Brewers’ Research & Education Fund

Brewers’ Research & Education Fund

A major brewing industry grants fund supporting relevant scientific research and education.

The Brewers’ Company is Trustee to the Brewers’ Research and Education Fund (BREF), a major grants fund for the brewing industry which supports relevant scientific research and education. 

An Advisory Committee of experts in the field of brewing, nominated by the Brewers’ Company, British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and Institute for Brewing and Distilling (IBD) supports the Trustee in awarding grants. The BBPA also provide the secretariat for the Advisory Committee and are responsible for managing applications to the BREF.

Advisory Committee Members

  • Richard Westwood – Chief Operating Officer Integration, Carlsberg Marstons Brewing Company – BBPA Nominee
  • Fergus Fitzgerald – Head Brewer, Adnams – BBPA Nominee
  • Miles Jenner – Head Brewer and Joint Managing Director, Harveys – Brewers’ Company Nominee
  • Andrew Runcie – Brewing Manager, Molson Coors – BBPA Nominee
  • Georgina Young – Brewing Director, St Austell Brewery – IBD Nominee

Applications

Applications are open between January and March each year. More information and guidance can be obtained by downloading the documents below:

Full details on how to apply are available on the BBPA website.

The BREF supports projects which:

  1. Promote brewing education, research and training
  2. Research and educate the public about beer consumption
  3. Research the composition and nutritional value of beer in relation to diet and wellbeing
  4. Research the environmental and economic sustainability of the brewing sector

Projects supported by the BREF

Project Applicant Output
Climate Risk and Resilience in the UK Brewing Supply Chain Zero Carbon Forum Project ongoing
Forming a Beer Sommelier Programme and Guild Cask Marque Project ongoing
Wildflower Interventions to Boost the Environmental Sustainability of British Hop Production Royal Agricultural University Project ongoing
Biochar for Soil Health to Boost the Environmental Sustainability of British Hop Production Royal Agricultural University Project ongoing
Support for the National Brewing Library (NBL) at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Click Here

Project Applicant Output
Examining the Disparity Between UK Male and Female Attitudes and Behaviours Towards Beer Dea Latis Click Here
Where past meets future - Combining historic Wye Hops phenotypic data and SNP genotyping for the prediction of Verticillium wilt resistance in new hop varieties Wye Hops Project ongoing
Practical strategies for using Kveik brewing yeasts at industrial scale Nottingham University Project ongoing
Healthy Perspective on Beer Report Update BBPA Click Here
Support for the National Brewing Library (NBL) at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Click Here

Project Applicant Output
Carbon footprint comparison of keg beer to cask beer Carbon Architecture Download PDF
Hospitality Energy & Carbon Best Practice Guidelines Carbon Architecture Click Here
The stability and instability of beer haze International Centre for Brewing and Distilling Project ongoing
Support for the National Brewing Library (NBL) at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Click Here

Project Applicant Output
Creating a linked online archive for the UK brewing and pub industry National Brewery Heritage Trust Project ongoing
Molecular marker development for 21st Century hop breeding – Fast tracking resistance breeding Wye Hops Ltd Download PDF
What impact does the barley disease Ramularia Leaf Spot have on malting quality? Heriot-Watt University Download PDF
Development of online tools for brewers to measure, report and reduce carbon emissions to net zero Zero Carbon Forum Download PDF

Project Applicant Output
Investigating drought tolerance and quality trade-offs in barley Heriot-Watt University Download PDF
High Impact Technical Content to support the UK Brewing Apprenticeship Program University of Nottingham Click Here
Support for the National Brewing Library at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Click Here
Grant to the European Foundation for Alcohol Research BPPA Click Here

Project Applicant Output
Low and No Alcohol Beer Summit Club Soda Download PDF
A Word in Your Beer: examining the relationship between positive beer drinking culture, masculinity, and wellbeing Social Issues Research Centre Download PDF
Finding Beer Ben Richards Click Here
National Brewery Heritage Trust: On-Line Archive Catalogue National Brewery Heritage Trust Click Here
Digitisation of audio video content from the National Brewing Library (NBL) and Michael Jackson collections at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Click Here
Support for the National Brewing Library at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Click Here
Grant to the European Foundation for Alcohol Research BBPA Click Here

Project Applicant Output
Brewers Waste Network : New Solutions to Brewery Waste Problems University of Nottingham Download PDF
Women and Beer: Measuring Change: Analysis, Response and Reaction to the 2017 Dea Latis Women and Beer Report: The Gender Pint Gap Dea Latis Download PDF
Navigating consumers and licensed venues around the new low and alcohol-free beer market Club Soda Download PDF
Support for the National Brewing Library at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Click Here
Grant to the European Foundation for Alcohol Research BBPA Click Here

Project Applicant Output
MSc in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot-Watt University Gareth Hilton Download PDF
Development of brewing sector apprenticeship standard BBPA
Knowledge-Building in Sheffield Beer Week and Norwich City of Ale & Beer City National Forum 2018 Norwich City of Ale Download PDF
Understanding the perception of ‘body’ in beer Nottingham University Download PDF
A Study into UK Female Attitudes Towards Beer, their drinking habits and their relationship with beer Dea Latis Download PDF
British Hops: Genetic Marker Population Material - Maintenance of Plant Material Wye Hops Download PDF
Support for the National Brewing Library at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Click Here
Grant to the European Foundation for Alcohol Research BBPA Click Here

Project Applicant Output
The pasteurisation requirements for British beer: a comprehensive study Campden BRI
Environmental footprint reduction in small breweries through good practice awareness University of York Download PDF
Support for the National Brewing Library at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Click Here
Grant to the European Foundation for Alcohol Research BPPA Click Here

Project Applicant Output
An objective audit of draught beer quality in the on-trade University of Nottingham Download PDF
Support for the National Brewing Library at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Click Here
Grant to the European Foundation for Alcohol Research BPPA Click Here

Project Applicant Output
The selection of stronger flavour within the UK hop breeding programme Wye Hops Download PDF
Young Scientists Symposium Institute of Brewing and Distilling Click Here
A survey of the calorie and carbohydrate content of beers, beer mixes cider and wine Campden BRI
Life Skills (including alcohol awareness) Education in Schools BBPA
Support for the National Brewing Library at Oxford Brookes University Oxford Brookes University Click Here