PAC

Conditioning in the container may be a path to longer shelf life, but it’s also a traditional way to prepare beer for the drinker—the beer is “alive” until it hits the glass. Here’s a technical look at two traditions that may provide inspiration for today’s brewers.

In Washington state, a new program is helping breweries and other beverage producers give reusable glass bottles a fresh look. Nationally, the cost and supply of new glass—and glaring weaknesses in recycling programs—could make such programs increasingly feasible.

Scott Jennings, Sierra Nevada’s innovation brewmaster in Mills River, North Carolina, offers a closer look at the brewery’s dialed-in approach to bottle conditioning.

One of the most effective ways to increase shelf life is one of the oldest tricks in the book: package conditioning with a bit of fresh yeast. Yet there are pitfalls. Here’s how “the biggest natural-conditioning operation in the world” goes about it.

Hop water is going mainstream thanks to its broad appeal and low cost of entry for small breweries. In the second of a two-part series on producing hop water safely and profitably, we zoom in on production, packaging, and the importance of testing.

Walmart, the country’s largest retailer, says it will require unique UPCs for each seasonal and variety pack—and other stores may follow suit. From the potential for packaging headaches to changing sales data, here’s what breweries need to know.

From nostalgia and augmented reality to big cans and clear communication of flavor, here’s how today’s breweries are standing out on increasingly crowded retail shelves.

New research and can-lining tech are expanding the options for beverages such as hard kombucha, canned cocktails, and more. Meanwhile, experts strongly urge brewers to test their cans thoroughly before releasing new drinks to market.

As brewers, we love our low DO levels and our cans of light, crisp lager in the summertime. Unfortunately, so do a couple of the stealthiest spoilage organisms known to the beer industry.

For some breweries looking beyond beer, copackers have become vital partners for launching new products. Here’s what to know when weighing your options.