What Brewlab does

Brewlab is a UK-based provider of brewing training and analysis services headquartered in a purpose-built facility on the banks of the River Wear in Sunderland, founded in 1986 in London and relocated to the North East of England in 1991. The company operates across multiple integrated revenue streams: accredited professional training courses (nine-week Diploma in British Brewing Technology, three-week Certificate in Practical Brewing, one-day taster sessions and specialist masterclasses), laboratory analysis services (ABV, colour, pH, bitterness, microbiological, chemical testing, ATNC, NDMA, and gluten analysis), specialist yeast services (analysis, cryogenic preservation storage, and supply scaled to production volumes), bespoke Due Diligence Packages for regulatory compliance, on-site brewery support at £650/day plus VAT, and consultancy for brewery start-ups and product development. Customers include established craft breweries requiring HMRC/SIBA/SALSA compliance, brewery start-ups, professional brewers seeking development, and aspiring or home brewers — with international student cohorts originating from Turkey, India, Spain, and other countries. Named disclosed clients include Full Circle Brew Co., Brew York, Bays Brewery, Monty's Brewery, and Arran Brewery.

Name

Brewlab

Legal name

Brewlab Ltd

Website

https://brewlab.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1986

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brewlab is a UK-based provider of accredited brewing training courses, laboratory analysis, and yeast management services, serving craft breweries, professional brewers, brewery start-ups, and aspiring brewers from its purpose-built Sunderland facility.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Brewing Industry Training and Laboratory Services

NAICS

Breweries (31212), Breweries (312120), Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Malt Beverages (2082), Beverages (2080), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Beer Brewing & Craft Brewing (AFAFAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Beverage Fermentation Cultures (Beer, Wine, Cider, Kombucha, Fermented Soft Drinks) (AFAJAJAC), Alcoholic Beverage Blending, Bottling & Private Label (Non-Distilling) (AFAFAAAH), Alcohol-Free & Low-Alcohol Beer/Wine/Spirits Production (AFAFAAAJ)

Keywords

• Brewing training services
• Laboratory analysis services
• Yeast management services
• Brewery consultancy services
• Craft brewing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Sunderland

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Training Courses: Professional brewing training programmes ranging from introductory courses to nine-week intensive diploma courses. Training is delivered at the purpose-built Sunderland facility with practical hands-on brewing experience and industry placements.
2. Laboratory Analysis Services: Technical analysis services for breweries including ABV testing, colour analysis, pH, bitterness, full chemical analysis, and microbiological hygiene checks. Results delivered via official reports.
3. Yeast Services: Specialist yeast services including analysis, secure storage with cryogenic preservation, and supply of liquid yeast cultures scaled to production volumes.
4. Due Diligence Packages: Tailored quality control sample plans for breweries covering analysis requirements from basic chemical understanding to advanced genomic microbiological control. Includes dedicated account management.
5. Project Support and Consultancy: Tailored project support for brewery start-ups and beverage development including recipe formulation, brewery design, and research services. Brewlab daily rate for external services is £650 plus VAT.
6. External On-Site Services: On-site brewery support delivering training and expertise directly to client facilities covering raw materials, brewing theory, quality assurance, microbiology, and cellar management.
7. Brewlab Brews Products: Production and supply of specialty beers to local trade outlets and the brewery taproom. Beer available in cask, keg, bottle and can formats.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Brewlab delivers accredited brewing training courses (from one-day masterclasses up to a nine-week Diploma in British Brewing Technology), laboratory analysis services (ABV, pH, colour, bitterness, microbiological and DNA PCR testing), and specialist yeast services (analysis, cryogenic storage, and culture supply). It also provides on-site brewery support, project and consultancy services for start-ups, and operates a consumer-facing arm producing Brewlab Brews craft beer for local trade and its on-site taproom.

