Beer & Carbonated Beverage Testing Resource Center

Sample Prep Resources

Concentrating spoilage organisms from larger beverage sample volumes for same-shift culture or molecular workflows

Spoilage organisms and microbial contamination can create significant challenges for breweries, wineries, and beverage producers. Beer is often the primary application for rapid spoilage monitoring, but many of the same sample preparation challenges occur across carbonated and fermented beverage categories including wine, cider, hard seltzers, RTD alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, sparkling waters, energy drinks, and functional beverages.

Traditional enrichment-based microbiological testing can take several days, delaying product release and increasing inventory hold time. Rapid methods such as qPCR and other molecular assays can shorten time to result, but they are often limited by the small amount of sample that reaches the assay.

In carbonated beverages, sample preparation adds another challenge. Dissolved CO₂, foam, haze, yeast, particulates, hops, color, fruit solids, and other matrix components can affect concentration, recovery, and downstream analysis. Preparing the sample before detection can make a meaningful difference.

InnovaPrep's Carbonated Beverage 4C Workflow™ combines BeFlat™ degassing with CP Select™ concentration and Wet Foam Elution™ (WFE) recovery to concentrate larger beverage sample volumes into a smaller, analysis-ready volume. This approach can support culture-based methods, enrichment workflows, qPCR, dPCR, sequencing, flow cytometry, and other validated downstream analyses.

Beer & Wine Demonstration

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In a beer and wine study, samples were experimentally inoculated with Lactobacillus brevis and processed using InnovaPrep’s Concentrating Pipette workflow. The workflow concentrated organisms from 12 oz / 355 mL beer samples and 750 mL wine samples into smaller volumes suitable for rapid detection.

Key Findings:

70% to 92% concentration recovery efficiency in beer sample

1000× to 2000× concentration of L. brevis in red and white wine samples.

Compatibility with qPCR-based analysis for same-shift beverage quality workflows.

These results demonstrate how concentrating larger sample volumes can help improve the effective input into rapid microbial detection methods.

Concentration of Lactobacillus brevis from Experimentally Infected American Lager Beer and Wine by Innovaprep’s Concentrating Pipette Select and Be Flat Degassing Jar

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The InnovaPrep 4C Workflow Framework

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Successful concentration workflows begin with understanding the sample matrix. The 4C Workflow provides a structured approach for evaluating beverage characteristics, selecting appropriate sample preparation steps, and developing a reliable concentration workflow that balances recovery, processability, and downstream analytical compatibility.

Finding the Workflow Sweet Spot

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The optimal workflow often lies in the "Sweet Spot" between maximum recovery, practical processability, and downstream method compatibility. Sample conditioning, clarification, concentration tip selection, and concentration factor should be evaluated together to achieve the desired analytical outcome.

Beer & Carbonated Beverage Testing Resource Center

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Access protocols, workflow guides, application notes, technical notes, quick-reference resources, and training materials supporting beer, wine, carbonated beverage, and related beverage testing workflows using the FluidPrep™ CP Select™ System.

Protocols & Workflows

Executable methods and workflow decision guides.

Carbonated Beverage Concentration Protocol

Step-by-step protocol for preparing, degassing, concentrating, and recovering microbial targets from beer and carbonated beverage samples using CP Select™ and BeFlat™.

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Carbonated Beverage 4C Workflow Guidance

Decision-making guide for selecting the appropriate workflow path based on sample characteristics, target type, and analytical method.

Download Workflow Guide

Application Notes

Application-specific examples and workflow demonstrations.

Beer & Wine Spoilage Detection   

Overview of rapid concentration approaches for bacteria, yeast, and other spoilage organisms in beer, wine, and fermented beverage testing workflows.

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Carbonated Beverage Spoilage Detection

Application note demonstrating concentration of spoilage organisms from carbonated beverages to support same-shift testing with qPCR and other rapid analytical methods.

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Technical Notes

Matrix-specific considerations, troubleshooting guidance, and workflow optimization strategies.

Hazy Beer Matrix Considerations for Rapid Spoilage Testing

Technical note outlining optional pH-based conditioning approaches for selected hazy beer styles that may be difficult to process directly.

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Carbonation & Degassing Considerations

Technical explainer describing how carbonation affects concentration workflows and why degassing helps create a more consistent, analysis-ready sample.

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Guides & Quick References

Matrix-specific considerations, troubleshooting guidance, and workflow optimization strategies.

BeFlat™ Jar Preparation and Degassing Quick Guide

Quick guide for preparing, sterilizing, loading, and using the BeFlat™ Degassing Jar for sample conditioning and degassing.

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Concentration Tip Selection Guide

Guide for selecting the appropriate Concentration Tip (CPT) based on target size, sample volume, matrix characteristics, and downstream analytical requirements.

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Elution Fluid Selection Guide

Guide for selecting Wet Foam Elution™ fluids based on workflow requirements and downstream analytical compatibility.

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Videos & Training

Visual workflow demonstrations and training resources.

CP Select™ Carbonated Beverage Workflow Video

Video demonstration of a carbonated beverage workflow using BeFlat™ sample conditioning and CP Select™ concentration.

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Workflow Components