and a distribution plan, as well as the ability to explore new export opportunities. And earlier this year, Laba and the team asked themselves a question, how do you take a well loved Dutch Trappist beer and add innovation and relevance
by Tim Sheahan
to a market of consumers who are local-centric and are constantly focused on what’s next and new? The Craft Brand Company has been importing La
W
Trappe beer for nearly four years. The beers are brewed e canned our first beer on July 16th
by The Netherland's De Koningshoeven Brewery. The
2016. From then to December, we
Craft Brand Company has helped the brand grow
produced 36 different beers and a
throughout retail and on premise, developing a loyal
ton of different styles, too. We did a
following in the process. This relationship allowed the
lot. Things have only gone upwards
team, through the Brunswick Bierworks operation, to
since then,” explains Mike Laba. Laba is the co-founder
attract La Trappe’s Brouwmeester, Lodewijk Swinkels,
and brand director of The Craft Brand Company and
to Canada for a collaboration brew with their own senior
Partner & Vice President at Brunswick Bierworks.
brewing advisor Christian von der Heide.
For someone with nearly 20 years’ experience building
All the more impressive considering this was,
companies and brands within the Canadian beer industry,
according to Laba, the first time the Trappist brewery has
Laba and his team have been vindicated with their
engaged in a brew outside of their monastery.
decision to take the plunge and make the Brunswick Bierworks vision a reality. “We have always had this vision, even before the first shovel hit the ground. To build a strong roster of breweries from Canada, the US and across the globe, to have them
The two great brewing minds developed a New World Double Bock. A beer distributed throughout Ontario and the US with proceeds going to support La Trappe’s efforts at the Kyotera Hospital in Uganda. “For it to actually happen with La Trappe here, was
here, in one room, and watch things happen. And we’ve
a real pinch me moment,” explains Laba. “But now we
done that,” he explains.
have this facility, we are reaching out to the guys we are
Brunswick Bierworks does not brew its own beers. It is a partner brewing business that has a firm focus
32
Autumn 2017
importing. We are having a new conversation asking if they want to take that opportunity and brew fresh beer
Brewers Journal Canada
B runswick
B ierworks
m e e t
th e
B r e w e r
here in Canada. For companies like Weihenstephaner and
production runs, plus a smaller pilot brewing system
La Trappe, we just tell them to come over and have fun."
(20 hectolitres) which provides flexible small batch
Brunswick Bierworks offers a full roster of advantages
production capabilities for contract brewers wanting to
to breweries looking to grow their presence in the
introduce, develop and refine new products, as well as
Canadian market.
offer seasonal one-off beers brewed in collaboration with
Laba says: “When we first conceived this model and asked ourselves what we were hoping to achieve, it was
Brunswick Bierworks. Access to high-end canning equipment like that from
to give global brewers a Canadian home for brewing in
Krones was a must from the get-go for Laba and the
the market, to provide excess volume to Ontario brewers
team.
with strained capacity, to act as an incubator for new
“Ontario is so hot on cans. One reason for that is
brands and to create a collaborative brewing hub for our
because the LCBO said that they wanted tallboy cans
partners.
so craft breweries started doing tallboy cans. More got
“We knew that the immediate opportunity was through
accepted and the whole landscape got skewed from
breweries here in Ontario. There is rapid growth among
6pack bottles to tallboy cans. For consumers, it’s a
the craft beer segment in Ontario and there are a lot of
great shopping experience. You can try lots of different
interesting new entrants. We want to help people that
products, it can be harder as a brewer to move volume
want to brew at their own facilities further down the line.
but in craft, people like to sample and trial. The barrier to
We have provided a solid runway for a few breweries en
entry is a lot lower as a result,” he says.
route to their own facilities by helping brew quality beer,
And lowering that barrier to entry is part of the core of
build the brand, generate sales, find investors and build
what Brunswick are doing. One such brewery it is bringing
their own breweries.”
to Canada is Omnipollo, the well-regarded outfit based in
Just look at Cowbell and Bench that represent many millions in capital investment in their communities and
Sweden. We brew Omnipollo Zodiak every three weeks and we
the creation of around 175 jobs. These are case studies for
sell that in the LCBO. It is our fastest growing brand. It’s
our model; we provide a stable runway for the next wave
an IPA that checks every box. The aroma is spectacular
of strong Ontario craft breweries,” Laba explains. “We
and the mouthfeel is great. True to all Omnipollo beers,
brewed for those breweries throughout the development
it is flavourful and really drinkable. With Omnipollo,
of their own breweries. In this new world of partner
Henok started with two beers; Zodiak IPA and Prodromus
brewing, it is really interesting that in the span of a year,
Imperial graham cracker chocolate chunk caramel bar
we have helped launch and establish brands that will
stout. We send Henok samples throughout the process
represent a major investment into the Ontario brewing
from fermentation to packaged product. He has tweaked
community.
a couple things in subsequent batches and now the beers
Brunswick Bierworks is a big operation, evidenced in the high-end equipment setup at every point around
are spot on,” says Laba. While the beer itself is doing the talking, the team has
the brewery. The was enabled through raising $12m of
not taken any shortcuts when it comes to promoting the
combined equity capital from a private investor and senior
beer, and its origin to drinkers.
debt through National Bank of Canada. “MNP Corporate Finance acted as exclusive advisor to
“With import clients, we are overtly clear to customers that the beer being brewed here and why. In launching
us in arranging the private placement and securing the
Omnipollo, we made it known we were doing it here. It’s
debt capital. They were instrumental in the buildout and
on the can, and I think we make it clear. With that, it was a
we can’t thank them enough,” Laba enthuses.
good case study for us. We launched it in 15 bars, we did
This investment has allowed the team to install brewing capacity that currently sits at 100,000hl in addition to a Gruber kegging line and a 24 head rotary
server training to inform them on the style of beer, and to present the story and why they do it,” he explains. "“So then we launched it at the top LCBOs, we went
Krones line that can output 250 cans a minute, kit Laba
to their beer ambassadors, we presented the story and
describes as a “workhorse”.
it resonated well. We now have a template, and that’s
The brewery team comprises a talented lineup that features senior brewing advisor Christian (Augustiner,
something we can now build upon.” Laba adds: “When working with us, freshness is a
Guinness), head of brewing operations Evgeny (Baltika/
component for breweries, for sure. But the distribution
Molson) and their head brewer Colin (Steam Whistle).
and access to this market is the big one. It’s a challenge
Under them, Brunswick has nearly 10 brewers forming
for import breweries to get access to market, have
part of a 25-30 staff
events and that level of activation, while getting them to
Its brewery setup has a main production facility (50 hectolitres) for higher volume contracts and licensed
brewersjournal.ca
market in a timely fashion. Our model provides a world of opportunities that helps overcome that.”
Autumn 2017
35
M e e t
th e
b r e w e r
B runswick
“
B ierworks
Freshness is very important, but distribution and access to this market is a huge draw Mike Laba, Brunswick Bierworks
Brunswick Bierworks encourages its partners to take a
hands-on approach, so to have full confidence in the beer being produced at the facility. “For our Ontario breweries, they come in for each
have a contract for that," he adds. . Doing different beers with different breweries is now the goal for Laba and the team going forward. “In this first year, we have landed some great clients,
batch because they want control, or want a presence
but it’s about setting a foundation and pushing on. But
during the process. Others will leave us on it after several
going forward, the growth will hopefully come quicker.
batches. The big thing here is that we have a centrifuge.
Some guys are dream partners and they are now
That makes such a difference for so many people, and
reaching out to us,” he explains. “They are hearing great
often we are told that the beer we are making for these
things and want to see the facility. It’s a world class facility.
companies is actually better than what they can produce
It’s brand new, considered and seeing some sizeable craft
at their own facilities,” Laba tells us. “We take the time
brewers from the US being impressed. That is the phase
to understand the recipe, how a partner brews it and
where we will see some top tiers coming in and doing
we have the confidence to say where it can be tweaked
some really volume. Even some BC brewers want to shift
to improve stability, and improve results. We have
production to here for the Ontario market.”
developed experience and a track record." And when it comes to ingredients, nine house yeasts
He adds: “With craft brewers opening up around the world to be closer to a market, it takes a lot of the risk out
are available along silos that house Canada Two-Row
and brings people closer to their audience. We want to
malted barley and Superior Pilsner malt. For a brewer
reel in the US guys and give them that access so people’s
using Brunswick, of which there are 19 at the time of
perceptions of pricing and freshness change. We are
writing, all malt speciality or from silo is included but
also asked if we are creating new competition for local
brewers source their hops.
business but we are opening the doors for collaboration
“The only reason we did that out of the gate is because hop availability is a tricky game and if a brewer wants 10000hl of an IPA that only uses Galaxy, they need to
38
Autumn 2017
and we want everyone to grow. “We feel we are a savvy business group but ultimately, we are still beer nerds.”
Brewers Journal Canada
Craftmate #GermanBlingBling #Craftmate
We do more.
s h ow
Pr e v i e w
ontario
cbc
Education and Innovation in Ontario This October, the sixth annual Ontario Craft Brewers Conference & Suppliers Marketplace 2017 comes to The Beanfield Centre at Toronto’s Exhibition Place. The region’s top brewers, decisionmakers, thought leaders and supporters will gather in Toronto for a full day of education sessions, networking, and a suppliers marketplace with more than 100 exhibitors.
aging and sour beers; will share techniques such as pseudo spontaneous fermentation, different oak types, many styles such as "lambic", "flanders red" and brett beers. Elsewhere, Joshua Kearley, founder & program specialist at Beverage Protect powered by BKIFG will look at brewery risk management & insurance. Insurance shouldn't be looked at as another expense on a balance sheet, but an investment in the protection of a brewery's reputation and future in this industry. Denis Blais, area technical support coordinator at Ecolab will place the spotlight on common challenges in CIP and keg washing. Optimized Clean in Place (CIP) is critical to producing quality product in breweries of
N
all sizes. Common equipment configuration oversights
ow in its sixth year, the successful Ontario
will be reviewed including troubleshooting techniques
Craft Brewers Conference &
to improve cleaning . Special focus will be placed
Suppliers Marketplace returns for a
day of networking and education. More than 1,000 attendees are expected at
on brewery CIP, its challenges and the keg washing environment. On a retail front, a talk on the voice of the shopper
The Beanfield Centre on 19th October, These include
from the LPSI will ask what makes craft beer so different
craft brewery owners, operators, brewers, suppliers to
to the shopper and how does it differ from not only other
the brewing industry, investors, government and industry
beer categories but the entire store. What are shoppers
champions.
saying from coast to coast in all retailers in Canada. What
The conference runs from 9am-5pm and features a
is important to the shopper, are they satisfied, what does
range of topics that include regulation, hops, insurance,
it take to win. Canada's first ever shopper insight tool for
branding, starting a brewery, finance and the LCBO.
alcohol.
