Beer & Hops Analyses
Analytical Packages
We have state-of-the-art analytical equipment and extensive experience in developing new analytical methods. Analyses offered for beer and hops can be found in the following drop down menus. ALAB subscribes to the American Society of Brewing Chemist methods. Please contact us if you require analysis that is not listed. For available Mead analyses, please see the Wine & Cider page.
Parameter - Method - Price
pH* - Electrochemistry - $7
Density/Specific Gravity* - Digital Density Meter - $7
Conductivity* - Electrochemistry - $7
Turbidity* - Nephelometer - $7
*=Accredited Test
Alcohol*
Parameters: Alcohol by volume
Method: Anton Paar Alcolyzer
Price: $28
*=Accredited Test
Organic Acid Profile
Parameters: Oxalic, tartaric, malic, lactic, acetic, citric, succinic acids
Method: HPLC-UV-VIS
Price: $50
Single Organic Acid
Parameter: One of the above listed organic acids (e.g. lactic, acetic)
Method: HPLC-UV-VIS
Price: $28
Total Acidity*
Parameter: Total acidity
Method: Skalar - Segmented Flow Analysis
Price: $28
Volatile Acidity*
Parameter: Volatile acidity
Method: Skalar - Segmented Flow Analysis
Price: $28
Sorbic Acid*
Parameter: Sorbic Acid
Method: HPLC-UV-VIS
Price: $22
*=Accredited Test
Sugars Profile*
Parameters: Glycerol, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Maltose, and Lactose
Method: HPLC-RI
Price: $44
*=Accredited Test
Metals*
Parameters: Arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, and lead
Method: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Price: Panel - $94, single metal - $50
If samples are not to be provided in their final packaging, please use new, clean, plastic containers.
Other metals outside the scope of accreditation may also be tested - please enquire.
*=Accredited Test
Cations
Parameters: Sodium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron
Method: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)
Price: Panel - $55, single cation - $44
Anions
Parameters: Fluoride, chloride, bromide, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, phosphate
Method: Ion Chromatography
Price: Panel - $75, single anion- $40
Ethyl Carbamate*
Parameters: Ethyl Carbamate (Urethane)
Method: GC-MS-MS
Price: $143
Ethyl carbamate is a spontaneously forming compound that has been deemed carcinogenic by Health Canada
Please allow a 10 day turn around time for this analysis.
*=Accredited Test
Calories & Carbohydrates
Parameters: Calories, Carbohydrates, Protein, Alcohol by Volume*
Note: If sugar values are required, please add sugar profile to your analysis request.
Methods: ASBC and AOAC methods for Calories, Carbohydrates, Protein, and Ash.
Price: $94
Nutrition Panel
Parameters: Calories, Carbohydrates, Protein, Alcohol by Volume*, Total Sugar*, Sodium, Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium, Iron
Note: The lab report will include a statement that fat is not expected in this product. If fat is expected, the test will be subcontracted at an additional fee.
Methods: ASBC and AOAC methods for Calories, Carbohydrates, Protein, and Ash. HPLC-RI for total sugar. ICP-MS for cations.
Price: $190
*=Accredited Test
Total SO2 *
Parameters: Total SO2
Method: Skalar Segmented Flow Analysis
Price: $33
Beer: Total SO2 down to 2.5 ppm. Beer containing more than 10 ppm must be labeled as containing sulphites.
*=Accredited Test
Parameters: Caffeine
Method: HPLC-DAD
Price: $53
Parameters: Iso-Alpha Acids
Method: HPLC-DAD
Price: $33
Synthetic Dyes*
Parameters: Indigo carmine, tartrazine, allura red, amaranth, sunset yellow, fast green, brilliant blue, erythrosin B
Method: HPLC-UV-Vis
Price: $66
Health Canada permits the above listed synthetic dyes in unstandardized alcoholic beverages (e.g. ready to drink beverages, liqueurs). According to the Food and Drug Regulations, synthetic dyes are not permitted for use in standardized beverage alcohol products.
