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Chocolatier Milton S. Hershey once said, “Give them quality. That’s the best kind of advertising.”

What is quality? According to Charles W. Bamforth, quality is a product that meets consumer expectations every time. He has covered specific aspects of achieving consistent quality in the previous four books in the ASBC series Practical Guides for Beer Quality. In the fifth installment, Quality Systems, he takes a more overarching view of the topic.

Standard procedures are not only crucial to quality, but they must also be clearly outlined and understood by everyone involved in the brewing process. To this end, quality systems—methods in which a manufacturer establishes and follows a system to ensure the product consistently meets applicable requirements and specifications—are necessary for successful brewing.

In this accessible yet informative guide, Bamforth explains the processes behind the development of standard methods, how they are evaluated, and why they are important for accuracy and precision. He also discusses the difference between quality control (reactive) and quality assurance (proactive) and introduces Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points (HACCP) and Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC). After arming the reader with the basics, Bamforth pulls it all together with practical advice for setting up a quality program. And woven throughout the narrative are colorful anecdotes and informed insights based on Bamforth’s more than 40 years in the brewing industry.

Like the other books in this series, Quality Systems is a necessary guide for anyone who works in the beer business—from commercial brewers and suppliers to wholesalers and retailers. Full of helpful figures and tables, the book is also a user-friendly resource for those who study beer scientifically and those who brew it and drink it recreationally!

QUALITY SYSTEMS: Practical Guides for Beer Quality

1. So What Is Quality?

2. Systematic Quality

3. Some Basic Statistics

4. Standard Methodology

5. Assuring Quality

6. Critical Stuff

7. Setting Up a Quality Program

8. A Summary of the Key Points

Further Reading

Index