Analytical Session
Kara M Taylor, White Labs
ABSTRACT: For the past six years, White Labs, Inc. has
once a year performed large scale laboratory testing on craft beer with
our Big QC Day program. This analytical testing of beer provides the
customer with values such as ABV, diacetyl, bitterness units,
attenuation values, color, calories, and microbiological contaminants.
Each year over 500 samples are submitted for analysis from craft
breweries all over the United States and some internationally. Questions
regarding increases in quality control, sanitation, and adherence to
style guidelines can be answered through analysis of six years of craft
beer laboratory testing. Additionally, correlations between analytes can
be drawn, such as the affect of pH, alcohol, IBU, and microbial
contaminants. By collecting data from every region and for a long span
of time, we can evaluate how craft beer has changed stylistically,
regionally, and overall.
Kara Taylor received a B.S. degree in
biology from Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. She began
employment at White Labs in San Diego, CA, in 2009 as a yeast laboratory
technician. Since January 2011, she has functioned as the Analytical
laboratory specialist in White Lab’s new analytical laboratory. She is a
member of MBAA and ASBC and serves on multiple subcommittees.
VIEW PRESENTATION 79
