Developing a Low-Cost Predictive Model for Hop Creep Potential in Packaged Beer

Starts:  Feb 10, 2022 10:15 PM (UTC)
Ends:  Feb 11, 2022 01:30 AM (UTC)
Associated with  Grand Rapids Section
ASQ Presents!™

Developing a Low-Cost Predictive Model for Hop Creep Potential in Packaged Beer

Our Speaker: Lauren Torres
Brewing Manager, Bell's Brewing

Dry-hopped beers have become common place in essentially all breweries. Through efforts to produce the most flavorful beer, brewers have had to come to terms with some of the negative side effects of dry hop creep. The most egregious being continued fermentation in package, resulting in over carbonated packages in the hands of beer lovers. Understanding full scale dry hopped beer production is complicated. There are many unknown or poorly researched components like raw materials, crop year variation, variety variation, pH, that create the complex matrix of the final brew. This study attempts to look at the impacts of studying hop creep through a non-destructive carbonation testing, flow through centrifugation, creep in a carbonated sealed package and attempts and creating for predictive model for assess a beer holistically for hop creep potential.



Our Speaker: Lauren Torres
Brewing Manager, Bell's Brewing

Lauren Torres began her career in the brewing industry shortly after graduating from Kalamazoo College with a BA in chemistry. Lauren currently has the pleasure of leading a fantastic team of individuals while serving in the role of Brewing Manager at Bell’s Brewery. Prior to her role in brewing, Lauren managed the quality lab in the brewery. Lauren has gained experience in the chemistry, microbiology, and sensory areas of the brewing laboratory. Lauren earned her IDB general brewing certificate in early 2017. Lauren was the recipient of the North American Brewer’s Scholarship and attended the MBAA Brewing and Malting course in the fall of 2017. She has been a crucial player in building quality and laboratory programs at Bell’s. Outside of the brewery, Lauren has assisted in teaching with the Siebel Institute of Technology’s Quality Course, is currently the Quality Instructor for the BA’s Basics in Quality Course, and has presented at the local and national level at the ASBC, ASQ, CBC, and MBAA conferences. Lauren is an active member in the brewing professional organization through leading the Brewers Association’s Quality Subcommittee, serving on the technical committee for ASBC, and joining the MBAA Executive Board. Additionally, Lauren has been fortunate to enough participate as a judge in various professional beer competitions locally and internationally including, Copa Cerveza, FOBAB, and GABF.