*=Accredited Test
Sample types: Beer and Beer/malt-based ready to drink beverages
Parameters: Alcohol by volume, total sugar, total SO2 (RTDs), free SO2 (RTDs), sorbic acid (RTDs), ethyl carbamate, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, lead, synthetic dyes (RTDs).
Price: $250
Note: To ensure that the Certificate of Analysis (CoA) provided for the Liquor Corporation Panel will be accepted by the jurisdiction/country you want to be listed with, it is your responsibility to check the listing requirements.
Alpha and Beta Acids
Method: ASBC Hops- 6 & 14- Toluene Extration + HPLC-DAD
Price: $50
Hops Storage Index
Method: ASBC Hops- 12 - Toluene extraction and spectrophotometry
Price: $17
Moisture Content
Method: ASBC Hops- 4C - Air Oven
Price: $33
Hops Analysis Package
Parameters: Alpha and Beta Acids, Hops Storage Index, Moisture
Method: ASBC Hops- 6 & 14, 12, and 4C
Price: $77
Sampling Instructions:
Obtain a representative sample of ~100g. Dry cones (10% moisture), pellets, or wet hops are accepted.
- Representative samples should be taken from at least 4 locations depending on sample type
- In the yard – select from different plants and locations
- Post-harvest/palletization – select from bottom, top, and sides of piles
- Post bagging/baling – choose samples from multiple bags or bales and positions within
Parameters: Gluten by RIDASCREEN® Gliadin competitive ELISA
Price: Kit cost + Labour - Please enquire
Note: The following is referenced from the CFIA website regarding gluten free beer.
Gluten-free beer
Made from gluten containing grains
It is the manufacturer's responsibility to ensure that their products will not represent a health risk to consumers, particularly those marketed to individuals with special dietary needs. Based on a position provided by Health Canada that there is uncertainty around the complete removal of gluten from beer or beer-like products made using barley, oats, rye, triticale, wheat or their hybridized strains, the CFIA will object to the use of a "gluten-free" claim on beers produced from one of these grains [B.01.010.1(1), FDR]. Although additional processing steps in the beer making process can be taken to remove gluten, results from currently available analytical testing methods for gluten, including ELISA tests, are not sufficient to substantiate a "gluten-free" claim on these products.
However, Health Canada and the CFIA do not object to the use of the statement "This product is fermented from grains containing gluten and [processed or treated or crafted] to remove gluten. The gluten content of this product cannot be verified, and this product may contain gluten". In this case, manufacturers must be prepared to provide evidence to substantiate their claim, including a detailed description of the method used to remove gluten from the product, appropriate gluten assay results for the finished product, and the name and the manufacturer of the assay. No part of this statement shall be emphasized or repeated anywhere on the label. When beer labels bear claims such as "crafted to remove gluten," "deglutenized," "deglutinized" or any equivalent statements that emphasize the removal of gluten from the product, they imply that the beer is either "low in gluten" (which is a non-permitted claim) or "gluten-free." These types of claims may lead consumers to believe that gluten has been removed to a safe level when current analytical testing methods may not be able to detect gluten protein fragments still present in beer after additional processing has occurred.
The approvals listed for the RIDASCREEN® Gliadin competitive ELISA test kit are recognized by the following recognized bodies:
The competitive ELISA is an AACC international approved method (38-55.01) and an AOAC approved Official Method of Analysis (Final Action OMA 2015.05). In a second international collaborative study (ASBC) RIDASCREEN® Gliadin competitive was evaluated by 15 labs for 5 different beers. The competitive ELISA is an ASBC international approved method (Beer-49).
In addition, the RIDASCREEN® Gliadin competitive is approved by AOECS (Standard R5 ELISA for hydrolyzed food), MEBAK (Method 2.6.5 beer analysis) and TTB (ruling number 2012-2 for beer).
The FDA has also put out a ruling that is similar to that of the CFIA. And here is the response to that: https://food.r-biopharm.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/allergens_gluten_statement-fda-paper_en_2020-08.pdf
The TTB in the US has also put out statements: https://www.ttb.gov/rulings/r2020-2