Why does Beer Science MATTER? How is it RELEVANT to people’s lives?
Set Industry Standards for a new and growing community.
Believe it or not, but beer isn’t very regulated. The laws surrounding distribution and labeling are pretty strict, but not so much for the actual product. In fact, tobacco products are required to pass five separate analyses of the final product before it can be sold. Beer only requires one(ABV). They are even regulated by the same government agency (TTB). Our industry needs to step up – Craft Beer should be synonymous with Quality Beer.
Weed out sub par beer and brewery practices
I’m not one to bash breweries – I think every brew has at least one good characteristic. And if the flaws outweigh those characteristics, then the brewery simply needs to be introduced to a bucket of strong sani and some consistent Beer Analysis. It’s no secret that a handful of Oregon breweries close their doors or change their names after getting a reputation for treating employees poorly, selling bad beer, and/or not selling enough beer – an indication that it’s not very good or not very original. Wouldn’t it be great if you never had to send another pint back?
Further our understanding of the fermentation process and applications
Beer research is only recently taking off with efforts like the Siebel Institute and Oregon State University Fermentation Science. It’s because of these important research hubs that we have so many great and educated brewers. The more we can get the better our collective beer is going to be.
Know the Ingredients in what you Consume.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. This is well known and documented. And yet, while people are trying to change government policy for GMO labeling, no one is trying to get government policy on accurate ABV (alcohol by volume) measurements. Why be politically active for a method of food growth (in which no health issues or links have been scientifically proven), but not for an actual drug you are ingesting?
Accurate beer analysis is the difference between a DUI and a safe drive home.
I’ve tested beer that has been more than 1% off from its labeled ABV. A beer labeled at 4.5% is a brew someone might have 2 pints of and still safely drive. That is NOT the case for a beer that is actually 5.5%. Now, I’ve been using this fairly extreme example for some time now – but just you wait – a lawsuit will happen one day where a driver was drunker than intended because of poor beer analysis. Let’s just hope no one gets injured.
Give confidence to beer consumers
Once drinkers are knowledgeable in the process of brewing and in the final product they will be able to easily navigate entire coolers of six-packs and bombers. Picking a random beer will no longer be hard. High quality beer + educated consumer = match made in heaven.
Encourage homebrewing!
Knowing beer science and understanding the process will make you a better brewer! (Use Brew Boss to help you brew www.brew-boss.com) And once people get a taste of how fun brewing is – changing different variables, temperatures, amounts, types of hops – they won’t stop! Beer is cool. Science is cool. Beer Science is the best.
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