Talk highlights to look out for include a piece from Kate
Ted Clark from High Park Brewery will look at starting
Fisher & Rebecca Castillo, AGCO on AGCO regulatory
a craft brewery in Ontario. He’ll share lessons learned
updates. This presentation will highlight regulatory
from founders of High Park Brewery who have recently
updates in the craft beer and alcohol industry, as well as
gone through the process on both the contract brewing
recent developments including the implementation of the
and bricks-and-mortar side, including Setup, Planning,
newly launched iAGCO portal.
Brewing, Packaging, Marketing, and Selling to Bars &
Pierre-Paul.Carpentier, Barrel Aging manager & owner and Mathieu Brochu at A la Fut will focus on Barrel-Aging: Experimentations & Techniques. This discussion on barrel
40
Autumn 2017
LCBO. Finally, Spencer McCormack & Ian Mills, 5 Paddles will focus on growing from part-time nano to full-scale micro.
Brewers Journal Canada
ontario
C B C
s h ow
pr e v i e w
Venue and Schedule The Beanfield Centre (formerly Allstream), Canada’s greenest conference centre at Toronto’s Exhibition Place (just inside the Princes Gates across from Direct Energy Centre), 105 Princes Blvd., Toronto, ON, M6K 3C3 Thursday, October 19, 2017 Breakfast: 7:30 am Conference: 9:00 am - 5 pm Beer & Cheese Reception: 5 pm - 7:00 pm
Ian and Spencer haven't seen it all by any stretch but, they have seen a lot of craziness in the Craft Beer industry. Steering a brewery through the storm with a small budget
OCBC 2017 Keynote
and next to no debt is no easy task. Ian and Spencer will discuss the challenges, solutions, pitfalls, victories & failures that come with - Distribution, Branding, Financing, QC, Branding, unethical bar owners. The Ontario Craft Brewers Conference & Suppliers
Matt Phillips, founder of Phillips Brewing & Malting Co., Victoria, BC | The Importance of Craft Culture in a Growing Market
Marketplace 2017 will be the first for new president of Ontario Craft Brewers, Scott Simmons. He took on the role in August, following in the footsteps of industry leader and champion, John Hay, who founded the association in 2003. “OCB is fortunate to have found such an excellent candidate to lead us through the next phase of our industry’s development,” says Garnet Pratt, president & CEO of Side Launch Brewing Company and chair of Ontario Craft Brewers. “With his extensive expertise in strategic planning, governance, financial planning, brand management, and business development, Simmons will
Matt Phillips got his beer start homebrewing his way through University, afterwards supporting his thirst for craft beer through brewery jobs at the Grizzly Paw in Canmore AB, Whistler Brewing, Wildhorse Brewery (Penticton, BC) and Spinnakers Brewpub in Victoria. In 2001, he spotted a used 7BBL brewhouse and some used dairy tanks, and moved them into a 1300 sq. ft. warehouse to create Phillips Brewing Co.
be a tremendous asset to the association in helping to develop and execute our long term strategic vision and annual operating plans.” Simmons is a 33-year veteran of the packaged goods, retail, agency, and sport administration industries. He has a deep interest and knowledge of the brewing industry, having previously worked as vice president, marketing and business development for The Beer Store (2001 2007), where he led the development of a long range strategic plan to guide the organizational retail renewal program. “This is a very exciting time for the craft brewing industry,” says Simmons. “I look forward to working with an organization that contributes so much to the Ontario
A one-man show for the first few years, Phillips has moved two times since being established, and now encompasses a malting plant, distillery and two brewhouses. The brewery is host to several summer festivals, 70 different beers a year, and a number of environmental awards for its commitment to sustainability. Matt lives on a small farm outside Victoria BC with his wife Paula and two children, where he has proven that he has no aptitude for growing hops.
economy in terms of jobs, investment and premium quality, local craft beer.”
brewersjournal.ca
Autumn 2017
41
s h ow
Pr e v i e w
ontario
cbc
Abell Pest Control
specializing in sanitary process valves including butterfly,
Abell Pest Control is the #1 Canadian owned pest control
control, by-pass, single seat, and double seat valves. Well
company in the nation and are proud members of your
established in the food and beverage industry, Bardiani
local community. Canada's leading brands trust us to
continues to offer custom valve solutions while meeting
protect their business and customers by ensuring a safe,
the highest hygienic design standards.
pest free environment.
Alpha Controls & Instrumentation
Berg Chilling Systems Promo Berg Chilling Systems custom designs, manufacturers,
Alpha Controls & Instrumentation is one of Canada’s
installs, and services durable, cost-effective chilling
leading suppliers of instrumentation for pressure,
solutions for brewery applications, large and small. We
temperature, humidity, gas, level, flow, analytical and
have expertise in providing refrigeration systems for
more! We are an ISO 9001 registered company and our
process cooling for brewery, distillery, and wine sectors,
calibration lab is accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by A2LA. t.
Amoretti
Beverage Protect Your Reputation is our Business Beverage Protect
Amoretti, a California company, specializing in super
provides breweries, wineries, distilleries and other
concentrated natural infusions for artisan craft breweries.
beverage manufacturers with a customized insurance
Brewers find the consistency of our product makes
program. Our goal is to contribute to the protection and
bringing creativity to life, easier than ever. Sourcing the
continued growth of our rapidly expanding beverage
freshest fruits, herbs, spices, chocolates from around
industries in Canada.
the world, paying meticulous attention to quality & consistency to create over 2000 of the finest ingredients
Boelter
all made from scratch.
From glassware decoration, custom tap handles, and
Anton Paar
personalized bar accessories to logo design, inventory management, freight optimization, and more, our craft
Anton Paar develops, produces and distributes highly
brewery branding experts make business easy. You focus
accurate laboratory instruments and process measuring
on the beer. We’ll take care of the rest.
systems, and provides custom-tailored automation and robotic solutions. It is the world leader in the
Brew Culture
measurement of density, concentration and CO2 and in
At Brew Culture we're passionate about craft beer and the
the field of rheometry.
community within the industry. Craft brewing in its purest
Aquatherm
form is defined by the creativity and imagination of its brewers. We aim to supply those brewers with the highest
Aquatherm polypropylene-random (PP-R) pipe systems
quality hops, direct from out partner growers around the
use heat fusion, a fast, reliable process that creates
globe, so they can explore their creative minds in the
seamless, leak-free connections. Aquatherm pipe
beers they so artfully create.
systems are highly inert and don’t react with water or glycol, so they don’t corrode.
ASL Print FX
Brew Wizz BrewWizz - Innovation for Craft Brewers, are the developers of the FizzWizz automated carbonation
ASL is the industry leader in providing innovative print
system that gives brewers much more control over the
solutions for your label needs. Prototyping capabilities
quality of their final product.
support new design development, a variety of print platforms are available to suit order size and required on-
BSG Canada
shelf looks.
BSG Canada has been producing and distributing
Atlantic Packaging
brewing products to Canadian markets since the early 1990s. . From exclusive ingredients to our innovative can
Atlantic Packaging is a fully integrated supplier of
program, we are committed to being your partner and
corrugated packaging products. Atlantic is a key
share your passion for creating outstanding beer.
packaging supplier that is trusted by many craft brewery brands in both Canada and across the US.
Bardiani Valves Canada The North American division of Bardiani Valvole Spa;
42
Autumn 2017
Bullfrog Power Bullfrog Power, Canada’s leading green energy provider, offers renewable energy solutions that enable individuals and businesses to reduce their environmental impact,
Brewers Journal Canada
Spe
omplete plant designs for bre c n i g n i we r i cializ
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Our wide range of expertise includes: initial startup consultation, process and equipment design, structural, architectural, electrical, controls & instrumentation, and project management. Five generations of experience as brewery designers and builders.
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www.cemcorp.com
CHI L LI WA C K Chilliwack Hop Farms—Bringing world-class hops back to British Columbia! For over a hundred years, Chilliwack produced some of the best hops in the entire British Commonwealth. We are proud to play our part in rebuilding that legacy right back here where it belongs—in Chilliwack, BC. We are now over 300 acres and growing! We carry over 120 varieties of hops that we ship out daily to over 15 countries. We love growing hops. You love brewing with great hops. Contact us—we’re here to help.
CHILLIWACK HOP FARMS 6575 Unsworth Rd., Chilliwack, B.C. 604-614-1764 • sales@chilliwackhopfarms.com www.chilliwackhopfarms.com
FILE NAME
Chilliwack Hop Farms
TYPESETTER
trafiq
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Pr e v i e w
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support the development of green energy projects in Canada and help create a cleaner, healthier world.
Burkert Burkert is a German-based manufacturer of valves, instrumentation and automated control systems with presence in 36 countries around the globe. With the continued growth of craft brewing and the natural fit of our core components and systems within the craft brewing industry,
Cambridge Environmental Cambridge Environmental Products Inc is a small family run Laboratory Testing Supply Company Since 1993. Located in London Ontario supplying Ontario, Canada, United States and the rest of the world. We have been supplying Laboratory Equipment, Lab Glassware, Plasticware and Chemicals for the last 24 years.
Canada Kegs & Packaging Canada Kegs & Packaging is the Canadian Distributor of Franke Blefa stainless steel Kegs, a German made keg line famous for it’s quality and longevity, and the 30 Year Warranty. Our Kegs are available with your breweries name Embossed on the top chimb and can be shipped in 2 weeks.
Charles Faram Charles Faram Brewing Supplies is part of the Charles
Country Malt Group
Faram Group, a grower-owned hop merchant that
Country Malt Group is your complete brewing solution.
has been established for over 150 years. With offices
We are a one stop shop for all your brewing needs and
and Warehouses in Canada (Toronto), USA (Portland &
pride ourselves on putting our customer's first. We are
Yakima), UK (Worcester) our hops from around the world
constantly applying new technology to make sure that
have never been easier to access. We provide an artist’s
using Country Malt Group is just like hitting the 'easy
palette of hop varieties and flavors for every type and
button'.
style of beer and continue to search for new aromas and flavors through our international breeding and
Descon Conveyors
development programs.
Descon provides conveyor system solutions to the
Clayton Industries
beverage and liquid food marketplaces. We know who we are and where our applications expertise is
Clayton Industries has established a world-wide
most prevalent. Conveyor Systems for Breweries Beer
reputation as a leading manufacturer of equipment for
manufacturing is tough on conveyors and equipment.
industrial process steam generation—both fired boilers and unfired waste heat boilers. Their unique controlled
Diversey
circulation, counter-flow design offers many operational
Diversey shares your passion for brewing great beer.
advantages and benefits over conventional boilers.
That’s why we offer Diversey Hygiene craft brewing
ColdHaus Direct ColdHaus Direct is a one-stop shop for distribution and logistics partnerships. Our core values are to provide
solutions designed specifically for the needs of the craft brewer. From complex cleaning procedures to reducing water consumption,
best-in-class service to our partners and work with
Ecolab
people with like and respect. We are not a freight carrier;
Ecolab is a full service provider to Canadian breweries
you will never see fuel surcharges, or additional fees.
of all sizes – as well as full range of cleaning & sanitizing chemicals, for CIP of tanks & lines, and environmental
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Want a Better Brew?
