To assist the domestic craft brewing industry in tackling a long standing and well recognized challenge of improving quality assurance and quality control measures in small and medium-sized breweries, Olds College of Agriculture & Technology worked alongside a team of industry and academic partners to establish the Canadian Craft Brewery Quality Program.
The program was developed in collaboration with three other esteemed institutions: Niagara College, Durham College and Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick’s CCNB-INNOV. It also involved three provincial craft beverage associations — Ontario Craft Brewers, Alberta Small Brewers Association and Craft Alcohol New Brunswick — as well as 17 dedicated brewery partners. The ambitious project received a significant boost from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), securing $1,789,330 in funding over two years through the Applied Research and Technology Partnership (ARTP) program.
Designed to support breweries of all sizes, the Canadian Craft Brewery Quality Program is both approachable and customizable. It adapts to the ever-evolving regulatory landscape while being developed with insights from industry experts and craft brewers.
“At Olds College, we’re not just teaching brewing; we’re shaping the future of Alberta’s craft brewery scene,” explains Peter Johnston-Berresford, Instructor of the Craft Beverage and Brewery Operations Diploma at Olds College. “As the craft beer industry evolves, so do the challenges of maintaining consistent quality.”
Since the project's inception, there have been notable improvements in production efficiencies, reduced waste and higher customer satisfaction. Collaboration remains a cornerstone of success in Alberta’s brewing industry.
“The Canadian Craft Brewery Quality Program is an initiative aimed at addressing these challenges and raising the bar for craft beer quality across Canada,” said Johnston-Berresford. “We want our students to be fully integrated into the nature of the Alberta craft brewing industry.”
By forging strong partnerships and leveraging collective expertise, the Canadian Craft Brewery Quality Program is setting a new standard for excellence in craft beer, ensuring that breweries across Canada can thrive with enhanced quality assurance and control.
To mark the achievement of this program, a series of videos were made to spotlight each participating college and their partner breweries. Take a moment to watch and see their contributions in action.
