Stuart Howe is the Technical Development Manager at the Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers. Stuart is famous for developing “Doom Bar”, the UK’s biggest selling Cask Ale. He has also developed many other prize-winning beers including medals in the World Beer Cup.

“Tales of the unexpected…..”

The effects of climate change and political volatility means that we are experiencing an increased pace of change in the world of brewing. The beer market is being whittled away and is less forgiving of poor quality and cost without value. Some of the things that brewers used to be able to rely on are becoming unreliable. To prosper, brewers will need to be agile and innovative. In the face of these challenges, the role and contribution of the brewery engineer have never been so important.

In this presentation we discuss the current and emerging pressures and opportunities for brewers. We also reveal the results of a voice of the brewer survey in which brewers from across the world shared their thoughts on the challenges they face and what they need from their equipment and facilities. The session is designed to be interactive with live poling and the opportunity for all attendees to contribute.

Alex Bowler is a Research Fellow in Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Food at the University of Leeds

“Artificial Intelligence in Brewing: Current uses and future directions”

The buzz surrounding AI has only increased since the launch of large language models like ChatGPT in late 2022. However, it can be difficult to understand the landscape of techniques that could be classed as AI, most of which are less complex and have existed for some time (e.g., chemometrics, optimisation algorithms).

This talk will aim to explain what AI is along with associated terminology like machine learning, the different types of AI, and applications where AI has been used in the brewing sector. Furthermore, it will discuss how AI might be applied to further brewing challenges and some limitations of different AI methods.

Andy Joynson is a Product Ambassador at Caldera. After a career as a Senior Manager in the Food and Beverage sector, including time as a Director of Operations at Innocent Drinks, Andy is now working to design energy storage and heat supply solutions for industry.

‘Electrification of heat in Food & Beverage and the role of Thermal Storage’

The pathway for the food and beverage industry is broadly about electrification. The business challenge is to electrify cost effectively.
Speaking from his experience of ‘the blender’ – innocent’s all electric factory, Andy will explain the synergies and opportunities between now more common electrification approaches used there, and his insights on thermal storage as an enabler on the full decarbonisation pathway.

Andy’s current employer, Caldera Heat Batteries, is at the leading edge of technology that can enable exploitation of these opportunities.

Andrew Mieleniewski is head of Technical Sales at Briggs of Burton PLC. In this role, Andrew supports major beer and distilled spirits producers worldwide, guiding customers through master planning and feasibility studies to the realisation of their capital projects. With over 35 years of experience in Brewing and Distilling, Andrew is a Chartered Engineer and a CIBD examiner.

“Good Things Come in Threes: Selecting the most suitable lautering technology"

Brewers and distillers have a choice of three different technologies for their mash separation process: mash filters, lauter tuns, and Ziemann’s innovative Nessie rotary filter technology. As part of the CLPT Group, Briggs of Burton has access to all three of these lautering technologies - this presentation reviews the strengths and weaknesses of each technology enabling brewers and distillers to make more informed decisions.

Alfred Ackbarow, Head of Sales, has worked for Krones AG for in excess of 18 years starting as a Project Manager in Germany, together with

Alex Hinds, Area Sales Manager (Process Technology) of Krones UK. After working for ABInBev, Alex joined Krones UK in 2017 as a Technical Sales Project Manager before being promoted to his current role, earlier this year.

“Smart, Clean, Sustainable: Krones innovations shaping the future of Bottling and Packaging”

This presentation will showcase Krones’ latest engineering advancements designed to meet the evolving demands of the brewing industry.
We’ll explore the revolutionary Dynafill glass filler, delivering unmatched filling speeds with integrated CO₂ flushing, and the compact clean room can filler paired with the Modulseam seamer, setting new standards in hygiene and flexibility. The session will also highlight the LinaFlex eSync Tunnel Pasteuriser, offering precise thermal treatment with maximum energy efficiency, and LitePac Top, a sustainable, plastic-free packaging solution for cans. Join us to discover how Krones is engineering a smarter, cleaner, and more sustainable future for brewing.

As a Bonus, Alfred and Alex, just back from Munich, will make us aware of new developments from the Drinktec exhibition 2025.

Rick Rogers, Business Development Manager of Simble Solutions Limited, a company focused on carbon management and energy / IoT solutions and a leader in “Software as a Solution” (SaaS) Technology solutions.

“Energy ESG Management (Environment, Social and Governance)”

Rick, using his expertise as a specialist in Energy Management, will talk about the use of the “Internet of Things” within a Brewery.

He will explain how the cost effect and savings attainable using new technology to monitor energy usage, will show how companies can save money and provide better machine performance

Yianni Alissandratos is a senior proposition lead in innovation at Carlsberg Britvic with a strong foundation in Mechanical Engineering. His career began in core engineering disciplines before expanding into academia, research, and the development of healthcare technologies, including vaccines. Since joining Britvic in 2021, Yianni has led complex, cross-functional engineering initiatives focused on sustainability, circular economy strategies, and systems design. In his current role, he applies rigorous engineering thinking to drive innovation from concept through to execution, bridging technical development with real-world implementation.

“From Waste to Worth: Using Gen AI and IoT to Power Circular Innovation”

This talk introduces cutting-edge strategies for transforming effluent waste from the beverage industry into valuable resources, ultimately unlocking new revenue streams. 

Drawing on the power of emerging digital technologies, circular economy principles, and systems engineering, it explores how to unlock new value through intelligent design and data-led decision-making. By bridging innovation with implementation, the session highlights opportunities to build scalable, sustainable solutions—while fostering new partnerships and opening pathways for industry-wide collaboration.