Purpose: Enhancing Beer Manufacturing by Using Color Quality Control with Vista

 

 

Critical Role of Color

Beer color is the first attribute consumers notice and influences taste expectation, brand identity, and perceived quality. Tight batch-to-batch color consistency is essential for maintaining brand standards and customer satisfaction.

Beer Styles & Color Scales

Ales and lagers span from SRM 2–6 (pale straw) through SRM 10–16 (amber) to SRM 30+ (stout/porter). Color is quantified using SRM (U.S.) or EBC/Lovibond units (Europe).

What Color Reveals

Color indicates malt type, Maillard reactions, boil intensity, and the presence of adjuncts (e.g., fruit pigments). Shifts in hue or yellowing can signal oxidation, contamination, or process variations.

Process Applications

• Raw Material QC: Verify malt and adjunct color on receipt.
• Process Monitoring: Measure wort color post-mash and post-boil to adjust recipes in real time.
• Intermediate QC: Check color and clarity during fermentation/conditioning.
• Final QC & Compliance: Confirm finished beer matches target Lab*, SRM/EBC values, and haze specifications before packaging. 

Limitations of Visual Methods

Visual checks and single-wavelength tests (e.g. ASBC Beer-10 at 430 nm) are subjective, inconsistent, and insensitive to subtle hue or haze differences. Turbidity and CO₂ bubbles further skew visual readings.

Spectrophotometric Solution

Full-spectrum color spectrophotometers (400–700 nm) compute CIE Lab* coordinates, SRM/EBC, and other indices via ASTM E308, delivering objective, metamerism-free measurements.

Haze Measurement

Integrated haze (% via ASTM D1003) quantify clarity in the same test, enabling strict specifications and early detection of filtration issues. 

Technology Comparison

• UV-Vis Spectrophotometers: High-resolution scans but slow, complex, and lack haze measurement.
• Colorimeters: Fast but limited to pre-set illuminants, no spectral data, and no integrated haze/NTU.
• HunterLab Vista: Combines full-spectrum color with simultaneous haze/NTU in seconds, touchscreen ease-of-use, preloaded beer scales, and one-touch calibration. 

Standards and Compliance

Vista automates ASBC Beer, EBC, SRM, ASTM haze, APHA and CIE L*, a*, b* color scales, and pharmacopeial methods, with built-in IQ/OQ routines and data integrity features (21 CFR Part 11), ensuring global compliance. 

ROI Case Studies

1. Large Lager Brewery: Reduced color variance from 5% to <1%, cutting off-spec batches by 80% and saving ~$200 k/year; payback <6 months.
2. Craft Ale Producer: Achieved 90% fewer color complaints, improved brand consistency, and rapid recipe tuning.
3. Contract Co-Packer: Doubled QC throughput, simplified staff training, and attracted new clients with state-of-the-art QC offerings. 

Conclusion

Transitioning from subjective visual checks to spectrophotometric color and haze measurement—especially with HunterLab’s Vista—elevates beer QC to a science, delivering precise CIE Lab* data, regulatory compliance, faster batch release, and measurable ROI.

Download the attached white paper to learn more!

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