Try liquid nitrogen dosing for product preservation Praxair knows every craft brewer wants to preserve product flavour and increase the shelf life of your product. With the addition of dosing to your process, you also have the opportunity to offer nitro-infused beers. Working together, we are here to help guide you with the right gases, equipment and expertise to help you master the craft of brewing with; Gases – carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen, from cylinders to bulk Applications – brewing, carbonating, bottling/canning/kegging, blanketing, purging, sparging Safety – gas monitoring systems for inside and personal use Nitro-Infused Beer – for excellent cascading, stable creamy head, lighter can and lower packaging costs
An excellent way to preserve the product flavour and increase shelf life of your beer is with liquid nitrogen (LN2) dosing. In this process For brewery solutions contact us at; Ontario 800.361.3874 Quebec 800.892.2726 Western Canada 800.383.4262
Canada_BevCarb_Sales@praxair.com
a precise dose of liquid nitrogen is delivered immediately before capping or seaming. One of the most important benefits is total package oxygen reduction commonly referred to as DO (dissolved oxygen). This results in lower oxygen content so the CO2 and nitrogen content are preserved resulting in better quality beer.
s h ow
Pr e v i e w
ontario
cbc
cleaning of the brewery. Brand protection is a primary focus – ensuring highest levels of beer quality with our
Krones
customized sanitation programs, colour-coded sanitation
Immerse yourself in the wonderful world of craft
tools to prevent cross-contamination, etc.
brewing, and discover how with the right equipment from
Fairtax
Steinecker you can conjure up your own magnificent beer. But craft breweries don’t only brew the beer, they also
Fairtax is an industry leader in obtaining government
bring the liquid gold safely from the tank into the bottle:
funding in Canada. Our group of companies, totalling over
fillers, labellers and packers from Krones and Kosme are
200 employees, has recovered billions since inception.
the connecting links between the brewer and the beer-
We specialize in obtaining government grants and
lovers, turning your production operation into child’s play.
incentives, including SR&ED and sales tax.
Fast Track Packaging
Lorpon Labels Lorpon Labels provides smart, value-driven labels and
Leaders in sleeved cans and turn-key packaging for the
packaging to manufacturers and retailers throughout
Craft Beer, Cider, Wine, and Beverage industries. Unlimit
North America. We focus on innovative labels and single-
yourself by leveraging our vast selection of no-cost and
serve packages for everything from food and beverage
premium special effects, industry lowest prices, and
to household and beauty products. Using the HP Indigo
superior quality.
WS6800, the most advanced label press on the market, allows us to offer tremendous customization options and
First Key Consulting The world’s leading beer industry consulting firm. First
affordable solutions.
Key is a uniquely global firm, having worked for craft
Mason Professional Corp
to large-scale breweries in over 50 countries around
Mason PC is a boutique trademark law firm that helps
the world. We have the most talented, interesting
growing businesses select and protect names and logos
and experienced brewery consultants who provide
in Canada and around the world.
independent, objective and comprehensive solutions in every area of our clients’ businesses.
GEA
Master Brewers’ Association of the Americas Master Brewers Association of the Americas is a dynamic,
At GEA our comprehensive portfolio includes over
global community working to advance the brewing,
50 solutions developed to meet the needs of today’s
fermentation, and allied industries by: advocating
growing craft beer market. We design and engineer
the exchange of knowledge; creating, assembling,
turnkey breweries and provide individual solutions and
interpreting, and disseminating credible and beneficial
components to enhance the performance of existing
information; developing world-class education offerings;
operations. Our HB Craft Brew separator systems set
and providing valuable personal and professional
the industry standard for clarification and beer recovery
development opportunities.
during all phases of brewing.
Georg Fischer
McLean Hallmark At McLean Hallmark, we work hand in hand with our
At Georg Fischer our Cool-Fit Plus pre-insulated plastic
clients to provide solutions that foster growth and give
piping system is designed with brewery glycol systems in
you piece of mind to let you focus on what you do best.
mind. Cool-Fit Plus is a 3 in 1 piping system, is corrosion
The Protect Your Craft program was designed by a team
and maintenance free and will completely eliminate
of leading craft loving insurance professionals.
condensation and mold build up on your cooling system.
Huron Feeding Systems
Mettler Toledo Mettler Toledo is a global manufacturer and marketer
We sell, install and maintain the tanks and augering
of precision instruments for use in laboratory and
equipment to several breweries in Ontario.
industrial applications. Our Process Analytics division
Keg-Management Keg management presents a different way to get kegs by
produces analytical measurement solutions for industrial manufacturing processes.
offering leasing options. This Canadian company offers to
Micro Matic Packaging
their customers the opportunity to grow efficiently without
Micro Matic USA, Inc. a global leader in keg valves and
spending big amounts of money when purchasing kegs.
draft beer dispensing systems for over 50 years. Insist
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s h ow
Pr e v i e w
ontario
cbc
on kegs with New Generation valves installed. We offer
and sectors worldwide. The foundation to our success
tools and replacement parts, as well as personalized
is combining business understanding with packaging
technical support and troubleshooting for following best
innovation. We work collaboratively with our customers to
practices when it comes to safe and effective repair and
understand their strategic and portfolio needs and identify
maintenance.
opportunities to optimise their product proposition.
Nordic Malz
Phoenix Packaging International Corp
Nordic Malz Corp is the first new Canadian imported malt
Phoenix is a packaging solutions company. From standard
supply chain company in over 20 years. They have the
to customized glass bottles, ceramic bottles, closures,
experience to make specialized custom malts from 5 ton
labels, decoration and much more, we provide a wide
trial batches to 20 ton FCL.
variety of options to help you achieve your perfect
North Keg North Keg was founded with one goal in mind – to
package. We work with materials such as glass, plastics, ceramics, and metals.
provide brewers with an alternative pathway to owning
Portage Promo
the best quality kegs in the industry. Our unique lease
Portage Promo has been a leader in the promotional
to own model allows your brewery to minimize capital
products industry since 1994. All of our products are
out by switching over to low fixed monthly payments. All
handpicked for the markets we serve. Our personalized
our kegs come custom branded with your brewery logo,
service, innovative graphics, unique products, and timely
ensuring you maintain a strong brand image at licensee
delivery set us apart from the competition.
locations.
Nova Filtration
Praxair Praxair has assisted breweries from as small as 1,000
Nova Filtration Technologies Inc. is a leading supplier of
up to 400,000 hectolitres annually with their brewing,
liquid filtration products with over 35 years of experience
carbonating, bottling/canning/kegging, blanketing,
in the liquid filtration industry. For the Craft Brewing
purging and degassing needs. We can help you
Industry we supply: Sanitary Cartridge Filter Housings,
determine the best mode of supply for your carbon
Pleated Membrane Cartridges, Pleated Depth Cartridges,
dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen, the right equipment
Filter Pads, Plate and Frame Filters among others.
such as generators, dosers and injectors and the right safety monitoring equipment to help ensure a safe work
Packaging Technologies Inc Packaging Technologies Inc. is a leading manufacturer of
environment for your team.
high definition graphic packaging with brilliant color that
Prospero
stands out on the shelf at retail for the Craft Beer Industry.
With 45 years market experience, Prospero Equipment
PTI Inc. offers 4pk/ 6pk carriers, 12pk/ 24pk beer boxes,
offers Brewhouses to tanks, filters, pumps, Copper stills,
beer trays and other items.
bottling and canning lines, labeling and case packing equipment, even pasteurising tunnels. TUNNELS- and we
Pall
service everything with our own factory trained in-house
Pall Corporation is a global filtration, separation and purification leader providing solutions to meet the critical
technical teams located around the continent.
fluid management needs of customers across the broad
R.E. Morrison Equipment Inc.
spectrum of life sciences and industry.
Manufacturers of the Adamark Brand Blower Driven Air
Palladium Insurance
Knife Drying Systems for cans and bottles of all sizes, using only Republic American made Blowers and Air
Palladium Insurance is an independent insurance
Knives with Canadian made accessories. Design, build,
brokerage firm offering home, auto, commercial, travel,
install and support systems from 40 to 1200 BPM.
and health insurance protection to our clients throughout Canada. As a craft brewer the focus of your business is
Sessions Craft Canning
utilizing time-honoured, traditional techniques to create
Sessions Craft Canning (SCC) is Ontario’s first and most
fresh, natural products for sale to local markets.
comprehensive mobile canning company, offering full
Petainer Petainer sets the benchmark in sustainable high
service packaging and goods options (Mobile Canning, Shrink Sleeves & Label Application, Printed Can Distributor) to craft beverage manufactures.
performance packaging across dozens of industries
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Specific Mechanical
UBC Group
Since 1986, Specific Mechanical has handcrafted
UBC Group is a both manufacturer and distributor of draft
brewing and distilling systems for the craft beer and
beer and beverage equipment. At UBC Group Canada,
spirits industries. Our mission is to provide the world’s
we sell a wide range of equipment such as beer kegs
finest handcrafted brewing and distilling systems,
and brewery tanks, kegerators, back bars and glass door
complimented by the industry’s most comprehensive
refrigerators, draft beer towers, jockey boxes, draft beer
customer success program.
parts, market umbrellas, illuminated signs and more.
Stanpac
Wessuc Inc.
Stanpac is a manufacturer of packaging supplies for the
Turning Waste into Value. Wessuc is a waste company
dairy, food and beverage industries. We love dairy and
who provides solutions for the effective re-use of what
specialize in ice cream packaging, manufacturing food
might otherwise be waste materials. We're more than just
containers and paper board ice cream cups, and we also
cleaning out lagoons and hauling away waste.
excel with glass container printing.
Tap Handles
West Coast Canning West Coast Canning (WCC) is Canada’s first mobile
Tell your story. Brewers commit their lives to creating an
canning company, offering full service packaging and
amazing beer. It's our job to capture that same passion
goods options to craft beverage manufactures. We allow
with impactful product solutions that tell your story and
our customers to allocate capital, space, and expertise to
sell more beer. Taphandles is the leading designer and
other areas of their operation.
manufacturer of custom tap handles.
Twin Monkeys Beverage Systems
Zenan Glass Zenan Glass stands alone when it comes to glassware
Twin Monkeys Beverage Systems is a team of automation
decorators as the largest in Canada and Top 5 in North
engineers and commercial brewers that have come
America. Zenan brands over 12 million units per year.
together to create world-class beverage automation.
brewersjournal.ca
Autumn 2017
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m e e t
th e
b r e w e r
cowbell
From Barn to Bar It's a brewing story eight years in the making but now, in 2017, Cowbell is putting Blyth, Ontario well and truly on the brewing map with its new 26,000 square foot destination brewery.
