Your passion, pride & personality reflected in each recipe.
We conduct thorough research, use our in-depth process knowledge, and work closely with you to develop stand-out and award-winning products. We identify opportunities to deliver them with distinct market suitability that align closely with their brand identity and business objectives. Whether it’s adding a new flavor or enhancing an existing product line, First Key helps to develop high-quality, innovative and distinct beers and beverages that directly reflect your pride, passion and personality.
Product Profile
We begin by working with you to define key characteristics of the prototype liquid, such as desired flavour and aroma, alcohol content, bitterness levels, sweetness body and colour. Using an extensive profiling process, we drill down into each of these characteristics to develop a comprehensive profile of the desired product that accurately reflects your vision. This process generally includes conducting tasting panels with a representative array of comparable liquids.
Recipe Development
Great taste and quality are always at the forefront when we develop recipes. We analyze the findings from the profile definition stage and develop a liquid recipe that considers the agreed-upon characteristics. Our recipes consider all the ingredients required to make the prototype product and during this step key procedural elements, such as mashing temperatures and target gravities for beer, are defined.
Raw Materials Sourcing
Even during recipe development, we consider the regional availability of all raw materials, paying close attention to current trends to ensure that product trials can be accurately recreated on the commercial scale. We determine suitable suppliers for the prototype’s ingredients and procure the raw materials for trials.
Pilot Trials
With the profile, recipe and materials determined, we conduct trials in a controlled environment using a state-of-the-art pilot system designed to simulate various commercial conditions and processes. Upon completion, the resulting trials are assessed against their target profile and samples are packaged and delivered to you for evaluation.
Comprehensive Prototype Analysis
After the pilot trials are complete, we undertake a comprehensive analysis (laboratory & taste profiles) of the prototype(s). First Key’s profiling system uses tabular data, perceptual maps and detailed commentary from internationally-certified taste evaluators to give a comprehensive and independent picture of your beer or beverage. We document all key parameters for client reference and provide recommendations for next steps.
