BrewLab being developed in Qld for craft beer brewers

Craft beer production in Queensland is currently worth more than $62 million annually, but has the potential to contribute more, so the Palaszczuk government is investing $1.1 million over five years to deliver what is claimed to be Australia’s first BrewLab in early 2020.

Located at Coopers Plains Health and Food Sciences Precinct, BrewLab will include a sensory lab and quality assurance services, where brewers can have their beers tasted by an expert panel or focus groups. The beer will be tested for elements such as acidity and alcohol volume.

Minister for Manufacturing Cameron Dick said the Queensland BrewLab will give craft brewers the ability to develop and test new beer recipes without interrupting their own production lines.

“Providing craft brewers with state-of-the-art facilities to create new recipes will ensure the local industry continues to grow and more jobs are created for Queenslanders,” Dick said.

“This will help brewers identify target markets, potential product improvements and opportunities for new product development.

Opening in early 2020, the Queensland BrewLab will also be home to a TAFE course in brewing. This will enable brewers to get their brewery staff trained in precise identification and tasting of aromas, flavours and tastes. Applications for Certificate III in Food Processing (Brewing) will be opening in 2020, with the new TAFE qualification suitable for first-time brewers as well as seasoned professionals wanting to improve their skills.

“This collaboration between TAFE and the BrewLab will mean Queenslanders will be able to access the training they need to fill highly skilled brewing jobs, ensuring businesses can grow their local workforce,” Minister for Training and Skills Shannon Fentiman said.

Through the Queensland BrewLab, brewers can also access the Grains Quality Research Lab in Toowoomba to assess grain and malt quality, which is essential to the successful execution of the brewing process.

Steve ‘Hendo’ Henderson from Rockstar Brewer Academy said BrewLab will give brewers the tools to ensure they’re delivering the best possible product into the market.

Senior Food Scientist Andrew Forrest and owner of Rockstar Brewer Academy Steve ‘Hendo’ Henderson inspecting the BrewLab equipment.

“Consumers naturally gravitate towards a high-quality product, and facilities like the Queensland BrewLab give industry a way to make sure we have high quality beer on tap,” Henderson said.

“As an industry, we want to welcome new consumers; we want them to taste a craft beer, enjoy it and then come back for more. That’s how we’ll grow the craft brewing industry in Queensland.”

The Queensland BrewLab sits within the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries’ Food Pilot Plant facility.

The Food Pilot Plant provides technical and research capability to the broader food industry across Queensland by giving small- to medium-sized enterprises access to world-best practice food processing areas and technology, as well as technical support for food technology, consumer and sensory science and food quality.