David, built Sparling’s Propane, which grew to be one of the largest propane retailers in Canada before it was sold to a national energy company. Steven, David, and the third generation, Grant have taken this business expertise into craft brewing. Despite opening in August 2017, the beginning of the Cowbell story can be traced back eight years when the
by TIM SHEAHAN
wheels were set in motion for economic development underway across Huron County. Blyth was identified by
I
a study as an area of renewal and one means to help
n the first 12 days we have had seven thousand people through the doors. It’s an incredible feeling
catalyse that was to open a brewery. Initial suggestions put out included a brewpub but it
and we are really appreciative of that.”
wasn’t long before the idea of a full-scale setup started to
take hold. Handily a site to build said brewery on was only
The people behind Cowbell want Blyth, Ontario
and the people of Blyth, Ontario want Cowbell. It's
no surprise that Grant Sparling, general manager and vice president of the new brewery couldn’t be happier.
a stones throw away. In the 1970s, as Sparling’s Propane grew, Grant Sparling’s grandpa purchased the neighbouring farm
A brewery's ability to play their part in transforming
from a gentleman called Robert Henry and it has been
an area is well known, they can even help raise property
in the family ever since. Over the years, the family has
prices in some cases. But it says a lot about Cowbell’s
donated land for the construction of the Emergency
immediate impact on Blyth that the main image on the
Services Training Centre and two soccer pitches, but they
Blyth, Ontario page of TripAdvisor is that of the brewery
retained acreage, that would eventually become home to
itself. Not bad for a business that, at the time of writing,
Cowbell Brewing Co.
had been open little more than three weeks. Cowbell is owned by the Sparling family, one that has
This land at the corner of Highways 4 and 25 was formerly a cattle farm – which served, in part, as
entrepreneurial roots in Blyth, Ontario, going back three
inspiration for the brewery’s name. Beyond the name,
generations. Grant Sparling and his sons, Steven and
Sparling explains, the family recognize that farmers
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m e e t
th e
b r e w e r
cowbell
“
We are crafting our brand, our stories, our future Grant Sparling, general manager, Cowbell
are the true stewards of the land, and in honouring the
“The first step in minimizing the environmental impact
property’s past, Cowbell conducts itself in a sustainable
of the main brewery and restaurant building is reducing
and environmentally conscious manner.
energy consumption using smart building enclosure
The facility itself is incredibly impressive. The 26,000
systems, equipment, lighting, dramatically reducing
square foot destination brewery is located just south of
water consumption in the brewing process, and providing
Blyth on 111-acres at the corner of Highways 4 and 25. The
systems that are derived from the building’s conceptual
authentic 19th century barn architecture features soaring
inspiration.”
ceilings with visitors able to take part in self-guided
The lofty interior spaces of the brewery use rooftop
brewery tours on the catwalk, local farm to table fare in
cupolas, equipped with remote control windows, as an
the restaurant and on the verandah, wood fired pizza, and
effective, traditional means of ventilation. Additionally,
the main event, excellent beer.
the building’s orientation on the property is designed to
“There are so many breweries popping up in across the
globe. You have to offer something worthwhile to stand out. It has to be unique, special and creative,” Sparling
effectively reduce the energy required for heating and cooling. State-of-the-art brewing equipment and design
explains. “In our mind, the beer had to be great and it
comes from Newlands Systems Inc. (NSI) of Abbotsford,
has to be the starting point but every other aspect of the
BC. Some of the key features of this include electrical
experience has to be excellent, too. It has to be. Look,
components equipped with variable frequency drives
everyone that comes here has to drive and you’re looking
to reduce unnecessary electrical draw, internal rotating
at a minimum of 15 minutes here and back so we need to
jets that reduce water consumption as they clean. It also
offer an experience that lives up to expectations.”
features a low-energy brew kettle boiling design that
While much emphasis has been placed on the
reduces primary energy by 50%, evaporation water by up
customer-facing side of the Cowbell operation, it’s
to 80%, and allows remaining vapour to be condensed
important to point out that the brewery is the first carbon
and used to generate hot water.
neutral operation of its kind in North America. Cowbell will offset 100% of its greenhouse gas
In addition, Cowbell’s targeted water-to-beer consumption ratio is 4:1 – a figure far lower than the
emissions including all energy consumed in the brewing
relative industry standard of 10:1. Sparling and the brewery
and facility operations. This goal stemmed from a three-
are particularly proud that they operate a closed-loop
step approach as established by lead architect, Jason
facility with an onsite deep well supplying 100% of the
Morgan of Allan Avis Architects, Goderich, ON.
brewing water. This design also features the company’s
Speaking prior to the opening, Morgan explained:
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own effluent management system, meaning there will be
Brewers Journal Canada
cowbell
no impact on municipal sanitary services infrastructure. Such building design and water saving strategies,
m e e t
th e
b r e w e r
Upon graduating from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire in 2015, 10 days later he was starting a
along with many others, will significantly reduce the
program at BrewLab in Sunderland, England. Here
environmental footprint of the brewery operation.
he learned about the brewing industry areas such
Another step is Cowbell’s carbon sequestration program.
as ingredients food pairings, business and running a
This is achieved on-site through an intensive, 29-acre
brewery. Graduating as a brewer in the September of that
reforestation project. The initiative, a 2010 joint venture
year, he and Rich researched craft breweries in North
with the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, planted
America, Canada and the UK.
approximately 12,000 native tree species to return the
“I think the US is around eight years ahead of what
land back to forest, complete with trails and meadows for
we’re doing in Canada if I’m honest. They are building
year-round use.
for the long term and that is the type of model we
Cowbell’s brewhouse setup from NSI is part of the
wanted to take and build here in Cowbell. We’re building
facility that the whole team beam about when asked.
for longevity and that’s what why we have invested in
The brewing team spent more than a year with a crew
equipment from NSI, GEA and Krones. The best of the
of engineers, architects, experienced brewers, suppliers
best. It is the top end,” he explains.
and installers designing its custom, four vessel 50HL brewhouse.
The Brewlab course introduced Sparling to other aspiring brewers from across the global stage but it
Earlier this year, the team took part in the factory
was closer to home where his paths would cross with
acceptance test of the brewhouse. For it, they travelled
brewmaster Stephen Rich. Dave Clarke has more than
to NSI’s manufacturing facility in Abbotsford, BC, to
20 years of sales and senior marketing management
see the Cowbell brewhouse assembled for the first
experience with beer and spirits companies including
time, and verify its function and construction meet our
Bass, Diageo and Creemore Springs. Upon the latter’s
specifications and goals.
sale to Molson Coors, he joined the Cowbell team and
“For this process, the NSI team built the bare bones of the brewhouse and supplied it with power in the same way it will be constructed on site, explains Stephen Rich,
introduced Rich as an ideal candidate of brewmaster for the upcoming brewery. “During his time at Creemore, Stephen brewed more
brewmaster at Cowbell. “The full platform with stairs
than 400 types of beer with fruit, spice, vegetable or
is assembled, all four brewhouse vessels go in, the
anything he could get his hands on,” says Sparling. “It’s
spindle station (sampling station) is installed, the digital
absolutely fantastic to have something so creative like
controller is active, the hop dosing units are functional,
him on board and his beers are already going down a
the rectification unit is on and most pumps and valves
storm. We are already seeing drinkers come in, try a
work to see water flow. The stacks are left off, steam is
craft beer for the first time and before long, be sampling
not connected, and electrical conduit and other detail
and enjoying a 12% barleywine. It is so satisfying, it is so
plumbing is left off. Essentially the system is built so its
exciting. It’s hard to put into words.”
process-driven components are operable and it can push water around.” He added: “The factory acceptance test allowed our
The brewery is currently able to output around 1520,000hl per annum but there’s already plans in place to add new fermenters to help produce beer for its high-
team to verify basic function for the brewhouse and all
end GEA and Krones equipment. Other plans include
its major components. It is also a great time to talk about
building an Estate Beer brewhouse that will use fruit
automation, maintenance, build quality, and any changes,
and vegetables from an accessible restaurant garden, a
directly with the people who engineered and built the
working farm complete with barley, hops, and an orchard.
system. “We spent nearly two full days at Newlands with
“We will also complete construction of a unique outdoor natural amphitheatre for live music, culture, and
the brewhouse, inspecting (and swooning over)
athletic events, with space for 15,000 people. We want a
pumps, valves, welds, tanks and function. The level
year-round entertainment venue at The Cowbell Farm,” he
of craftsmanship that went into building the Cowbell
adds.
brewhouse was very obvious when we got our first look at it. It was clear the NSI fabrication team was proud of their work and of the results.” The NSI team is proud of their work and of the results,
You get the impression that Sparling aren’t ones to rest on their laurels… He adds: “We want to be unique, we want to be authentic. We have built a barn that would have been
as is its customer in Cowbell. While Stephen Rich is the
built here 100 years ago, using food that is sourced here
brewmaster, forming part of a 110-strong team across
and we are telling stories in each and every one of our
the whole company’s operations, Grant Sparling has also
beers.
completed training in the field of brewing.
brewersjournal.ca
"We are crafting our brand, our stories, our future.”
Autumn 2017
57
s e c to r
T raining
and
E ducation
Why training is essential to your brewery Ensuring your team has access to the best training and education available is an essential facet of any progressive, forward-thinking business. The brewing industry is no different. Whether you're a director of brewing operations, front of house, or in sales, knowing as much about your product is invaluable in building a brand and educating your audience.
Alongside Chris Gillis, manager who works in the field of Applied Research and Development at Durham College, the college’s Siebel instructors include Dirk Bendiak, who has more than 20 years with Molson Coors, Dave Coutts a former plant manager at Mill Street with more than 20 years experience with Labatts, and Erin Broadfoot, a homeopathic doctor who is a business partner and launching her own brewery in the form of Little Beasts. The team believes that Canadian brewing schools are getting better at preparing students for the industry, but there is a distinct lack of hands-on options for brewers and those working in the industry.
by Tim Sheahan
“Back when Durham College first started to look into this and talked with many brewers, we heard very
A
clearly that technical topics such as recipe development,
breweries do find out at some point that they need to
came out of many discussions with brewers who wanted
shore up knowledge, for both themselves and their
to learn from those with real practical expertise. So,
employees. Often they find this out the hard way, after
bringing the oldest brewing school in North America to
mistakes, which hopefully are not too costly or damaging
Canada seemed to fit that need.”
s we see in many industries, every
quality control and lab testing, packaging, equipment
company has a different approach to
repair and maintenance, the business of brewing and
continuous learning and a large majority
even server training and food pairing were what brewers
of craft brewers are small businesses
wanted in one or two day hands on sessions,” they
with limited resources so readily investing
explain. “The notion of partnering with the Siebel Institute
in learning may not be a priority however, most
of Technology to pilot several of their courses in Ontario
to their brand,” explain the team at Durham College (DC).
The team adds: “We have also heard from experienced
And they should know.
brewers that it is important for young people and those
Durham College (DC) has an agreement with the
getting into the industry, as well as those looking at
Chicago-based Siebel Institute of Technology (Siebel
enrolling in brewing programs, to think of brewing as
Institute), North America’s oldest and most prestigious
a lifelong learning experience. If you ask any industry
brewing school, to deliver its craft brewing courses in
professional with 20+ years experience if they think they
Ontario.
know everything, none will say yes. While most of the
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Autumn 2017
59
post-graduate learning takes place on the job, there
offer a lot of different courses that focus on technical
is definitely a place for taking courses and attending
brewing and also the qualitative processes of brewing,”
seminars and webinars in the middle of your career as
says Mittag. “I think one of the reasons that Prud’homme
well.”
fits in well with technical brewing is that we provide the language and skills for brewers to talk to consumers. It’s
A way to go
critically important to be able to tell your story in manner that makes sense to the consumer. Not everyone understands the impact of alpha acids or amylase.”
