Weber Scientific sent word of a new kit it has developed to rapidly detect major spoilage micro-organisms within three hours directly from a contaminated beer sample or two hours following a 24- to 48-hour enrichment step for clear beer. This is a huge deal for those of you looking to build out and improve your quality control on a budget.

The test allows for simultaneous detection of:

Bretanomyces,

Lactic Acid Bacteria (including hop-resistant strains),

Megasphaera,

Pectinatus,

Saccharomyces diastaticus and

Zygosaccharomyces.

The detection of spoilage organisms in contaminated beer is 100 cells per mL (CFU). Detection by enrichment is 1 to 10 CFU.

An eight-well, portable Microcycler, a first in the industry, is available for $600. It can be used for immediate processing of samples on-site. Features include wireless connectivity, straightforward programming and software with real time display. For larger users, a 96 well gradient PCR thermocycler is offered for $3,600.

Tom Boudreau, market specialist at Weber Scientific, shared: “Six tests for the price of one is extraordinary. Before this new test breweries typically paid more for just one parameter. And having a Microcycler for only $600 makes advanced testing affordable for every operation.”