What lab equipment should you have in your brewery?
A brewery lab area should include a variety of items to ensure that the beer produced is of the highest quality. Here are some items that should be included in a brewery lab area:
Microscopes: Microscopes are used to examine yeast cells, bacteria, and other microorganisms that can affect the quality of beer.
pH meters: pH meters are used to measure the acidity or alkalinity of the beer. This information is critical in determining the proper fermentation conditions and flavour of the beer.
Spectrophotometers: Spectrophotometers are used to measure the colour and clarity of the beer, as well as the concentration of various compounds in the beer.
Refractometers: Refractometers are used to measure the sugar content of the beer. This information is critical in determining the alcohol content and final gravity of the beer.
Gas chromatography (GC) equipment: GC equipment is used to analyse the composition of the beer, including the amount of various compounds such as hops and flavour compounds.
HPLC equipment: HPLC equipment is used to analyse the quality of the beer, including the amount of various compounds such as proteins, carbohydrates, and phenolics.
Sterilization equipment: Sterilization equipment, such as autoclaves, is used to ensure that all lab equipment and samples are free of contaminants.
Microbiological culture equipment: Microbiological culture equipment, such as agar plates and incubators, is used to cultivate and identify microorganisms that may affect the quality of the beer.
Water analysis equipment: Water analysis equipment is used to analyse the quality of the water used in the brewing process.
Safety equipment: Safety equipment such as goggles, gloves, and lab coats are essential for working with chemicals and other hazardous materials in the lab.
Overall, a well-equipped brewery lab area is critical for ensuring the quality and consistency of the beer produced.