Hands-on learning: Brewing beer in the Scientific Brewhouse

Brewing as a production process is ideal for bringing together knowledge from multiple disciplines—in this case, those of the degree programs Bioengineering, Bioprocess Engineering, and Biotechnological Quality Management.

From Recipe to Quality Control: Brewing Beer as a Team

Working in small teams, students develop a beer recipe; for the mashing program, they apply expertise from enzyme technology; in the brewing process, they utilize many aspects of process engineering; and for fermentation, they draw on microbiology, hygiene, and fermentation technology. Additionally, the process is thoroughly documented and accompanied by comprehensive quality control. The beer brewed here is bottled and kegged.

Drei Personen in Laborkitteln arbeiten inmitten von Edelstahl-Gärtanks

Austrian Beer Challenge: We are National Champions!

The “quality is right,” as demonstrated by HCW’s successes at the annual Austrian Beer Challenge. In recent years, our students have won titles almost every year at the national championship in various categories.

 

Facts About the Scientific Brewhouse

  • 150-liter pilot brewing system in the fermentation laboratory
  • two-vessel brewhouse with an attached 110 m² laboratory for process development and quality control
  • state-of-the-art mash/brew kettle and lauter tun (as of 2022)
  • heat exchanger
  • three cylindroconical fermentation tanks (ZKG tanks)—a special type of fermentation tank that tapers to a point at the bottom—each with a capacity of 150 liters, as well as an additional ZKG tank with a capacity of three hectoliters. 
     
  • state-of-the-art BRAUMAT automation system from Siemens (as of 2022)
  • extensive sensor technology for seamless process monitoring, particularly for the fermentation tanks—a big thank you to Endress+Hauser, Anton Paar, and many others for their support!
  • qubiqon software for data management, comprehensive analyses, models, and simulations
     
 

Take a Look!

For those who want to take a look at beer production: Through a viewing window in the restaurant “DasZehn,” you can watch the brewers at work.

Incubator for multidisciplinary beer ideas

The brewing system enables a wide range of practical exercises, such as controller parameterization, automation processes, audits, etc. The pilot plant thus has the potential to become an innovative incubator for multidisciplinary brewing ideas. That is why the facility is also available to other degree programs at Hochschule Campus Wien.

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