Brewers Association Releases Best Practices Guide to Quality Craft Beer

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Boulder, CO • February 4, 2014—Recognizing the need for improved and more standardized craft beer storage and handling practices in the U.S. and in markets around the world, the Brewers Association (BA)—the not-for-profit trade association that represents the majority of U.S. breweries—launched its newest publication, Best Practices Guide to Quality Craft Beer — Delivering Optimal Flavor to the Consumer. The guide is designed to provide general guidelines for distributors, shippers, publicans, sales staff, grocery stores, liquor outlets, bars and restaurants to better deliver high-quality craft beer.

“American craft brewers’ ability to consistently deliver quality products is critical to their reputation and success. Beer is a highly perishable product and susceptible to a number of factors that can diminish its quality from the time it is brewed to the moment it’s consumed,” said Bob Pease, chief operating officer, Brewers Association. “This guide offers a set of best practices to ensure that all stakeholders in the brewing, distribution and retail sectors—in both the U.S. and abroad-put forth the highest quality product possible for consumers to enjoy.”

The best practices guide was developed for the BA by biochemist Gary Spedding, Ph.D., managing owner of Brewing & Distilling Analytical Services LLC, with guidance from a committee of BA representatives. It reviews a variety of essential elements including quality, stability, sensory perception, aging and deterioration, staleness, distribution, delivery and beer dispense.

“We all have a role to play in quality assurance when it comes to our products,” said Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, member of the Brewers Association Board of Directors and co-chair of the Brewers Association technical committee. “A thorough understanding of proper and improper treatment of craft beer will go a long way toward ensuring that our consumers get only the best beer possible—benefiting small and independent American craft brewers, domestic and global retailers and beer drinkers.”

Best Practices Guide to Quality Craft Beer — Delivering Optimal Flavor to the Consumer is available for download on the BA website.

Contact: Abby Berman (on behalf of the Brewers Association), 646.695.7044

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About the Brewers Association

The Brewers Association is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their craft beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts. The Brewers Association (BA) represents more than 70 percent of the brewing industry, and its members make more than 99 percent of the beer brewed in the U.S. The BA organizes events including the World Beer Cup®Great American Beer Festival®Craft Brewers Conference & BrewExpo America®SAVOR?: An American Craft Beer & Food Experience and American Craft Beer Week®. The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine and its Brewers Publications division is the largest publisher of contemporary and relevant brewing literature for today’s craft brewers and homebrewers.

Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association. Follow us on Twitter.

The Brewers Association is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, or marital/familial status. The BA complies with provisions of Executive Order 11246 and the rules, regulations, and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.