R
oger Mittag, founder of Canada’s Thirst For
While we continue to see growth in the brewing
Knowledge and creator of the Prud’homme Beer
industry, both in Canada and abroad, many argue that
Certification, a sommelier style program for beer
few breweries are matching this growth with their own
and the first such program in Canada. He echoes the above, saying that we “still have a long way to go”. “I believe that we still have a long way to go. While
personal development. Something Mittag agrees on. “Not at all – Training is and always has been a ‘nice-todo’. Since is part of the soft skills, it doesn’t always seem
there are options for brewers to learn their trade in
to driving sales volume. In the time that I have spent in
colleges, they need more options. This industry is not
the industry, I completely believe in the overall impact of
just about brewing but it includes marketing, sales and
education for everyone in the business. We often forget
understanding distribution. One of the biggest concerns
that everyone involved in beer should have a certain level
is the consistency of beers in the marketplace. Many
of knowledge – not just about your brewery but beer in
of the brew masters around the world are bio-chemists
general. It’s not just for sales people!” he says. “Everyone
and the understanding of science is critically important
in the industry has impact with a consumer. I think one
to creating beers that are consistent. Consumers will
of the issues with providing training and beer training is
probably tire of trying hundreds of new brands all the
the transient nature of employment these days. Many
time and will most likely lean towards beers they know
employers are becoming wary of absorbing the cost of
are the same day-in, day-out. The Siebel Institute does
education when it’s possible the employee may look for
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Brewers Journal Canada
greener pastures at some point in time.
Crystal Luxmore in Canada. There is the 4 hour BeerSavvy
Mittag adds: “The other point of view on training is that
Bootcamp, which is get teach those working in the beer
employees now need more than just beer training. They
industry the basics. How to properly pour a beer, clean a
need to be experts in draught troubleshooting, in sales
class, and speak on a general level about beer styles and
etc. Understanding the market and how to achieve sales
flavour.”
targets is integral in growing business in a sustainable
He adds: “If an individual can’t attend an in-person
way. The amount of competition in the industry is
course, we offer a similar course online that’s accessible
incredibly intense these days and everyone needs to find
to anyone with an internet connection and includes the
their way.”
Certified Beer Server exam. The second in person course
For John Scholl, marketing manager for the Cicerone
is a one and half sensory class where 6 beer off-flavours
Certification Program, which has become the industry
are explained and sampled. We also offer onsite private
standard for identifying those with significant knowledge
workshop where a Master Cicerone will come to a
and professional skills in beer sales and service, he says
location to train entire staff. We also work with guilds to
Cicerone believes any education in beer is good for the
provide an 8-hour in depth sensory workshop on brewing
industry.
off flavours.”
“I believe there are several great options in Canada,
Finally, Craig Youdale, Dean at the Canadian Food
though breweries may have to actively search for them.
and Wine Institute at Niagara College says he and his
There are mainly two types of education for those
team see a constant and every growing demand for their
wanting to get into the beer industry; training that focus
brewing program.
on brewing and training that focuses on a wide breath
“We offer 18 seats every 4 months to perspective
of beer knowledge that includes handling, draft lines,
students and see about 200 applications for those
history, styles, and pairings,” says Scholl. “Pretty much
seats. Some applicants take years before they get
everything that involves beer after it’s been brewed.
accepted. We also have seen great demand for short
Cicerone® Certification Program focuses on the later. We
courses and upgrading style courses from the industry.
offer a few public courses taught by Certified Cicerone®
In response we are launching what we call our Brewing
brewersjournal.ca
Autumn 2017
61
Academy which is a one week Certificate that is 5 one
shelves. Breweries need to put out solid beer recipes free
day workshops on Production, Packaging, Ingredients,
of flaws to compete.”
Operations and Safety,” says Youdale. “There can never be enough training and development especially with an industry growing like craft brewing. Focus on Safety is
Mittag goes a step further, saying the issue is a big concern for him. “I have experienced a lot of substandard beers in the
paramount with the well-being of the general public and
past few years. Even though I don’t look for them, flaws
workers in mind.”
in beer reveal themselves quickly. Here’s the crux – I’m not saying that consumers are experienced enough
Continuous learning
to determine what oxidation or diacetyl smell or taste like but they do know that something is not quite right. Historically, brewers have become successful when they
T
he team at Durham believe that as we see in
have conquered the consistency and quality issues. It
many industries, every company has a different
really is the only way to convince a consumer that they
approach to continuous learning and a large
need to invest in your brand,” he explains.
majority of craft brewers are small businesses with limited resources so readily investing in learning may not be a
Is the customer always right?
priority however, most breweries do find out at some point that they need to shore up knowledge, for both themselves and their employees. “Often they find this out the hard way, after mistakes, which hopefully are not too costly or damaging to their
M
oving on from that, a major issue for breweries both new and old is that a bad consumer experience can negatively impact on the
brand.The college’s sense is increasing the amount of
wider industry. And addressing that dilemma is far from
hands-on training, education and skills development
straightforward.
available, while keeping it affordable and easy for working
Scholl explains: “It seems easy, but putting a well-
people to access, would go along way in helping the
developed recipe that’s free of flaws out is the best
industry,” they explain. “Durham College shares its 50th
way to avoid a bad beer experience. Also, making sure
anniversary with the establishment of the college system
that retail accounts are practicing proper handling and
in Ontario. As a post-secondary institution focused on
cleaning to ensure the beer is as the brewer intended.
hands-on, experiential learning, we are well positioned
That means keeping beer at in the correct temperature
to provide this type of training. In fact, our ideal solution
range, rotating stock, and keeping glassware and draft
would be a network of Canadian colleges working
lines clean.”
collaboratively to support the craft brewing industry by
According to Youdale at Niagara the issue lies with it
helping local brewers with challenges and conducting
being difficult to control your competitor and the overall
applied research in areas key to the sector and sharing
industry as a whole.
the results.” With that aforementioned growth comes an increase
“There are opportunities to create standards in the industry and time will tell if that develops. The wine
in competition. But the Durham team do not necessarily
industry created the VQA system for that exact reason to
believe that quality and consistency is at the level
ensure some quality standards. Its similar to any industry
required to sustain this, either.
is that people will gravitate to quality and consistency
“In a word “no”, but the awareness of the need for quality and consistency is getting there. Our sense is that this is an area where resources are needed in addition to education and training. From a consumer point of view quality and consistency
over time. A bad experience is more likely to hurt that producer rather than the whole industry,” he says. “First – make consistent qualitative beers. This means investing in QC labs or collaborating with brewers who have those facilities. The brewers typically all get along
are a key aspect to enjoying their favorite beverage and
with one another and are more than willing to help make
trying new brands and style. Quality and consistency
great beer. The second is education – we need to help
are the price of entry for a brewer to be in the game and
our partners (hospitality and retail) understand how to
ensuring the viability of his or her small craft brewery,”
store and handle beer properly. This is tough!” adds
they say.
Mittag. “Quality measures in trade are hard to maintain
Cicerone’s Scholl adds that quality and consistency
but are so vital to providing a great beer experience to the
are major factors not only sustaining growth, but in
consumer. With increased competition at retail, there is
developing growth. “The beer drinking public is becoming
a likelihood that we will get beer that is past its due date.
attune to quality as the flood of new beer hits taps and
This means a bad beer experience overall.”
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Personal development
neighbourhood while rural brewers should shoot for a 25-50k square radius,” he says. “This means that you don’t need full retail distribution in your province. Brewers also
F
or Durham, the solution, at least in part, goes
need to know the impact of trying to get too big too fast.
back to the training and personal development
Quite often, distribution goals outpace production. This
and being clear on what brewers need to know to
becomes a problem if you can’t meet demand.”
ensure quality and consistency of their products. “It’s also important this information is accessible
He adds: “For existing brewers, my advice is similar – stay true to your original plan while maturing your
and affordable through formal educational programs,
branding. Make sure that you are meeting the needs
workshop, seminars and hands on opportunities,
of your base consumer while trying to figure out how to
which is why the research being undertaken and the
attract a new beer fan.”
courses offered at Durham College is so important.
For Youdale, his advice to those at the beginning is
Industry associations such and the Ontario Craft Brewers
to start small, invest low, and build you brand. Quality
Association (OCB) also have role to play in helping to
comes with time and experience and don’t be too quick
establish standards for both education and production,”
to go head first with large investments, he says.
they say. “The other part of the equation is applying what
“Brewing is a tough business with small margins
is learned; instituting formal systems and processes to
and understanding sales and the market is equally as
embed consistent good practices in making, tasting and
important as brewing a great tasting beer. Brewers in the
testing to ensure a brewer knows what is being package
industry learn quickly that market share is vital and the
and shipped from their brewery.”
ability to get your product to the consumer is paramount.
And going forward, Mittag believes that there is a
The reason so much stress is out there with rules and
desire to learn and further knowledge in this industry, but
regulations is that it impedes this process. The other piece
it’s definitely something that needs to be enhanced.
of advice is be consistent. Great beer companies and
“For brewers starting out, the biggest obstacle is
brands are not just about quality but about consistency.
understanding the industry. Distribution is critical – how
Beer drinkers know what they want and want a brand that
do you actually attract a consumer? The old adage of
delivers each and every time,” he explains.
‘if you build, they will come’ is flawed in this industry.
Cicerone’s Scholl concludes: “My advice is to focus on
You really need to understand your profit centre and
quality. Set up a QC program, no matter what size. You
where you can grow your business. My advice for most
don’t need a $40k lab to run sensory training. Invest in
brewers these days is to own the area around your
education to create quality staff. The more rounded in beer
brewery / brewpub. The actual area will vary – big city
knowledge a staff is the happier your customers are going
centre brewers can stay within the boundaries of their
to be because your product is going to be better.”
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Supporting craft beer innovation and commercialization
Let Durham College help you with:
Brewing certificate courses
Brewing Microbiology
SPACE
IS LIMITED
Craft beer product development
Classes begin on Monday, October 23
Analytical lab services
Basics of Commercial Brewing
Access to funding, expertise, and facilities
Classes begin on Monday, November 13
www.durhamcollege.ca/research | 905.721.3223
www.durhamcollege.ca/siebelbrew | 905.721.3347
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yeast
Repitch and Reap the Benefits
When most brewers are starting out, they rely on dry yeast cultures for the bulk of production. Dry yeast is very easy to use, and affordable to the point that it does not need to be reused. However, as breweries and brewers grow, they often find themselves seeking out the wider range of flavours available through liquid yeast cultures, or the other benefits of liquid yeast slurry reuse.
