From the Lab Bench – A Blog

How to Submit a Sample – A Refresher
Harvest is here (gulp!) Have you forgotten how to submit samples but feel like it’s too late to ask? Not to worry—we’ve got you covered! Following these simple steps will…

Why Isn’t My pH Probe Reading Correctly? A Complete Troubleshooting Guide
Most pH probe troubleshooting comes down to three things: a clogged or dying junction, depleted or contaminated fill solution, or calibration technique errors. This guide walks through diagnosis and fixes…

Neuroenology: How the Brain Creates the Taste of Wine
A book review Most wine books invite you to swirl, sniff, and romanticize. Neuroenology: How the Brain Creates the Taste of Wine by Gordon M. Shepherd takes a completely different…

Wine Analysis FAQs
Quick answers to some of the top frequently asked questions we get about wine testing and analysis results. Still have questions? If you’re unsure what to test, what your results…

Tartrate Stabilization: Your Guide to CELSTAB™ and MANNOSTAB™
Laura Cypress, East Coast and Midwest Technical Winemaker, LAFFORT USA Ready or not, stabilization and bottling season is here! If you hate being surprised when your perfectly crafted bottle throws…

The Power of Potassium
Knowing The Initial Potassium Concentration Can Transform Your Winemaking Techniques In the pursuit of exceptional wine, understanding the composition of your grape must is essential. One element that has garnered…

Staying Legal: TTB Limits on Additives and Processing Compounds
Navigating the complex landscape of alcohol production can be both nerve-wracking and challenging, especially when it comes to adhering to regulatory standards. The U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade…

Yeast Harvesting and Storage
Yeast: the dynamic driver of fermentation and creator of so many wonderful, complex beer aromas. If you’ve ever been in charge of buying materials for a batch of beer, you’ve…

Decoction Mashing
Long-lost brewing wisdom or antiquated tradition? Ever been to your local bottle shop and seen beers advertised as double- or triple-decocted? What’s that all about? Some secret German beer magic…

Density vs Specific Gravity vs Degrees Plato
Between density, specific gravity, and degrees Plato, brewers have many different ways to measure the sugar content of their worts… maybe too many? Let’s pit these density scales head to…