With quality and consistency remaining at the core of its customers, analytical equipment business QCL says it continues to focus on brewing chemistry to serve the brewing industry.

Their main product is the CDR BeerLab, the range includes a large version with all tests loaded and a Junior model with 3 (brewers pick their required tests). There are also Wine, Cider and Kombucha versions and it’s possible to have all methods loaded onto one instrument if there is a brewery making all or some of these other products, explains managing director Jamie Duncan.

The CDR BeerLab allows a brewery to bring all of the main beer chemistry tests on-site, our biggest selling tests are bitterness, ABV, colour, VDK (Diacetyl) and pH. In addition to the main QC tests, brewers can then do some investigative/development type tests using Sugars and Starch tests to monitor mash progression or fermentation.

They also see brewers using bitterness tests to monitor the development of IBU and keep an eye on hop utilisation and identify any wastage.

The ABV test uses a specific enzyme for the reaction which makes it very sensitive and ideal for low and no ABV beers. The CDR BeerLab has been validated by Campden BRI for a number of key tests and also independently by some large multi-national breweries, he says.

Looking at broader industry trends, Duncan says craft brewers have always been very focussed on the quality of the ingredients they use and the flavour/aroma of the finished beer. The CDR BeerLab allows them to quantify key components of this to improve consistency and efficiency which is becoming an increasing driver.

He also notes that there’s an increase in water testing which it’s possible to do on the CDR BeerLab while the company has also witnessed an increase in SO2 testing and low ABV testing as the volume of Low/No beers increases.