In line with the Independent Brewers Association’s (IBA) goal to support high-quality independent beer across the country, the association has partnered with Fermentis by Lesaffre to provide IBA members with a suite of resources regarding the implementation of quality assurance programs.
According to Kylie Lethbridge, CEO of the IBA, the current economic difficulties faced by the brewing industry mean that it is often untenable for independent breweries to hire dedicated quality managers.
“We know that our members have an absolute commitment to the highest standards of beer quality but in these challenging times, small businesses have to make choices and often maintaining a dedicated quality team or a quality manager is not possible. That’s the gap this program will help fill for our nearly 420 brewery members.
“We are thrilled that Fermentis by Lesaffre shares our vision and are partnering with us to develop a world class program that will be aligned to their on-the-ground sensory training programs,” she said.
Jeanne Gallerand, Fermentis’ Global Marketing Manager, said that the program marries the company’s passions for independent brewing and for high-quality beer.
“Fermentis has a long tradition founded on impeccable quality and technical excellence,” she said.
“Meeting the highest international quality standards and developing products that meet the needs of brewers is the pillar of everything we do. A product that consistently delivers the best quality gives brewers the confidence to go about expressing their inventiveness and creativity. And we are passionate about supporting Australian independent brewers.
“This partnership enables us to continue to be part of the journey and to support the independent beer industry when it needs it the most.”
Independent beer has seen a significant improvement in quality over the past year, with the IBA and Fermentis program looking to continue this trajectory. One indicator of this improvement in quality is the results of the Independent Beer Awards.
According to Chief Judge, Justin Fox, 87 per cent of entries to the 2024 awards received a medal, up from 85 per cent last year.
“Brewers are delivering beers that are absent of major technical faults and reflective of the promised style, allowing consumers to repeatedly enjoy their engagement with independent beer,” he said.
The first suite of resources in the IBA and Fermentis’ new program will be delivered by Clare Clouting of Athena Quality. Clouting both works in quality assurance, and maintains strong connections with the independent brewing community built during her time at Gage Roads and as a Board Director of the IBA.