About Oregon BrewLab

Laboratory specializing in beverage fermentation offering
affordable, fast, and accurate analysis.

Our Story

Dana Garves, owner of Oregon BrewLab (OBL), started providing Oregon Brewers with free alcohol and bitterness analysis in 2011 while building the quality control laboratory at Ninkasi Brewing Company. Recognizing that free science was unstainable, and affordable science was in rare supply - Garves created BrewLab – an analysis facility that provides affordable, fast, and accurate testing for brewers and homebrewers.

In 2016 OBL expanded the beverage analyses to include cider, mead, spirits. During which Garves created a Sensory Series class for beer consumers and beer staff. As the economic downturn hit in 2020, BrewLab pivoted to include all types of beverage and fermentation industries. Now OBL services all beverage industries including Beer, Cider, Wine, Mead, Kombucha, Spirits, RTDs, Non-alcoholic beverages, Kefir, Sodas, vinegars, hot sauces, coffees, teas, and brines.

Beer, Cider, Mead

NA, Seltzer, RTDs

Kombucha

Returning Clients

Affordable

No hidden fees, unused subscriptions, or lab specific containers and packaging. Home to the $20 ABV Test - always!

Fast

Two business day turn around. RUSH services offered for 24 hour turn around. Quick email responses - rely on BrewLab.

Accurate

TTB Certified Chemist for the Export of Beer since 2015. Providing you with testing results you can trust.

"Consulting with Oregon BrewLab on our VDK process has lead to less loss of packaged product and high quality standards that otherwise would have been a normal loss of thousands of dollars in lost product and customer confidence."

- Rob McCoy, Production Manager, Great Notion Brewing

2023 BEERS

2023 SAMPLES

US CLIENTS

SAMPLES SINCE 2018

FAQ

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

INCLUDE THIS SAMPLE SUBMISSION FORM

Available Analyses

Payment

Sample Collection

Amount: 4+ ounces

Container: BrewLab sample cup or any leak proof plastic bottle. Feel free to send a can or bottle. The BrewLab sample cups have 4oz capacity, made of natural polypropylene, with a hinged top. 1.75″ x 3.5″

Sterilization: Not required, but considered a best practice. Rinse inside of sample cup with sani before use. Flush with your sample, then fill and seal.

Degas: Be sure to degas your sample to minimize pressure build up during shipping process. The BrewLab cups are designed to seal a liquid – the lid WILL pop off if your sample is still too carbonated.

Labeling: Include your name or brewery, the name of your sample, and the date you took the sample.

Sealing: Regardless of cup type, use a water resistant tape wrapped around the lip/cap to keep shut in case of pressure build up.

Sample Shipment

Testing Kombucha

Oregon BrewLab uses Near Infared (NIR) and digital densitometery for analysis of ABV and ABW. This methodology is more accurate and precise than the TTB's laboratories method of distillation-specific gravity method (AOAC reference 935.21).
This instrumentation method of testing is KBI approved.
To ensure samples test accurately, it is recommended that all Kombucha samples are FILTERED and shipped with REFRIGERATION. When following these instructions nearly 90% of Kombucha samples are below TTB limit of 0.50% ABV.

It's not beer...

Results

Turnaround: Results will be emailed to your supplied address within 48 hours. Results will not be sent until payment has been made.

Format: Downloadable PDF.

Includes: Results, Units, Variance, ASBC Method or equivalent, and a Signature of Quality from the beer chemist.

For Purchase: Analysis Report for interstate shipping

For a better understanding of Quality Control, check out OBL’s Guide to Quality.

Consultation Services

BrewLab offers a wide variety of beer science consulting per hour via phone call, Skype, emailing, and/or in person. Email questions@oregonbrewlab.com for a quote. Include what your brewery is looking to achieve with Quality Control. Detailed information here.

Laboratory Consulting: Build your brewery’s laboratory from the ground up. Services can include equipment purchasing, set-up, training, and tailored procedure development.

Sensory Instructor Training: One hour class for 3 days prepares one of your employees to spearhead and maintain your sensory program.

Quality Assurance and Quality Control Training: Two hour class open to all employees on QA/QC procedures and utilization.

Documentation: Get your documents in order. Material Data Safety Sheets (MSDS) and Certifications of Analysis (CoAs) need to up to date and easily accessible.

Nationwide Trust

There are hundreds of beverage producers across the country using Oregon BrewLab. Join this network of innovators who are stepping up their quality control and beverage consistency.

Test with Oregon BrewLab

Oregon Brewers TRUST Oregon BrewLab

Oregon Brewers turn to Oregon BrewLab with their fermentation questions and conerns.
Below you can find just a small handfull of the Oregon Breweries & Cideries that
utilize the services of Oregon BrewLab. Between government required testing, improving internal quality control, consistency testing for quality assurance, sensory classes, and laboratory building - these breweries use Oregon BrewLab for all things Beer Science.