Quality Control is Critical to the Success of Craft Brewing

How is shifting consumer demand in craft beer impacting quality control in packaging?

For craft brewers, consumer perception is everything—and packaging plays a huge role in delivering a delicious customer experience. Craft beer drinkers are just as thirsty for the attractive packaging on the outside of a beverage as they are for the tasty hops contained on the inside.

Supermarket shelves around the world are stacked with a colorful array of creative craft beer cans and bottles—and today’s consumers are spoilt for choice. For craft brewers, it’s not just about whipping up a tasty beer—brewing beer is (as the name suggests) a true craft, an artform. And there’s now an expectation from consumers to serve up something that really stands out.

As a result, this has a huge impact on packaging manufacturing—brewers must deal with the challenging demands of constant innovation in packaging, and also temper this with effective quality control measures. We recently spoke about this in our insight report, A Thirst for Perfection.

So, what factors are driving consumer demand? And how are brewers reacting?

Picture-Perfect Packaging

Over the past decade, brewers have continued to get more and more creative with the design of craft beer cans—not only in the artistic design of labels, but in the moulding of the cans. And this has left consumers wanting more.

The rise in social media has meant that beer drinkers are able to easily share nifty designs with their network in an instant. And an attractive design also allows beer brands to pop from a crowded shelf—a space that instantly drives sales. Essentially, brewers have multiple reasons to make sure their beer cans and bottles have that extra special something.

As brewers explore more options, thinking outside of the box is starting to become the norm. Open topped, shaped embossed cans are becoming increasingly prevalent within the market—but as packaging continues to innovate, brewers have a tricky job on their hands.

This creativity that drives consumer growth can only continue to flourish if the quality control processes keep up with the speed of innovation in packaging. If quality control isn’t upheld, this can lead to a whole array of customer satisfaction and consumer safety issues.

Eco-Friendly Options

Eco-friendly packaging has been a hot topic across all industries for a while now. But this isn’t purely driven by legislation and regulations; consumer demand for more sustainable packaging is accelerating at an alarming pace. In fact, 74 percent of consumers said they’d consider paying more for environmentally friendly packaging.

And the world of craft beer is no exception—consumers want to see beer brands doing everything they can to give more sustainable options. In fact, one major beer brand recently announced it will be using cardboard made from barley straw to package its latest beer.

The pressure intensifies for craft brewers who are striving to make a name for themselves in the market. If consumers recognize a beer brand offering more sustainable options, there’s huge potential for reward.

The impact on packaging quality control here is significant—while sustainability must be embraced, the right testing must be carried out to ensure new types of packaging materials are fit for purpose.

Shift Towards Metal Packaging

Across the beer industry, there’s been a noticeable shift towards metal packaging—and craft breweries in particular have adopted this change. Among many reasons for this is a drive towards sustainability.

Another large factor could be the pandemic. Last year, many craft brewers were forced to pivot their approach. According to the Brewers Association, prior to 2020, on-premise beer sold in bars and restaurants accounted for 45 percent of craft beer sales. During the pandemic that number clearly took a hit.

Breweries have had to adapt—there is now a clear focus on targeting consumers who are enjoying beer in the safety of their own home. Because of this, many craft brewers were re-focusing efforts and buying more can and bottles.

This obviously has a significant impact on packaging manufacturing—brewers must ensure the necessary production resources are in place to combat this need. And having the right quality control procedures to make this happen is also a key consideration.

Quality Control in Beer

It’s clear that craft brewers have to keep up with consumer demand. But for beers to be produced, packaged, delivered, and enjoyed as intended, quality control is the secret ingredient.

The world of beer has arguably been changing at a rapid pace due to several consumer-driven issues. And to meet the demands in a way that ensures regulations are met and customer safety is prioritized, it’s critical to have the right test and inspection procedures in place.

That’s where we can help.

Industrial Physics

At Industrial Physics, it’s our job to protect the integrity of brands and manufacturers around the world. And we do this by providing first-rate test and inspection instruments that assure the quality of your beer packaging.

In order to achieve that perfect pint, there are a wide variety of tests that need to take place. Whether you require inspection on the double seam of a can, you need to analyze the headspace of your beer bottle, or you need to ensure the quality of your can coating, we can help. As experts in test and inspection solutions, we have an extensive range of products designed specifically to ensure the quality of your beer packaging.

When you choose a partner like Industrial Physics—equipped with a team of experts positioned across the globe—you can benefit from our full range of solutions. From the minute you begin to prepare your beer can to the moment it’s ready to be shipped out to consumers, our trusted instruments will ensure every aspect of your packaging is absolutely perfect.

To find out more about how Industrial Physics could support your unique needs, just get in touch.