The American Society of Brewing Chemists (ASBC) was founded in 1934 to improve and bring uniformity to the brewing industry on a technical level. ASBC is dedicated to ensuring the highest quality, consistency, and safety of malt-based beverages and their ingredients. ASBC has achieved this goal through the Approved Methods of Analysis, first published in 1935.
This 14th Edition of the ASBC Methods of Analysis is produced under the direction of the ASBC Publications and Technical Committees. Methods are developed and reviewed by the technical committees for functionality and consistency before final approval.
Features and Benefits
The 14th Edition is the first online-only ASBC Methods of Analysis and is the only edition supported by ASBC. The online-only format allows for continual updating of all methods approved by the technical committees and assures that you are using the most up-to-date methods available. The online edition includes a number of revised methods added since the 2009 CD version was released. Digital Object Identification (DOI) numbers have been added to the 14th Edition, which should be included in citations and will help scientists find the Methods online when they are referenced in scientific journals. Methods that have been revised and replaced by new, improved versions are archived and remain available for reference in the online 14th Edition.
The 14th Edition includes enhancements designed to help users understand or perform analytical methods better or more quickly. Built-in calculators, video, spreadsheets, audio PowerPoints, and color images are enhancements you will find in the 14th Edition. Look for a camera icon for a photograph; the Excel icon for a spreadsheet; and a calculator icon for a calculator. The committees will continue to add enhancements to the 14th Edition and suggestions for enhancements are welcome.
Internationally Accepted
Some of the methods are titled “International Method,” indicating an additional approach to a “common language” in the Industry. The designation International Method, or “IM,” assigned to analytical methods of the ASBC, indicates that an agreement has been reached between the ASBC and the European Brewery Convention (EBC) that the methods so designated are sufficiently close in methodology, etc., as to warrant International Method status. For analytical methods of ASBC and EBC to qualify as International, essentially the methods and results should be the same, allowing for small differences in detailed procedure. If the methods produce the same results and the methodology is not in conflict, the wording need not be identical. Other guidelines and information pertaining to International Methods may be found in Proc. Amer. Soc. Brew. Chem. 33(3):93(1975), and in subsequent reports of the ASBC Subcommittee on International Methods.
ASBC Committees
The ASBC Methods of Analysis, 14th Edition are the efforts of multiple committees within ASBC, including the Publications Committee, the Technical Committee, and various subject-specific committees.
The Publications and Technical committees are active throughout the year, and for the first time, the online edition allows for real-time distribution of new methods as they are approved by the committees.
Access to the 14th Edition
Access to the online-only 14th Edition is by company subscription. Once subscribed, all company employees at a licensed location will have 24-hours-per-day, 7-days-per-week access without the need for login or password. ASBC Methods have traditionally been purchased by companies in print or CD format, and this new ease-of-access online delivery system allows for on-demand, widespread distribution to the desktops of all technical staff employed by the company. ASBC provides licensing to labs by location so that all internal labs have the same high-quality methods and enhancements. Academic and government licensing is also available. Individual access to ASBC Methods is included in ASBC memberships (personal access to professional and honorary memberships, and single-site access to corporate membership only).
The methods themselves are in PDF format, which allows printing on demand for companies with print file requirements in their quality programs.
