Mr. Trezzi, FOSS is a consolidated name in the agri-food world. Could you tell us briefly how the company got involved with the beer industry?

FOSS has been operating for over 60 years in the agri-food sector, with a strong presence in beverages. We are world leaders in wine analysis, active in Italy since 1999, with tools that today analyse 85% of global production. The world of beer is similar to that of wine, so in 2021 we adapted our Oenofoss instrument, designed for small wineries, to breweries too. This is how BeerFoss FT Go was created, an infrared solution that uses the sample as is, without reagents, and provides results in just three minutes.

What stages of production does BeerFoss FT Go cover and what parameters does it analyse?

The tool is versatile and covers the entire production cycle: from raw materials, such as must, to fermentation, to the finished product. It automatically degasses samples to avoid interference, such as from CO2. For the must, it measures density, specific gravity, apparent extract and pH, useful for detecting any bacterial contamination. During fermentation, it monitors the alcohol, actual extract and degree of fermentation. As regards the finished product, it analyses the alcohol, density, extracts, pH and, since 2022, calories too, important information for food legislation.

The main advantages seem to be simplicity and low costs. Do they also apply to a craft brewery?

Certainly, infrared technology eliminates reagent costs, incentivising more frequent analyses. We have noted in fact, that customers double or triple the checks once the tool is adopted. Maintenance is minimal: every two years, and can be managed independently with remote support. It uses distilled water only for washing, and consumes less energy than a wine cooler. The half-litre tank lasts up to two weeks, and the emptying is simple, diluted and without special disposal codes.

… and what about integration with production systems? Is it possible to track the data?

Yes, the system has an intuitive touch screen and can work in standalone mode, ideal for small breweries. But it connects easily, via Ethernet, to a PC or external management systems, also for Industry 4.0. Each analysis can be associated with a sample or production batch, with the filing of up to 10,000 data.