The Brewing Industry Research Foundation is now part of
Campden BRI
Chipping Campden is a market town in the Cotswold (district), Cotswold district of Gloucestershire, England. It is notable for its terraced High Street, dating from the 14th century to the 17th century. ("Chipping" is from Old English ''cēping' ...
, a research association serving all sectors of the food and drink industry. The Brewing Division is based next to the
M23, and the other Divisions are located in
Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, where about 330 people are employed.
History
Formation
In 1946 the
Institute of Brewing
The Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) is an industry trade association for brewers and distillers, both in the United Kingdom and internationally. The IBD had its headquarters at Clarges Street in London London until 2014 at which ...
recommended the setting up of an experimental research station, the Brewing Industry Research Foundation, with a full-time Director of Research and in 1947 Dr J Masson Gulland (Professor of Organic Chemistry, the
University of Nottingham) was appointed to that position. Sadly Dr Masson Gulland was killed in a train crash before taking up his position and hence Sir
Ian Heilbron (
Imperial College London) agreed to become the second Director of Research at the new Brewing Industry Research Foundation (BIRF)in 1949.
Research building
In 1948 Lyttel Hall, Nutfield in
Surrey
Surrey () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South East England, bordering Greater London to the south west. Surrey has a large rural area, and several significant urban areas which form part of the Greater London Built-up Area. ...
was purchased and the main Hall was converted into laboratories, the squash court into a pilot brewery and other new buildings were developed as a workshops and conference facilities. In 1951 the Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip formally opened the site. BIRF later became The Brewing Research Foundation, BRF International, Brewing Research International and today is simply known as BRI.
Research scope
Initially the BIRF focused on fundamental and applied research for the malting and brewing industries of the UK. Its staff made useful contributions in the areas of
barley germination and
yeast physiology.
Since that time its role has evolved to become more service orientated offering analysis, food safety and information packages to an international client base.
Brewers Patents Ltd
The control of Brewing Patents Ltd was transferred in 1976 from the Brewers' Society to the Brewing Research Foundation.
Important Brewing Scientist Training Ground
Many young scientists of the Brewing Industry found initial employment at this Foundation to become important contributors elsewhere in the Brewing and allied industries.
Merger
In October 2008, Campden BRI was formed by the merger of Brewing Research International with Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) of
Chipping Campden, which was formed in 1919 and is the largest membership-based food research organisation in the world. In the 1920s it devised the Campden Solution, which was later commercialised as the
Campden Tablet.
Functions
Its services are used by the vast majority of the world's brewing companies.
References
External links
Campden BRIBrewing Research InternationalBrewers Patents Ltd
News items
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Healthy cider in May 2002*
{{Authority control
Beer in the United Kingdom
Food science institutes
Research institutes in Surrey
Research institutes in Gloucestershire
Organizations established in 1946