R
eusing yeast presents possible benefits to both the brewer and the owner. The most obvious reason to reuse yeast is to reduce the cost of each brew. There are several other practical benefits to reusing yeast
within the brewer - many yeast strains exhibit increased fermentation performance, flocculation, and enhanced flavour compound production when reused (repitched). This improvement is most often observed in the 2nd to 3rd generation of the yeast. For reference, the 2nd generation of a culture is the batch of beer made with cells harvested from the initial pitch. If performed correctly, there are no downsides.
by Nate Ferguson
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can cause problems. The most notable issues are
harvested. Tunneling is when the yeast cake does not
Contamination and Yeast Health & Pitching
slide into an opening below the cone and instead forms
Contamination: If a beer is contaminated, then the
a passage in which beer begins to travel through causing
yeast culture will also be contaminated. If you harvest
a loss of beer and a reduced yield of yeast. Tunneling is
the contaminated culture and use it to inoculate another
more prominent in some yeast strains and is impacted by
batch, then the contamination will be present in the
tank design and cleaning regime.
repitched beer. Sources of contamination can be from
Collecting the yeast into a brink: Now that you are
process, equipment failure, or contaminated ingredients (fruit, etc). Yeast Health & Pitching: Ensuring healthy yeast is critical for brewers. Without a microscope and viability stain, it is not possible to directly assess the quantity and
yeast cropping
quality of a yeast culture. As a general rule, it is always better to overpitch than underpitch since underpitching is more likely to produce unpleasant flavours than overpitching. Escarpment Laboratories recommends using proper microscope technique to count and analyze your yeast
Method 1: Crop very slowly, allowing for gravity to induce tunnel collapse. This method is slower and does not ensure as complete of a crop, but it is much easier in practice.
culture and can advise where to acquire the equipment to do so.
Three main stages of Yeast Management
S
tage 1: Yeast Cropping. Understanding the Layers: Yeast is often cropped from the bottom of the conical fermentor cone after fermentation
and cooling to ensure that fermentation has come to completion and cells have flocculated out of the beer and sedimented at the bottom. This practices ends up
Method 2: Remove the beer from the top of the cake via a racking arm or standpipe and then remove the yeast cake (this process is often benefited with CO2 agitation after beer has been removed). This ensures near complete removal of the yeast cone however more labour is required. If you have yield problems with method 1, then we recommend method 2.
pro tips
producing “3 layers� within the yeast cone which need to be managed. Layer 1 is the Trub/Dead Yeast at the bottom which contains trub (protein) which precipitates from the wort during fermentation, as well as the earliest flocculating yeast.. This portion of the cone is normally darker brown to beige in colour and must be dumped from the cone before harvesting. Layer 2 is the Ideal & Healthy Yeast which is composed of healthy, fit for fermentation and dense to moderately dense culture. This region will be a light beige to tan in colour in lighter beers and darker in stouts/porters. This is the section of the cone you will harvest. Layer 3, the top layer, is the Poor Flocculating and Thin Yeast which is normally less useful for repitching. Methods for removing the yeast: Removing the yeast
u Yeast slurry contains CO2 which causes the yeast to expand/foam. It is never recommended to fill a brink to the top to account for expansion. u If tunneling occurs, stopping the flow and allowing for settling will mitigate the issue. Make sure while settling occurs that the end of the collection hose is capped or shut and the brink is covered/ free of environmental contamination. u When removing yeast from a tank it is always recommended to ensure 1-4 PSI of CO2 pressure to ensure a vacuum or oxidation of beer does not occur.
from the tank is easy, however there is one variable you must keep in mind to ensure enough cells can be
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ready to harvest you need a device to hold the yeast -
meaning that the longer you store your cells the less
commonly called a brink. A yeast brink is simply an easily
nutrients the cells will have when they are added to
sanitizable container used to contain the cropped yeast
the next fermentation. Cells with low nutrients reserves
under CO2 but not under pressure. This can be as simple
when pitched have a higher risk of producing off flavour
as a clean and unscratched sanitized plastic bucket, a
and/or stuck fermentation and due to this it is always
stainless steel bucket with tight fitting lid, a converted
recommended to use the cells as soon as possible.
Cornelius or Sanke keg up to expensive custom built
Different cells will be impacted by storage different. Yeast
sanitary brinks.
strains like Saisons can be stored for long periods of time while other strains such as English Ale yeasts cannot.
Yeast storage
Using the yeast sooner is always better. When do I know when the cells are no longer useful?
H
This is very strain-dependent, however there are a few
ow to Store Yeast: Once yeast is collected, the
general rules. We recommend using a microscope and
slurry must be kept cold in a walk in fridge (we
viability stain (either methylene blue or trypan blue) to
recommend between 0ºC and 5ºC) and away
determine viability. If the culture is less than 60-80%
from oxygen and sunlight. While in storage it is important
viable (strain dependent) it is likely time to dump the cells.
to prevent yeast stress: Head Pressure - Yeast should
Pitching yeast
not be stored under excess CO2 pressure. If using a pressurized brink, we recommend 5psi at most. Oxygen contact - Oxygen is a trigger for the cells to reenter respiration and leave dormancy. Exposing cells to oxygen will prime the cells for fermentation before it occurs, reducing the lifespan of the cells. Alcohol - Alcohol
H
ow to Pitch yeast and how much to use: How you pitch yeast is going to be based on what you are storing the yeast in - kegs are great for this
will stress out yeast cells and due to this it is normally
reason as you can push the yeast with CO2; It is important
recommended to harvest yeast from beer in the 4-6%
to depressurize the remaining yeast after use. If using
ABV range; there are some exceptions.
buckets that cannot be pressurized then your options
Can I store yeast in the cone of my fermentor? If your fermentor has glycol jackets on the cone, yes you can. A brink is however usually recommended as the
become limited to pouring yeast into the fermentor via a manway. There are two main ways brewers pitch yeast: Pour
additional head pressure from the liquid above the tank,
yeast into the ferment (before or after wort is present; Or
residual CO2, low nutrients, higher alcohol and IBU
inject yeast into the brew during transfer
content of the cone make it a non-ideal place for yeast
Pouring yeast into the fermentor. This is the most
to remain dormant. Harvesting the cells into a brink is
common method for small breweries as it is simple, does
recommended to reduce these issues.
not require a complex system or stainless and allows
How long can I store my yeast? The main question
for sanitary buckets to be used instead of a costly yeast
everyone has when storing yeast is “how long can I store
brink. There are a few measures that must be taken into
my yeast before it is no good”
account for this method so that you do not harm the cells.
This question is best answered when you relate it to
If adding yeast before knocking out make sure your
food. If you asked “how long is my soup in the fridge good
wort cooling is on max and slowly bring the wort online. If
for” the answer is always “sooner is better”; same goes for
wort cooling is not on or is not sufficient as soon as wort
yeast.
enters a yeasted fermentor the wort will heat and kill
To explain why this is you must realize that yeast is
some or all of the yeast. A way to consistently get around
not frozen or still while dormant - it is still alive and still
this is to add your yeast after the tank has been filled.
consuming its own nutrient reserves. Yeast cells have
However, if the fermentor does not have a top manway
2 main nutrient reserves - glycogen and trehalose.
or your yeast pitch is large, then this becomes infeasible
Glycogen is the main nutrient source, while trehalose
and/or dangerous.
provides rigidity to ensure physical stability. As the yeasts cells are dormant they will consume these nutrients,
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of wort. To do this you must pressurize the yeast brink, attach a valve to the brink and connect it to the chilled wort entering the fermentor. It is recommended for
about the author
this applications that a pump is not used however if unavoidable a positive displacement or diaphragm pump are appropriate. To ensure flow it is important to pressurize the tank to the proper PSI; if your pump places
Nate Ferguson is the co-founder of Escarpment Laboratories and an instructor at Niagara College
10PSI onto the line and your brink is pressurized to 10PSI then no yeast will leave the device. If no yeast is leaving then it is recommended you increase the pressure on the brink. A scale is normally used to measure the amount
what you as a brewer are trying to do and how the strain
of slurry entering the wort - as the slurry is removed the
you are working with operates. In general English and
weight will decrease allowing for controllable pitching.
Belgian strains are comfortable at the lower end of the
How much yeast should I pitch? In order to determine
range, while high gravity beers and Lagers should be
the amount of yeast to add to the tank we need to first
pitched at the high end of the range, especially when
determine a few parameters of the yeast - Its viability and
repitching.
its concentration. Viability is the % of the cells within the
What else can/should I do while pitching yeast? While
population that are alive. For example, if I have 100 cells
repitching yeast it is very important to oxygenate your
however only 90 of them are alive our culture is said to
wort just prior to or during yeast pitching. Oxygenation is
be 90% viable. Concentration is the quantity of cells per
commonly performed with a sintered stone (carbonation
mL of slurry. This is important as different cultures will
stone) in the wort stream between heat exchanger and
flocculate more or less intensely resulting in different
the fermentor. The biggest problem that occurs with this
slurry thicknesses.
process tends to be a lack of a flow meter for oxygen gas
For example, English strains will becomes much more compact and tightly flocced than Lager strains. If we are working with a thin slurry then we will have to add more
volume determination; normally a PSI gauge is all that is present. A common technique in many breweries is
litres of slurry to equal the same cell count of a thick
acid washing for the removal of potential brewery
slurry.
contaminations from the yeast culture. Resources for
The general rule of thumb is 1L of slurry per hL of beer,
yeast washing can be found online, and typically involve
however this is not an accurate measure as it does not
exposure to phosphoric acid or chlorine dioxide to help
take into account viability or cell concentration. For these
reduce bacterial load. In general, if good sanitation
reasons cell counting is highly recommended as part of
practices are followed and yeast reuse is limited to 10-15
the brewery yeast management program.
generations, yeast washing is not necessary. You should only harvest yeast from beers that
How much yeast?
turned out the way you wanted them and are free of fermentation off flavours. If the beer has noticeable off flavours, do not collect yeast from that tank. Additionally,
T
he amount of cells you need to add for a brew is
yeast should not be harvested from sour beers as the low
going to be different for each brew. A formula for
pH environment is non-ideal for yeast health.
the amount of cells needed for a ferment is given
Using the information in this guide, any brewer should be able to familiarize themselves with the best practices
here:
0.5-1.25 million cells/mL/â °P
and practical considerations to yeast repitching. Yeast
With this equation we can see that the larger the
repitching, when implemented properly, can reduce costs
volume of wort (mL) the more cells we are going to need.
if yeast is used for multiple, and significantly reduce tank
As we increase the gravity of the brew we will also need
time, which also creates greater operational efficiency in
more cells. The rule of 0.5-1.25 million cells is based on
the cellar.
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ONTARIO CRAFT BREWERS CONFERENCE (OCBC) & SUPPLIERS MARKETPLACE 2017 Thursday, October 19th, 2017 - Toronto
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Find the balance : Basic Beer Alcohol & Extract Determinations For several reasons brewers often need to be able to obtain basic alcohol and residual extract information for their beers. Alcohol values are important at point of sale to drive responsible consumption decisions by customers, and are sometimes required for legal reporting purposes. Having alcohol and extract information on hand also allows the brewer to compute brewhouse efficiencies and help them maximize their return on investment. Moreover, as the marketplace for beer gets ever more crowded, quality and consistency evaluations are becoming of paramount importance irrespective of any desired or required testing, explains Gary Spedding from BDAS LLC, a brewing and distilling analytical chemist and biochemist with a special interest in the origins and development of beverage flavour and in the sensory evaluation of beer and spirits.
legal reporting purposes, the brewer must have access to expensive and officially accepted instruments for their measurements or make use of a qualified and established third party analytical facility. If seeking an analytical testing facility for beer alcohol, extract and nutritional work, the brewer should be sure the facility fully understands how to test the beer and report the parameters. Data must be obtained using officially approved instrumentation and methods as quickly, efficiently, and accurately as possible while all being done at a reasonable cost. The brewer in the US might also ask if the lab is TTB certified or otherwise recognized as providing reliable data. For European brewers and Canadian brewers there are agencies that they can consult and laboratories available to test their products. With that said we now look at some basic evaluations and calculations to better understand key beer parameters no matter if products are tested in house or elsewhere. As this article is directed towards a British and Canadian brewing perspective, calories will be expressed in both US Calorie and International kJoule units.
