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:
- Promote brewing education, research and training
- Research and educate the public about beer consumption
- Research the composition and nutritional value of beer in relation to diet and wellbeing
- Research the environmental and economic sustainability of the brewing sector
Projects supported by the BREF
| 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 | Project ongoing |
| What impact does the barley disease Ramularia Leaf Spot have on malting quality? | Heriot-Watt University | Project ongoing |
| 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 | Project ongoing |
| High Impact Technical Content to support the UK Brewing Apprenticeship Program | University of Nottingham | Project ongoing |
| 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 |