Doehler Launches New Kit to Ensure Brewing Safety

14 Jan 2016 –- The Brewers QCheck Kit is an all-in-one solution that allows the entire brewing process to be checked from the raw materials all the way to filling, and therefore offering comprehensive microbiological safety. This development means that breweries can now reach the highest level of product safety for unreserved beer indulgence.

It contains everything for the microbiological control to guarantee the safety of the entire brewing process. The Brewers QCheck Kit is safe and easy to use: a clear color change indicates when spoilage microorganisms are present. The Brewers QCheck Kit requires absolutely no preliminary work and can be used immediately.

FoodIngredientsFirst spoke with Dr Sabine Mueller at Doehler: “The demands we had from small to mid sized breweries, microbreweries and craft breweries was high. They are aware of the importance of quality control, but have currently limited equipment to do it. The solution we provide allows them to ensure quality control of the entire process without expert knowledge and expensive equipment.”

“To our knowledge there are no other products/kits on the market allowing such a comprehensive testing of all samples in breweries as well as to conduct a hygiene monitoring of the production lines. Its early days but the feedback has amazing - first orders have already been placed; a lot of smaller breweries have now the chance to do quality control in an easy way.” Mueller adds.

The Brewers QCheck Kit consists of three different culture media: LMC concentrate, NBB-B and NBB-B-Am tubes. Critical indicator microorganisms can be immediately and reliably detected, for example, in water analysis with LMC concentrate. With the ready-to-use NBB-B tubes, it is possible to detect beer spoiling microorganisms Lactobacilli, Pediococci, Pectinatus and Megasphaera in yeast as well as beer that is clear and yeast-turbid.

These tools and ready-to-use culture media allow all raw materials as well as production and dispensing units to be analyzed without expert knowledge and expensive laboratory equipment.  An illustrated manual ensures correct kit usage. Thanks to the optimized composition of the culture media, the test results are conclusive and reliable.

There are now more than 8,000 craft and microbreweries worldwide, and the number is increasing daily. They create innovative beers with high standards for taste, quality and uniqueness. With low investment costs and without comprehensive knowledge of microbiology, small breweries can meet these standards with the new Brewers QCheck Kit.

by Elizabeth Kenward