Product overview

Brewlab is a UK-based provider of brewing training and analysis services offering a comprehensive portfolio of interconnected products and services. The core offerings consist of accredited training programmes (Diploma in British Brewing Technology, Certificate in Practical Brewing, and specialist courses), laboratory analysis services (routine and advanced testing for ABV, colour, pH, bitterness, and microbiology), and yeast services (analysis, storage, and supply). Additional services include bespoke Due Diligence Packages for quality control compliance, Onsite Brewery Support for on-location training and audits, Project Support for product development, and Consultancy for brewery setup. The company also operates a consumer-facing arm with Brewlab Brews craft beer products and a Taproom, alongside merchandise through its Shop. All services are delivered from purpose-built facilities in Sunderland, with a 3.5 barrel brewery, 100-litre trial kit, and kegging/bottling equipment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Darwin Brewery: Brewlab's sister company; a well known microbrewery on the banks of the River Wear.
• Brewlab Brews

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates have helped establish and develop successful breweries across the world
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of SunderlandcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Brewlab retains links with the University of Sunderland for research collaboration and student placements. Previously based in university laboratories in 1995 and established the Darwin Brewery with university connections.
• Newcastle UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Brewlab maintains engagement with Newcastle University as part of its academic network for research and knowledge exchange.
• John Innes CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Long-term research collaboration investigating the potential of historic Chevallier barley variety. Initial work with the University of Sunderland identified strong disease resistance and further PhD research investigated transfer to modern varieties.
• Various Overseas UniversitiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrewlab maintains relationships with a number of prominent overseas universities, attracting international students and enabling cross-cultural knowledge exchange in brewing education.
• Darwin BrewerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrewlab's sister company, a well-known microbrewery on the banks of the River Wear. Provides commercial brewing experience to students who can see and experience brewing from production stages to pulling pints in local pubs.
• Pitfield BreweryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEarly partner for practical experience delivery when Brewlab began in London in 1986, providing students hands-on commercial brewing experience.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: Global testing laboratory network offering beverage and food analysis services including ABV and microbiological testing. Competes with Brewlab at the commodity end of brewery testing via scale-driven pricing.
• White Labs: US-based yeast production and laboratory services company serving the craft brewing industry. Comparable to Brewlab's yeast services arm (analysis, storage, supply), though operates at greater scale with broader geographic reach.
• Lallemand Brewing: Global manufacturer of brewing yeast and fermentation solutions. Overlaps with Brewlab's yeast services offering but operates as a much larger yeast production house rather than a niche cryogenic storage and analysis specialist.

Direct peers

• Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD): UK-based global examining body offering certified qualifications in brewing and distilling. Peer to Brewlab's accredited Diploma and Certificate programmes; both serve the same brewer career-progression pathway and compete for the same pool of UK and international students.
• Campden BRI: UK food and drink research organisation providing laboratory testing, quality assurance, and training services. Comparable to Brewlab's lab and training services; addresses a broader food/beverage base but is a primary alternative for brewery compliance testing in the UK.
• Siebel Institute of Technology: Chicago-headquartered (now part of Doemens Academy) brewing school offering diploma and certificate programmes, plus applied brewing services. Directly comparable to Brewlab as a global provider of professional brewing education and laboratory analysis serving the craft brewing industry.
• Doemens Academy: German brewing and beverage technology school offering diploma programmes, applied research, and laboratory services. Closely comparable to Brewlab in combining residential brewing education, R&D, and technical services for the brewing industry.
• Heriot-Watt University — International Centre for Brewing and Distilling: Edinburgh-based academic institution offering MSc and postgraduate brewing programmes. Peer to Brewlab at the higher end of brewing education; both serve career-changers and international students seeking formal brewing qualifications.
• VLB Berlin (Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei): Berlin-based brewing research institute providing professional training, laboratory analysis, and pilot brewing facilities to breweries worldwide. Directly comparable as an integrated education + lab services provider for the brewing industry.

Emerging players

• Oxford Brewing Sciences Institute (OABS): Specialist training and consultancy provider for the brewing industry, offering technical courses and brewery start-up support. Comparable to Brewlab's consultancy and project support services, particularly for new breweries.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/brewlabltd
• Instagraminstagram.com/brewlabltd
• Xx.com/BrewlabLtd

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brewlab