Alcohol and extract determinations
C
areful measurement of the original extract (OE) of
by Gary Spedding
the wort and terminal gravity of the beer can lead to the calculation of attenuation (fermentation
T
efficiencies), and to determination of residual extracts
his review will illustrate how brewers may
(real and apparent) and alcohol content. A review on
obtain such alcohol and beer extract
how to determine alcohol content and extract values
values and then, along with optional
has appeared recently (Spedding, 2016); the reference
beer protein estimation, shows how to
shows the use of proper tools, methods, and robust
approximate both total beer carbohydrate,
algorithms needed to obtain accurate data. Currently user
and calorie information with a reasonable degree of
error, both through incorrect instrument use and method
accuracy. The approaches here allow the brewer to
performance and the use of simple formulas (often
obtain such information using basic instruments and
inaccurate “rule of thumb� homebrewer’s equations), is
robust algorithms. Though the data as obtained are to be
the main cause for many calculation discrepancies.
considered as unofficial results for internal use only. For
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determination is underpinned by a theory pertaining to fermentation and alcohol production, chemical mass
ABWt =
balance relationships of fermentation and, Carl Balling’s original theoretical work in brewing science. This topic has been covered elsewhere (Spedding, 2013, 2016 and
(OE − RE ) (2.0665) − (1.0665 × OE / 100)
references contained therein). To keep this present article as brief as possible only the details of the calculations
Where: ABWt is the percentage alcohol by weight (as
needed by the brewer to obtain key data are presented.
w/w, grams of alcohol per 100 grams of beer), OE, original
For brewers to be able to determine both the alcohol
extract and RE the real or present extract in degrees Plato. It
by weight and by volume for beer the following values
is assumed that the brewer is familiar with or will familiarize
must be known or obtained; the present or apparent
themselves with all these brewing terms.
gravity of the beer, the real extract of the beer and the original extract of the wort. To help solve for these various
The original extract of wort is the amount of material
terms an arithmetical relationship exists between them as
extracted from the mash and is measured in grams of
attributed to Carl Balling. The relationship which is known
extract per 100 grams of wort. The brewer will determine
as Ballings’s formula is:
the original extract by measuring the specific gravity of
OE % P =
( A% mass x 2.0665 + RE ) x 100 ( A% mass x 1.0665 + 100) (1)
the wort and will relate this to the established sucrose (= extract) tables (in grams per 100 grams) to report the original extract content in degrees Plato. Or more simply they will determine the OE using a Plato hydrometer. For the brewer limited to the use of a hydrometer, real extract (RE) can be approximated using the OE (of the
Where: OE is original extract (Plato; g/100g or mass/mass),
original wort) and AE (apparent extract of the final and
A% mass is alcohol by weight, RE is the real extract and
degassed beer) and by using another empirical equation
the numbers in the numerator and denominator are as
recently revised but based on Balling’s work:
described below. The above formula (equation 1) is based on an understanding of the mass balance relationship in
RE = (0.1948 × OE ) + (0.8052 × AE )
brewing – simply the chemical relationship dealing with
Where: AE = apparent extract – that extract value
the conversion of fermentable sugars to alcohol, carbon
determined when alcohol is present. This is the value for
dioxide and yeast biomass. Theoretically, 1 gram of
gravity obtained by the brewer on the final attenuated beer.
fermentable sugar will yield 0.51 gram of ethanol and 0.49 gram of carbon dioxide. In fact, some sugar is needed for
The real extract (RE) assessment here will always be
cell growth and so, more realistically, the ethanol yield
an estimate for reasons discussed elsewhere (Spedding,
is more likely 0.46 gram, and carbon dioxide 0.44 gram
2016). Using equation 3, the brewer will find satisfactory
from 1 g sugar. Or more simply put: 2.0665 g sugar yields
answers to RE values compared to those obtained from
1 g ethanol, 0.9565 g CO2 and 0.11 g yeast and - for the
official instrumentation over the typical ranges of OE, real
equations below: 0.9565g and 0.11g sum to 1.0665g which
degree of fermentation (RDF), and alcohol for most beers
is the extract not converted to alcohol.
(see Spedding, 2013 and 2016 for a fuller discussion on
An application of Balling’s formula and a minimum
limitations to the above approaches). Errors in evaluations
number of analytical measurements allows the brewer,
between official and less accurate methods are typically
without the full range of sophisticated instruments
quite small but are not considered further here. Operators
to obtain some quite accurate values for alcohol and
should be aware of accuracy and precision for all
extract using a series of approximate beer calculations. In
methods and instruments used.
simplifying the discussion, it is known, from above that a
Getting back to the use of Plato values - by
quite accurate estimate of alcohol content can be derived
substitution in the above formula (Eq. 3), it is possible to
by subtracting, from the original extract (OE), the final or
solve for the alcohol by weight without directly inputting a
present extract gravity (PG) as “real extract” (RE – not the
calculated or determined RE value:
apparent extract, AE), assuming no process dilution, and by applying conversion factors which infer the alcohol content from the drop in the wort gravity occurring during fermentation. Using an equation, deriving from Balling’s
ABWt =
0.8052 × (OE − AE ) (2.0665) − (1.0665 × OE /100)
formula noted above, alcohol weight can be calculated:
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And then, if the SG value for the beer has also been
be reported both % by weight (wt.) and by volume (vol.)
determined the alcohol by volume can be deduced with
to two decimal places. For reporting purposes brewers
a correction to account for the specific gravity of the beer:
in the US are allowed a tolerance of +/- 0.3% alcohol by volume (see American Society of Brewing Chemists,
ABV ( % by vol ) =
ABWt × SG beer SG ethyl alcohol at 20 0C / 20 0C
2017). Armed with the set of principles, equations and tables defined or referenced above - if the brewer can obtain either reasonably accurate Plato extract values or SG
Where: SG is the specific gravity, e.g., for the beer or pure
values for the original extract (gravity) of their wort and
ethanol respectively.
the terminal (apparent) extract gravity of the resulting beer – as well as real extract (measured or calculated),
This simplifies to:
ABWt × SG beer ABV = 0.7907
via use of hydrometers, refractometers or simple digital density meters, they can get quite close to true alcohol results for beers with low to reasonably high alcoholic strengths – typically 2.5-12% ABV and real extract values of around 2.5-8 degrees Plato (see caveats in Spedding, 2016). Furthermore, with the real extract value for the beer
in hand several other useful equations can be applied as
Variant equations are available but alcohol should
described below.
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Carbohydrate/12 fl. oz. beer = 5.48 x (355 x 1.01534/100) =
Basic nutritional calculations
19.75 g (See Beer-6 in the ASBC Methods of Analysis -
W
ith alcohol by weight, real extract and total
American Society of Brewing Chemists, 2017 for further
beer protein determined it is possible to
details. The European Brewery Convention also supplies
obtain a good estimate of total carbohydrate.
a special methods manual that covers the same details.)
Protein values will need to be obtained from a third-
A final note here covers the fact that in the absence of
party lab and this complex topic has been discussed
protein and ash data the real extract value can be taken
elsewhere (Weygandt et al, 2017). For a more accurate
as an upper limit on the carbohydrate content of the
carbohydrate determination a value known as ash (which
beer – a rough upper estimate! Though use this value as a
is the inorganic mineral content in the beer expressed as
crude estimate only if anyone requests the carbohydrate
% by weight per 100 mL – w/v) will also be needed; ash
load of a beer style, and note also that some of that
determination has also been discussed by Weygandt et
carbohydrate is non-calorie bearing (again see Weygandt
al, (2017). Established brewers know how to calculate total
et al, 2017).
calories in their beers starting with just alcohol and real
Calories, energy and definitions
extract information; many more craft brewers should now learn how to do so. In Europe researchers also showed that, for the most part, a set of routine calculations solve the overall calorie values for many of the beers they tested (Olšovská et al, 2015). For simple nutritional purposes, we can consider that traditional beers contain mainly alcohol, carbohydrates,
I
n the US, the term calorie refers to a kilocalorie. One kilocalorie (kcal) is the same as one Calorie (upper case C). A kilocalorie is the amount of heat energy
required to raise the temperature of one kilogram of
and protein. For unofficial in-house estimation, the ash
water by one degree Celsius. Nutritional calculations are
determinations may be omitted from certain nutritional
largely based on the so-called Atwater factors, which
calculations (see below). The more detailed examination
express the caloric content per nutrient source (fat,
of the topic presented by Weygandt et al, (2017) should
protein, carbohydrate, alcohol) in terms of calories per
again be consulted for more official nutritional reporting
gram. For protein and carbohydrate this is 4 kcal/gram,
claims.
fat 9.0 kcal/gram, alcohol 6.9 kcal/gram (7.0 in Atwood
Carbohydrate calculations. Once the protein,
tables though brewers’ use 6.9).
ash and extract values for the beer are known the
total carbohydrate value is obtained by the formula:
(University of Minnesota, 2017). The international or SI unit
Carbohydrates g/100g beer = Real Extract – protein – ash.
for measuring food energy is the joule with nutritionally
An example will serve to illustrate the total
The Atwater factors are discussed elsewhere
relevant amounts of energy expressed in kilojoules (kJ,
carbohydrate content in a robust porter. Note: a typical
1000J). 1 US calorie is 4.18(65) joules or 1kcal (Calorie) is
serving size as in the US – 12 US fl. oz (355 mL) is used
4.18kJ (usually rounded to 4.2). The related Atwater factors
in the examples below. It should be easy to see how to
in kilojoules are: protein, 16.8 kJ/gram (rounded to 17),
adjust for a different serving size.
fat, 37.8 kJ/gram (not relevant to us here), carbohydrate 16.8 kJ/gram (rounded to 17) and alcohol at 29 kJ/gram
Porter
(Hughes and Baxter, 2001). As total beer calorie values are sometimes important to consumers and for reporting to official regulatory
6.40°P = real extract, (°P = degrees Plato, g/100g or % by
bodies we provide the total calorie calculations that
weight); 0.70 = protein % by weight; and 0.22 = ash % by
will be of most use to the brewer. An example for total
weight; 1.01534 = Specific gravity (SG) of beer; 355 = 12 fl.
calorie determinations in beer as based on calculations
oz. in mL.
described in ASBC Method Beer 33 again includes the robust porter beer data as noted above for the
Carbohydrate g/100g beer = 6.40 – 0.70 – 0.22 = 5.48 g
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carbohydrate determination.
