01
Taste
Impartial sensory evaluation independent from brew-team, supplier and brand.
Independent Brewing Consultant . Dipl.Brew 2013
Brewing excellence on tap.
Twenty years of brewing craft, offered as honest, practical advice. Better beer, dialled in batch after batch - for breweries of every size.
20+
Years in the industry
IBD
Diploma in Brewing
10+
Years judging beer
NZ
Based, internationally available
The method
Taste. Diagnose. Refine. Support.
02
Diagnose
Analyse sensory, brewsheet and process data to discover optimisation opportunities.
03
Refine
Targeted changes to recipe, process and QA - prioritised by impact.
04
Support
Re-taste, mentor and imbed actioned changes.
What I do
Five ways to better beer
01
Independent Tasting Analysis
Objective, independent and experienced sensory evaluation - off-flavour detection, balance checks and a clear written report you can act on.
02
Judges' Feedback, Translated
Competition scoresheets turned into a prioritised technical action plan - what the feedback actually means at the brewhouse, cellar and packaging level.
03
Recipe Design & NPD
New product development from concept to commercial pour - grain bill, hop schedule, yeast selection and pilot-to-scale guidance built around your kit.
04
QA & Process Optimisation
Process and plant audits that give practical and budget-conscious strategies for improvement - advice that fits a working brewery, not a textbook.
05
Continuous Improvement
On-going or project-based support for your brewing team. Clear guidance, mentorship - dialling in iterative improvement batch after batch.
Level-up your Brewery.
Book a call and we'll figure out what your beer needs.
Book a consultExamples
Past Projects
Nadi FJ
Quality Assurance
Upskilling a team with ongoing support and mentorship. Being available for regular online QA check-ins and team process queries.
Gerringong AU
Judges Feedback Translated
Results for a low-abv lager were less than anticipated. I took the feedback, explained the brewing origins for the critique and provided a clear pathway to better success through recipe design and process improvement.
Waipu NZ
Bridging Head Brewer
Between the outgoing Head Brewer and incumbent, I lead recipe development, production scheduling, ingredient ordering and upheld quality levels.
Gisborne NZ
Contamination Eradication
A client presented with bulging and infected cans. I was able to assess, pinpoint and alleviate the origin while also providing pathways to process improvement.
Auckland NZ
Recipe Design
Developed a bespoke medal-winning NZ Pilsner for a debut contract-brewed brand.
Taupo NZ
Collaboration
Team building and Continuous Improvement rolled together in a brewing context. We worked together on a new process and recipe which birthed a gold-medal winning IPA.
Gisborne NZ
Awards Improvement
My mentorship and improvement strategies proved valuable to the client achieving their best results at the Brewer's Guild of NZ Beer Awards.
Waipu NZ
SOP Design
A client needed a practical and easily understood Standard Operating Procedure for daily operation of their ABE can filler. I assessed their procedures, streamlined, improved, detailed and applied this to their SOP documentation.
Haruru NZ
Brewsheet Modernisation
I updated and provided an elementary brewsheet framework for a brewer that allows for growth and flexibility while also emphasizing important procedures.
Nelson NZ
Brewer's Advice
A hop grower needed ongoing and timely advice to help garner new customers in emerging markets. I provided recipe design and practical procedures to maximise the impact of their terroir of hops.
Meet Sam
Qualified, experienced & genuinely obsessed with great beer.
A Diploma in Brewing (IBD) and two decades inside leading New Zealand craft breweries - across production, quality and new-product development.
I bring an objective palate and a process-driven mindset to your tanks. No egos, no guesswork - just honest analysis and a clear path forward.
I've solo operated breweries, been Head Brewer, designed and built breweries, and designed and implemented Safe and Standard Operating Procedures and Food Safety compliance structures.
I am Centre-back for the Matakana Oysters football team.
ALWAYS CHASING PERFECTION
Book a consultation
Let's talk about your beer.
Pick a day and time that suits - I'll confirm within two business days.