You probably know Beer-o-Meter as the smart and affordable solution that allows craft brewers to perform on-site measurements. It helps improve recipes and brew consistently high-quality beer. With the Beer-o-Meter device, they can test pH, TFS, EBC, and ABV accurately, easily, and quickly. But did you know that the developers of Beer-o-Meter also offer their own lab to perform analyses for you when you need deeper insights into your beer? In this article, you’ll learn more about the Beer-o-Meter lab service. Beer and brewing consultant Derek Walsh shares how he benefits from it in his work and gives tips for ambitious small and medium-sized brewers.

What makes a beer truly good? According to beer expert Derek Walsh, it comes down to a precise combination of recipe, style expectations, and the brewer’s signature. Since 1984, Derek has been committed to improving beer quality and promoting beer culture – in the Netherlands and far beyond. As a beer judge, international competition juror, and one of the first beer sommeliers in the country. Over more than four decades, he has become an authority on taste and quality. And that quality, according to Walsh, starts with measurement.

What determines beer quality?

“Quality lies in the details,” says Walsh. “It’s about what you see, smell, and taste – the organoleptic properties of beer.” But behind that lies a world of technical parameters: from alcohol percentage and bitterness to residual sugars and degree of fermentation.

Over the years, Derek built an impressive database of beers in nearly every style known in the beer world. He advises brewers on recipe development, quality control, and technical issues. His central message: as a brewer, you need to know exactly what you’re making – and why.

Derek Walsh bases his work on measurements. For him, measuring is not an afterthought but an essential part of good brewing. He has been doing some measurements himself for years. For analyses he couldn’t perform in-house, he relied on friendly breweries, universities, or commercial labs – sometimes at high costs. Until he discovered the Beer-o-Meter lab service: reliable and affordable lab capacity for beer analysis, tailored to craft brewers.

With the Beer-o-Meter device, you can measure TFS, pH, EBC, or ABV at your own brewing location. For other specific analyses, Walsh sends samples to the Beer-o-Meter lab team in Groningen for professional, fast analysis. Sending the samples is easy, and the validated results arrive quickly. Derek Walsh isn’t the only one benefiting from this external service. More and more craft breweries are discovering Beer-o-Meter for this purpose.

Walsh confirms that Beer-o-Meter analyzes the same parameters brewers have measured for generations, but in a smarter way. “You can calculate the IBU of your IPA yourself, but with professional analysis from Beer-o-Meter, you get the precise value, quickly and accurately,” Derek says. “Plus, you can link Beer-o-Meter directly to the brewing software you use.”

Walsh predicts the need for accurate quality measurements will only increase. Because buyers are demanding more in terms of flavor and especially stability, but also because of stricter regulations regarding product safety. Parameters like ABV and microbiological purity are becoming more important.

Moreover, measuring helps improve recipes. “Quality also means evolving with market taste,” he says. “Sensory knowledge is important, but without a solid technical foundation, it’s not enough.”

TFS and the Risk of Residual Sugars

One of the most underestimated risk factors in modern beers – especially hazy and hop-forward styles – is the presence of fermentable residual sugars. Combined with hop creep (re-fermentation caused by hop enzymes), this can lead to unstable, even dangerous beers if they aren’t pasteurized. “Especially unpasteurized, you run a real risk of dry-hopped beers becoming ticking time bombs on the shelf.”

The Beer-o-Meter TFS test (Total Fermentable Sugar) provides clear insight into how fully a beer has fermented. “Yeast management is a discipline in itself,” says Walsh. “And for many small brewers, it’s still a blind spot.”

With the Beer-o-Meter lab service, craft brewers can also request microbiological tests, for example with barrel-aged beers or contamination checks. Many small brewers lack the resources to do this themselves – which is risky. By sending samples to Beer-o-Meter, you get a reliable analysis within a day. A bonus: you avoid additional risk of cross-contamination in your own brewery.

Bottom Line: Investing in Measurement = Investing in Quality

According to Derek Walsh, every craft brewer should understand the value of reliable lab data for quality assurance. With Beer-o-Meter, they can improve their beers, make them safer, and stand out in a crowded market. “As a craft brewer, you don’t need a high-end lab to deliver top quality,” he concludes. “You just need to know what to measure, where to measure it – and who can help you do it.”

Want consistent quality in your brewery?

Get certainty that your beer is perfect down to the last detail. Whether you’re a contract brewer or have your own brewery: reliable quality measurements make all the difference. Let the Beer-o-Meter lab service help make your beer even better, more stable, and safer.