Brewers Journal Canada
alcohol
Porter
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caloric content, as determined by approved TTB analysis, is within the tolerance +5 and -10 calories of the labeled caloric content (https://www.ttb.gov/rulings/80-3.
Alcohol by weight; 5.54%, real extract; 6.40 Plato (%
htm). For example, a label showing 96 calories will be
by weight), ash; 0.22 (% by weight) and SG of the beer
acceptable if the analysis of the product shows a caloric
1.01534.
content between 86 and 101 calories. European and Canadian regulations may be slightly different and the
Calories per 100 grams of beer: = 6.9 * (5.54) + 4 * (6.40 - 0.22) = 62.95.
brewer should always be aware of local and changing regulations and the tolerances for reporting caloric content in kJ terms.
[The real extract minus the ash is considered as protein and carbohydrate and it will be recalled from above that
Conclusion
there are 4 kcal of energy per gram for both protein and carbohydrate.] Calories per 12 fl. oz. (355 mL beer). = 62.95 * (355 * 1.01534/100) = 226.9. [226.9 Calories or kcal.]
A
ny brewer routinely getting alcohol and extract data and (optionally) ash and protein values can get quite good estimates of their beer’s
As already mentioned above the brewer could omit the ash value and still obtain a suitably accurate value of the calories if the alcohol by weight and real extract
carbohydrate content and note the caloric impact per serving size. Furthermore, they will be better informed on their own
values have themselves been obtained accurately. From
brew-house efficiencies, as well as providing consumers
the data above the astute reader should be able to back-
of their beers with nutritional information to help them
calculate the alcohol by volume for this porter beer (hint it
make better choices in their drinking of fine craft and
is slightly above 7.0%)
homebrewed beers.
In the UK, the calorific (energy) value is calculated in a
The brewer should also check out the Scandinavian Beer
related way to the above using a formula based on Food
calculator to perform a range of calculations including
Labeling Regulations:
calories in kJoule units (http://www.beercalc.com/). However, note how the calculator is not using an ash term
Energy value (kJ/100 gram) = (alcohol * 29) + (carbohydrate * 17) + (protein * 17)
for calorie determination. It simply takes the real extract as if all protein and carbohydrate as best we can tell. The
Simplifying and incorporating the ash value:
values should all be good enough for most purposes.
Energy value (kJ/100 grams of beer) = 29 * (5.54) + 17 * (6.40
The reader should practice with this robust and freely
- 0.22) = 265.7
available on-line tool. For those brewers with a wider distribution of their
For the example: kJ/12 fl. oz. (355 mL beer). = 265.7 * (355 * 1.01534/100) = 957.7 [957.7 kJ]
products, and whose beers might come under the recent US and European nutritional mandate guidelines, more extensive and official testing will be required (consult local
If using the US approach, simply multiply the kcal
regulatory authorities, the author, BDAS, LLC, Olšovská
number by the rounded conversion factor number 4.2 to
et al, 2015 and Weygandt et al, 2017 for current details).
obtain the kJ value. From the above example, the values
Perhaps most significantly though, is that those brewers
would then compute out to be 264.4 kJ/100 grams of
not paying more attention to quality considerations may
beer or 953.0 kJ/12 fl. oz serving of the beer.
not survive in an ever more crowded and competitive
Depending on exactly how calculated (using either
marketplace.
the accurate or rounded values), these values will vary a
Product consistency is a hot topic today and this
little but should provide an adequate means to obtaining
review on alcohol measurements and nutritional basics
data that will be within most tolerated reporting ranges.
should, hopefully, provide a platform to help the brewer
In the US, the statement of caloric content on labels
launch a quality control program to ensure delivery of the
for malt beverages will be considered acceptable if the
most consistent highest quality beer time after time.
brewersjournal.ca
Autumn 2017
77
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yeast
s ci e nc e
Yeast: The new hops Given the impressive range of yeast’s biodiversity and the ingenuity of modern scientists, the potential of beer yeast to undergo a hop-like explosion has now moved beyond theory to become an exciting, new reality.
paved the way for lagers to become the most popular beer worldwide. However, what’s popular with the brewing world right now is being “different.” This desire has eroded the dominance of uniform, “industrial” lagers in favour of small-batch craft beers. Given the explosion of craft brewing, brewers are now constantly in search of new and diverse ingredients with which to differentiate their products. To this end, hops, barley, and even water are
by Jason Hung, Zachari Turgeon & matthew Dahabieh
T
now painstakingly sourced to exacting specifications to generate interesting flavours and aromas.
Yeast, breeding the "other" ingredient
he biodiversity of yeast is an incredibly powerful force capable of not only profoundly shaping the utility of yeast, but also is the foundation of a global beer industry estimated by Canadean at more
than US$700 billion. Indeed, some 450 years ago, a wild yeast strain
Y
east, however, remains an enigma to most brewers, who tend to ignore it much like in the original German Reinheitsgebot beer purity law.
But this is a mistake given yeast’s impressive biodiversity in comparison to other brewing ingredients. Indeed, due
growing on a beech tree in Patagonia somehow found its
to the ease and speed of yeast propagation, the number
way into a cold fermentation tank in Bavaria, ultimately
of untapped Saccharomyces species and the inherent
becoming what we now know as lager yeast. Today,
genetic flexibility of yeast, scientists can now develop
Canadean estimates that lager yeast is responsible for
novel, customized yeast strains to exacting specifications,
more than 90% of the world’s two billion hectolitres of
all using the non-GMO techniques — screening, artificial
annual beer production.
selection and selective breeding — that are already
The canonical lager yeast, Saccharomyces pastorianus, is in fact a hybrid of the traditional
familiar to hops and barley breeders. As with beer, the quality of yeast is only as good as its
ale yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the wild
“ingredients”; therefore, finding the right breeding stock
yeast Saccharomyces eubayanus, whereby the high
is vital for strain development. To this end, Mother Nature
fermentative power of S. cerevisiae and the cold
is by far the most bountiful source of new biodiversity,
tolerance of S. eubayanus merged to produce a hybrid
which should come as no surprise to brewers familiar with
yeast capable of brewing beer at cold temperatures. This
the traditional practice of open fermentation.
striking example of species hybridization and selection
brewersjournal.ca
In this process, the inherent diversity of indigenous wild
Autumn 2017
79
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yeast
yeast is utilized to create unique beers; unfortunately, this
definitions
occurs at the expense of consistency and reproducibility. However, using modern non-GMO techniques, it is possible to isolate these strains and optimize them for the
Artificial selection The human-directed selection of advantageous traits in an organism.
brewery, all the while retaining the traits that make them interesting. How scientists optimize yeast strains for the brewery is essentially the act of domestication — akin to what
Biodiversity The variety and variability of life within and between species.
ancient agriculturalists have achieved with hops and barley. Wild barley Hordeum spontaneum bears little resemblance to modern malt barley Hordeum vulgare;
Domestication The artificial evolution of organisms with traits best suited to the needs of humans.
over the millennia of producing beer, humans have artificially selected barley with high starch content for greater ethanol yield, thin cell walls for efficient milling, and uniform water absorption for fast malting.
Evolution The change in an organism’s heritable traits to better suit the environment.
It is believed that the domestication of S. pastorianus followed a similar pattern and occurred after the initial mating of S. cerevisiae and S. eubayanus. Since repitching has historically been the only method
Hybrid The progeny of two genetically distinct individuals.
of directly adding yeast to wort, the S. pastorianus strains that were most suited to the brewing lagers survived and were then artificially selected (unknowingly) by being
Selective breeding The human-directed breeding of specific organisms in order to develop particular traits through artificial selection. Spore The yeast equivalent to gametes — sexual reproduction in yeast requires two spores to fuse to create a new organism.
repitched into the next batch of wort.
The evolution of modern noGMO development techniques
H
owever, modern scientists don’t rely on hundreds of years of random chance to domesticate a new yeast strain. Much like the recent
Screening: The evaluation of individual organisms for particular traits of interest.
application of selective breeding for high α-acid hops, the selective breeding of yeast involves the directed— yet natural—merging of distinct strains. Choice parent strains are induced to form spores that are then placed
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Brewers Journal Canada
yeast
s ci e nc e
About the authors This paper was authored by Renaissance BioScience Corp. Jason Hung, MSc., is an Associate Scientific Research Writer Zachari Turgeon, MSc., is Lead Research Scientist – Yeast Innovation Matthew Dahabieh, Ph.D., is Chief Science Officer
together to mate and create a new hybrid yeast with the characteristics of both parents. To further refine specific traits, initial hybrids can be backcrossed to its parents. It is possible this way to produce a selectively bred strain that is similar to a parent strain, but with the addition of specific traits. The key to this entire process is a holistic understanding of what the brewer wants from their yeast; with this information and the right background biodiversity, it becomes possible to breed in any trait. Most, if not all, modern domesticated organisms are a product of selective breeding. For example, these domestication methods were used in 1919 by E.S. Salmon to develop Brewer’s Gold, the ancestor to most modern hop varieties; the “3 Cs” of hops are all hybrids of older parental varieties. Centennial hops in particular result from multiple crosses and are a mix of Brewer’s Gold, Golding, Fuggle and Bavarian varieties. While it took Salmon 15 years to develop Brewer’s Gold, the modern yeast scientist can now produce a novel strain in six to twelve months, and in a far more precise and directed manner. Today, just as Brewer’s Gold was the genesis of the modern explosion in hop varieties, the development of novel yeast strains holds even greater potential for innovation in beer making. It is now possible to create yeast strains that are unique and fully customized for a brewery and its specific requirements in terms of flavour, aroma and performance. Brewers can also “upgrade” their current yeast strains by enhancing flavour, removing defects, or optimizing brewing kinetics to streamline the brewing process. Given the impressive range of yeast’s biodiversity and the ingenuity of modern scientists, the potential of beer yeast to undergo a hop-like explosion has now moved beyond theory to become an exciting, new reality. u
brewersjournal.ca
Autumn 2017
81
date s
&
e v e nt s
events
The Art of the Brewhaha is a fun night for beer lovers and newbies alike, featuring craft beers with media art projections
19/10/17
BC CRAFT BREWERS CONFERENCE Croatian Cultural Centre, Vancouver www.bccraftbeer.com 19/10/17
Ocb conference & marketplace The Beanfield Centre, Toronto http://www.ontariocraftbrewers.com 21/10/2017
Ottawa valley festival Best Western Pembroke Inn http://www.ovcbf.ca/ 03/11/17-04/11/17
Coquitlam Craft Beer Festival
82
Autumn 2017
Westwood Plateau Gold Club www.coquitlambeerfestival.com
04/11/17
Winterbrau 2017 Canoe Brewpub, BC www.canoebrewpub.com 11/11/17
Art of the Brewhaha Old Quebec Street Shoppes http://www.edvideo.org 20/11/17 - 26/11/17
HOPSCOTCH festival Various Venues http://www.hopscotchfestival.com/vancouver 23/11/17
Banff Craft Beer Festival Cave and Basin www.myshowpass.com
Brewers Journal Canada
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