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American Society of Brewing ChemistsEvents2017 Quality Short Course

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July 31–August 4, 2017 Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.A.

 

Course Organizers

  • Rob Christiansen, New Belgium Brewing Company
  • Jeff Callaway, Colorado State University

Industry experts will define the what, why, and how of quality brewing and measures that should be used by brewers large and small.

 

This first course offered by ASBC in conjunction with Colorado State University will combine educational lecture and laboratory work to give attendees the tools to demystify the quality process. This course will take place on the CSU campus, Gifford Building, Room 235. 502 W Lake St Fort Collins, CO 80523

 

 

Course Fee and Registration

 
ASBC Members: $1,745
Non-members: $1,795
 
Included with tuition:
  • Lectures and hands on exercises
  • Lunches
  • Tours of New Belgium Brewing and Odell Brewery
  • Dinner at Illegal Pete’s
  • ASBC Local Area Brewing Science (LABS) Meeting and beer pairing dinner in Denver at Blue Moon’s new brewery
  • Transportation to offsite tours, dinners, and LABS meeting.

Space is limited due to the special nature of this hands-on course. Registration is now closed. 

Due to the nature of this course you must be at least 21 years old to participate.


Hotel Reservations

The closest hotel to the course location is the Hilton Fort Collins (425 W Prospect Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80526) and is only a short 6 minute walk to the course. To reserve your room, call +1.970.482.2626 and request the New Belgium Brewery rate. There is currently limited availability at this hotel as Thursday night is sold out.  
The Best Western University Inn is also within walking distance to campus. Colorado State University also publishes a list of local hotels that are close to campus.

 
 
 

 Schedule & Course Topics


Click here to download a printer-friendly version of the most up-to-date schedule. As more details become available, this schedule will be updated accordingly.
  
 
Monday — July 31 

Microbiology Day 1

Rob Christiansen, New Belgium Brewing Company;
Kelly Tretter, New Belgium Brewing Company;
and Scott Britton, Duvel
8:00 am - 4:00 pm 

Introduction and Overall Scope of Course

Your course organizers will tell you what you can expect in the days ahead, outlining topics highlighted each day, as well as key outcomes for each of the ensuing exercises.

Yeast and more Yeast!

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Physiology and Metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae
  • Cell Counting Basics
  • Yeast health (viability and vitality)
    • Lab Exercises
  • Analysis of Yeast stats and what is means in your brewery
  • Beer Inclusion identification
    • Lab Exercises
  • Yeast Pitching basics
  • Propagation
  • Cone to Cone Pitching
  • How and when to harvest yeast
    • Math lessons!

5:00 - 8:00 pm
Tour of New Belgium Brewing and Dinner

We'll bring you on a private tour of New Belgium Brewing's brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado. See the brewery at work and get a feel for how the brewery continuously produces high quality beer.


Tuesday — August 1 

8:00 am - 4:00 pm 
Microbiology Day 2

Rob Christiansen, New Belgium Brewing Company;
Kelly
Tretter, New Belgium Brewing Company;
and Scott Britton, Duvel

Contamination

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Contamination in Beer and Yeast
  • Types of Media and why/how to use them
  • Reading and identifying contamination on plates
  • Identification techniques (PCR, MALDI-TOF, Sequencing)
    • Lab Exercises
  • Where to start with a Micro program
  • Resources for Micro in our Industry

Packaging Quality
Perry Dickerson, Left Hand Brewing Company

 

Packaging Quality

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Packaging supplier quality
    • Setting expectations with suppliers
    • Regular visits
    • Quality expectations
  • Using data to hold suppliers accountable
  • Building partnerships to maximize supplier relationships

In-process quality

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Critical parameters to monitor for package ops
    • Total package oxygen
    • Fill volume
    • Can seams

Voice of the customer

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Using feedback to improve the quality of your product
    • Group problem solving exercises based on customer complaints
  • Review/ discussion of problem solving exercises, “real” results

5:00 pm Tour of Odell Brewing and Social Hour


Wednesday — August 2

8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Introduction to Brewing Chemistry

Dana Sedin, New Belgium Brewing Company
and Kim Bacigalupo, Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
 

