We believe that collaborating with the craft beverage industry
is an engaging way for both the industry and our undergraduates to learn more about the science of their craft.
Quality Is Our Craft
Analytical chemistry is the art and science of using instrumentation and methods to separate, identify, and quantify matter. In our lab we are taking this branch of chemistry and apply it to craft beverages. Through this application we use a variety of instruments and methods to analyze alcohol, flavor compounds, sugars, acids and much more. Our focus isn’t only on providing educational opportunities and testing services, we also have a robust research program that is dedicated to developing new and innovative analytical methods for quality testing in the brewing industry.
A Brief Overview of
Our Founding
The QC2 lab was founded by Luci Benedict in 2016. It all started from a couple of conversations with the Quality Control Manager at Allagash Brewing Company and the head brewer at Rising Tide Brewing Company. Luci had a need to find real world lab experiences for her students, and the breweries had a need for their beer to be tested for important quality control parameters. Lucky for everyone those two needs fit perfectly together. We collaborated with the Maine Brewers Guild to secure seed funding from the Maine Economic Improvement Fund at the University of Southern Maine (MEIF@USM) to build the lab in 2014. With MEIF@USM funding we built a lab that has top of the line instrumentation and equipment essential for testing and research, that is all run by our trained undergraduate students, and is a great resource to our Maine brewers.
Leadership
Lucille Benedict, Ph.D.
Founder + Director
Samantha White
Lab Coordinator
Current Students
Quality Control Testing
Chemistry
I value gaining experience in the practical applications of science, related to beer, and how those techniques can be applied to different industries. #science
I’m ambidextrous.
Travis George
Quality Control Testing
Biochemistry
I love being able to give real life businesses the information they need to make better products while watching them grow & succeed.
I used to be a radio DJ & have interviewed St. Vincent, Twenty One Pilots, and Courtney Barnett.
Samantha SaVaun
Alumni
Product Developer
Biochemistry
I love being able to do independent research and development with prototypes that I design and modify until they operate correctly.
I also love hairless cats.
Gabrielle Hamm
Quality Control Testing Specialist
Chemistry
I enjoy the experience of applying the different techniques I have learned to help brewers with the quality control of their beer.
I am a hip hop dancer and in my free time I volunteer at a dance studio.
Kristi Hanscom
Research + Method Development
Biology
Having the opportunity to learn hands-on skills that can be brought directly into the craft beer industry.
Today, I work full time at Mast Landing Brewing Co. in Westbrook, ME as a QA/QC technician.
Heath Garson
Research + Method Validation
Biochemistry
I enjoy getting to work with so many great people and breweries during the setup of the lab.
I currently work as an analytical chemist for the Department of the Navy at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Ryan J. Michaud
Research + Quality Control Testing
Computer Science
I enjoy getting to work independently on tasks that require creative problem solving.
In my free time, I enjoy printmaking, particularly cyanotype and silk screen.
Zachary Rohman
Research + Quality Control Testing
Chemistry
I enjoy learning the qualitative methods used in the craft beer field, as well as the instrumentation found in most analytical labs.
In my free time, I enjoy mountaineering, and I hope to bag a 6000 peak this upcoming year.
John Meyers
Research + Quality Control Testing
Chemistry
My favorite part was working with the breweries because they guide and give importance to the research projects and goals, and the research results are directly impactful.
I am working on getting my Ph.D. in Chemistry at Penn State!
Ciera Wentworth
Research + Quality Control Testing
Biochemistry
I really appreciated the senior mentorship and the opportunity to present our work at the American Chemical Society Conference in San Francisco.
I currently work as a scientist in Lancaster, PA. I work within the realm of biopharmaceuticals.
Jordan Balsamo
Advisory Board
Christie Mahaffey
Foundation Brewing
Sean Sullivan
Maine Brewers' Guild
Zach Bodah
Allagash Brewing
Tom Madden
Lone Pine Brewing Company
Elizabeth Ehrenfeld
Southern Maine Community College Faculty
Research + Quality Control Testing
Chemistry
My favorite part was working with the breweries because they guide and give importance to the research projects and goals; and the research results are directly impactful.
I am working on getting my Ph.D in Chemistry at Penn State!
Ciera Wentworth
Research and Quality Control Testing
Decrepit enlightenment society chaos ultimate merciful. Merciful truth snare inexpedient sea insofar.
Ciera Wentworth
Research + method validation
Biochemistry
I enjoy getting to work with so many great people and breweries during the setup of the lab.
I work as an analytical chemist for the Department of the Navy at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.
Ryan J. Michaud
Research and method validation
Decrepit enlightenment society chaos ultimate merciful. Merciful truth snare inexpedient sea insofar.
Ryan J. Michaud
Research + Quality Control Testing
Biochemistry
I really appreciated the senior mentorship and the opportunity to present our work at the ACS conference in San Francisco.
I work as a scientist in Lancaster, PA. I work within the realm of biopharmaceuticals.
Jordan Balsamo
Research and Quality Control Testing
Decrepit enlightenment society chaos ultimate merciful. Merciful truth snare inexpedient sea insofar.
Jordan Balsamo
Research + Method Development
Biology
Having the opportunity to learn hands-on skills that can be brought directly into the craft beer industry.
I work full time at Mast Landing Brewing Co. in Westbrook, ME as a QA/QC technician
Heath Garson
Research and Method Development
Decrepit enlightenment society chaos ultimate merciful. Merciful truth snare inexpedient sea insofar.
Heath Garson
Christie Mahaffey
Foundation Brewing
Sean Sullivan
Maine Brewers' Guild
Zach bodah
Alllagash Brewing
Elizabeth Ehrenfeld
SMCC Faculty
Contact us
If you have questions about ordering or about an order your recently purchased, please submit to this form and we'll make sure to be in touch!
