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.

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Basic

Parameter - Method - Price

pH* - Electrochemistry - $7

Density/Specific Gravity* - Digital Density Meter - $7

Conductivity* - Electrochemistry - $7

Turbidity* - Nephelometer - $7

*=Accredited Test

Alcohol

Alcohol*

Parameters: Alcohol by volume

Method:  Anton Paar Alcolyzer

Price: $28

*=Accredited Test

Acids Analyses

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

Sugars Profile*

Parameters: Glycerol, Fructose, Glucose, Sucrose, Maltose, and Lactose

Method: HPLC-RI

Price: $44

*=Accredited Test

Metals, Cations, and Anions Analyses

Metals*

Parameters: Arsenic, cadmium, cobalt, copper, and lead

Method: Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

Price: $94

If samples are not to be provided in their final packaging, please use new, clean, plastic containers.

*=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

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 and Carbohydrates

Parameters: Calories, Carbohydrates, Protein, Alcohol by Volume

Note: If sugar values are required, please add sugar profile to your analysis request.

Method: ASBC and AOAC methods for Calories, Carbohydrates, Protein, and Ash.

Price: $94

Total Sulphur Dioxide

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

Caffeine

Parameters: Caffeine

Method: HPLC-DAD

Price: $53

Bitterness (IBU)

Parameters: Iso-Alpha Acids

Method: HPLC-DAD

Price: $33

Liquor Corporation Panels

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.

Hops Analyses

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
Gluten Analysis

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