Chemistry in Brewing

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Good Laboratory Techniques - Pipetting, glassware, balances, and cleaning
    • Setting expectations with suppliers
    • Sampling, degassing, and sample stability
    • Conversions and ASBC Calculators
  • Specific Gravity and Calculated Values
    • Exercise: Pipet and building a calibration curve
  • pH and Titratable Acidity
  • What you can do with a spectrophotometer - Wort and Beer Methods
  • Color and Tristimulus
    • Exercise: Color, tristimulus, and IBUs
  • Alcohol
  • SO2
  • Gluten
    • Exercise: Anton Paar
  • Physical Stability and Turbidity
  • Beer Inclusions
    • Exercise: Microscopic staining for beer inclusions
  • Chromatography – Introduction to GC and LC
  • VDKs
  • IAAs Versus BUs
  • DMS
  • Fermentation Volatiles
    • Exercise: Chromatography Lab Visit
  • Foam
  • Metals
  • Hop Aroma
  • Off flavors, flavor thresholds, and fishbones
  • Flavor Stability
  • Method Validation and Proficiency Schemes
  • Lab Design, maintenance, and outsourcing

Open night - no activities

 
There are quite a few pubs, taverns, and grill houses right next door. Feel free to explore the sights and sounds of Fort Collins, Colorado!

Thursday — August 3 


8:00 am - 4:00 pm 

Basic Sensory

Lindsay Barr, New Belgium Brewing Company
and Melissa
Antone, Aroxa

Sensory

Key Learning Objectives:

  • Introduction to Sensory Analysis
    • Overview of Flavor and Sensory Evaluation
    • Overview of Sensory Principles
    • Sensory Program Parameters
  • Building a Sensory Program
    • Panelist Selection
    • Sensory Laboratory Space
  • Panelist Training
    • Introduction to Attribute Training
      • Activity: Flavor Training
  • Sensory Evaluation in Quality Control
    • Maintenance of Product Quality
    • Measuring Quality
  • Sensory Evaluation Throughout the Process
    • Sampling Plans
    • Documentations and Reaction Plans
  • Statistical Quality Control
  • Sensory Methods
    • Discrimination Testing
    • Threshold Testing
    • Shelf Life Analysis
      • Activity: Case studies and method selection
  • Validation
    • Measuring Panelist Acuity
    • Measuring Panel Performance
      • Activity: Validating and Utilizing Panelist Data
  • Sensory Evaluation in New Product Development
    • Descriptive Analysis Principles and Practices
      • Activity: Running a Descriptive Analysis Panel
  • Conclusion
    • Review of Best Practices

6:00 pm Beer Dinner at Blue Moon Brewing in Denver!

This will also be a LABS meeting with food and beer paired to compliment the sensory lessons taught this day.

Friday — August 4 

 

8:30am - 4:00 pm 

Raw Materials

Christian Holbrook, New Belgium Brewing Company

Raw Materials

As more details become available, this schedule will be updated accordingly

QA Management

Mary Burge, Kathinka Labs

QA Management Systems

  • Introduction to QA Management Systems
    • Significance and Criticality
    • Brief Overview of QA Management Systems
  • Setting up Minimum Frequencies
    • Understanding your risks
    • What and when to check
    • Tolerances
    • Reaction Plans
      • Exercise
  • In House Controls & Monitoring
    • Controls
    • Overview of SPC
  • Laboratory Maintenance
    • Creation of laboratory maintenance plan
  • Organization Tools
    • Roles & Responsibilities
    • Critical Tasks
    • 5S
  • Documentation and Controls
    • SOP Management
    • Internal Auditing
    • Documentation Control
  • Quality roles in Process Improvement and Root Cause Analysis

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received by ASBC Headquarters on or before July 10, 2017, will be issued a credit equal to the registration fee less $100 processing fee. Notices of cancellation after July 10, 2017, will not be eligible for a refund or credit. ASBC reserves the right to cancel the course if a sufficient number of registrations are not received by July 10, 2017. If ASBC cancels this course, your registration fee will be refunded in full. In the event ASBC cancels this course, ASBC is not liable for any travel expenses including hotel, nonrefundable airfares or ticket change penalties imposed by the airlines. By registering for this course, you agree to the cancellation and refund terms and conditions.

 

Photo Release

Photographs will be taken at this course for use in promotional materials after the meeting has concluded. By registering for this course, you agree to allow ASBC to use your photo.

 

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