Interview with Raquel Muñoz from Cervezas Gran Vía
Carlos Núñez from Molina for Brewers, our distributor, met with Raquel Munoz from Cervezas Gran Vía to talk about how their brewery managed to overcome the challenges of the pandemic, her point of view on how technology and the traditional methods of brewing can coexist, but also her firsthand experience with Oculyze.
Carlos Núñez: Can you please tell us about your role at Cervezas Gran Vía?
Raquel Muñoz: I’m in charge of the laboratory and quality control. I am somewhat responsible for following the APPCC [HACCP, Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point System], making pertinent analyses regarding the quality of the beer, and verifying that everything is in order regarding the quality.
Carlos Núñez: Would you say that these two past years have driven brewers to rely more on technology?
Raquel Muñoz: Yes, I think that even in the brewery, where everything is very manual, in the end, the pandemic had an impact and technology helps us, apart from communicating better, from a distance, also to have control remotely. Because to be able to control a factory without having to have so many personnel on-site… in the end is an advantage to be able to do it technologically.
Carlos Núñez: What is, in your opinion, the single most important factor that sets apart those breweries at the top?
Raquel Muñoz: Well, I believe that quality control is fundamental. A large company that has the power to control quality in detail can grow much better, much faster than a company that does not have much capacity to control its quality. Because, in the end, problems always arise and, if you are not able to solve them, in time they are going to slow you down.
Carlos Núñez: Do you think that technology and “the human touch” can find a way to coexist in the brewing industry?
Raquel Muñoz: Yes, I think they should coexist because it is true that that sixth sense of the brewer plays an important role. I also believe that the more technology we have, the better, because always having concrete numbers and values helps you make decisions. But there indeed has to be someone behind it who can interpret all those numbers and give them their personal touch. Because, in the end, the numbers alone do not help you to decide anything, so you have to have someone with experience who has worked with them before, has seen many values , and can put them in perspective.
Carlos Núñez: What have been the most noticeable positive impacts of using the Oculyze technology for yeast monitoring in your brewery?
Raquel Muñoz: For me, the most positive thing is the data registry. We have a database in which we have all the analyses. We can consult day x of any month of any fermenter and we have all the data there. I also really like the part of budding cells that gives you a percentage, which for us is very helpful – to see how the fermentation is going at the beginning of a propagation – and then, well, saving time. In the end, doing the counts with Oculyze instead of doing them manually saves a lot of time.
Carlos Núñez: What would be, in your opinion, the most important reasons for using the Oculyze BB?
Raquel Muñoz: In the end, we use it for convenience, because it is a very convenient device, very easy to use, so that anyone can use it without having to have prior laboratory work knowledge. And its speed. It’s reliable, fast and convenient, so I think it’s a good option.
Carlos Núñez: What is the one old-school approach, notion, or conception that all breweries should stick to, no matter which new technologies they use?
Raquel Muñoz: I would keep a brewer’s curiosity about trying everything sensorily. When you are brewing beer, in the end, there are things that you cannot measure. Your palate is capable of realizing some things that you couldn’t realize in any other way. I think that should be maintained and not lose that contact with the product. And, well, from the new technology, I think there is much that can be preserved and improved. The more technology, the better.
Carlos Núñez: Are you satisfied with the technical support from Molina for Brewers, as a distributor, as well as from Oculyze?
Raquel Muñoz: Yes. Even without asking for anything, they have contacted me: “today we have seen that your analyses, well, this happens, have you tried to do something else…” so they are available and that is appreciated.
Many thanks to Raquel Muñoz and Cervezas Gran Vía!
And a special thanks to our distributor, Molina for Brewers, and his representative, Carlos Núñez!
Passionate about the beer and/or wine making process? So are we! If you’re interested in finding out how you can use our technology to control fermentation and monitor your yeast, save work hours and improve the cost-efficiency of your business, drop us a line at [email protected] or check out our product pages:
