A winning combination of style, creativity, and consistent quality: Birra Amarcord

Significance of the Topic

Ensuring consistent beer quality is vital for craft breweries to maintain brand reputation, comply with regulations, and meet consumer expectations. Effective quality assurance integrates laboratory analytics with process monitoring to control key parameters such as alcohol content, extract, and carbonation in real time.

Objectives and Study Overview

Birra Amarcord sought to expand production capacity while sustaining or improving product quality. To achieve this, the brewery installed a comprehensive Anton Paar quality assurance system that links online process sensors with laboratory reference measurements via integrated software.

Used Instrumentation

• DMA 4500 M density meter with Alcolyzer ME and integrated color module
• DMA 35 portable density meters
• CboxQC at-line carbonation and oxygen meter
• Online Beer Monitor with density, sound velocity, CO₂ sensor and mPDS 5 module
• Davis software for data integration and automated calibration management

Methodology and Implementation

The on-site laboratory team analyzes 40–50 beer samples per day to determine alcohol by volume, degrees Plato, real and apparent extract, and color. Each morning, calibration values obtained on the DMA M-Alcolyzer setup are automatically transmitted via Davis software to the process sensors of the Beer Monitor. This ensures real-time monitoring of batches before bottling and generates fully traceable records for excise and quality control purposes.

Main Results and Discussion

Integrating online sensors with routine laboratory checks substantially reduced manual interventions and variability. Automated calibration updates and continuous data capture improved process reliability and message consistency. As a result, Birra Amarcord achieved BRC Global Standards certification, meeting the stringent quality requirements of leading retailers.

Benefits and Practical Applications

• Automated calibration and monitoring minimized downtime and human error
• High-throughput lab testing maintained uniform quality across increased production volumes
• Traceable data management supported regulatory compliance and audit readiness
• Freed brewers from routine checks, allowing greater focus on recipe innovation and product development

Future Trends and Potential Applications

Ongoing advances in sensor miniaturization, digital analytics, and the Internet of Things are expected to further enhance quality assurance in the brewing industry. Future developments may include predictive process control, adaptive quality management, and accelerated development of specialty beer recipes using novel ingredients.

Conclusion

Birra Amarcord’s deployment of an integrated Anton Paar quality assurance solution demonstrates how coupling online process monitoring with laboratory reference analytics can secure consistent beer quality at scale. The approach not only ensures compliance and traceability but also enables brewers to dedicate more time to creative exploration and new product launches.