Queensland’s craft brewers are set to benefit from a new state-of-the-are brewing facility, which has been established as part of the Queensland Craft Brewing Strategy.
The Queensland BrewLab will allow craft brewers to use the brewing equipment to develop and test new recipes without interrupting their own brewery production lines.
Minister for Manufacturing Cameron Dick said: “Providing craft brewers with state-of-the-art facilities to create new recipes will ensure the local industry continues to grow and more jobs are created for Queenslanders.
“This will help brewers identify target markets, potential product improvements and opportunities for new product development.”
The facility is part of the Queensland Government food pilot plant at the Health and Food Sciences Precinct and will be located on Kessels Road in Coopers Plains.
The BrewLab pilot plant brewing room will be home to a 250-litre brewhouse, a 250-litre cylindroconical fermentation vessel, a 250-litre brite beer tank, a 500-litre cylindroconical fermentation vessel as well as kegging facilities.
The BrewLab will also be home to a new TAFE course with applications for Certificate III in Food Processing (Brewing) opening next year.
Minister for Training and Skills Shannon Fentiman said: “This collaboration between TAFE and the BrewLab will mean Queenslanders will be able to access the training they need to fill highly skilled brewing jobs, ensuring businesses can grow their local workforce.”
In a statement about the new facility, the Government said: “BrewLab is the perfect place to brew your sour beers. Having a separate facility to keep wild yeast out of contact with brewer’s yeast reduces the risk of contamination.
“Brewing beer is an art and a science. As part of BrewLab, food scientists can test your product and assure its quality. Get your beer tested for data like alcohol content, colour and acidity levels.
“And through the BrewLab, you can access the Grains Quality Research Lab in Toowoomba to ensure your craft beer ingredients are up to standard.”