Formation In 1946 the
Institute of Brewing recommended the setting up of an experimental research station, the
Brewing Industry Research Foundation, with a full-time Director of Research and in 1947 Dr J Masson Gulland (Professor of Organic Chemistry, the
University of Nottingham) was appointed to that position. Sadly Dr Masson Gulland was killed in a train crash before taking up his position and hence Sir
Ian Heilbron (
Imperial College London) agreed to become the second Director of Research at the new Brewing Industry Research Foundation (BIRF)in 1949.
Research building In 1948 Lyttel Hall, Nutfield in
Surrey was purchased and the main Hall was converted into laboratories, the squash court into a pilot brewery and other new buildings were developed as a workshops and conference facilities. In 1951 the Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip formally opened the site. BIRF later became The Brewing Research Foundation, BRF International, Brewing Research International and until its merger with CCFRA was simply known as BRI.
Research scope Initially the BIRF focused on fundamental and applied research for the malting and brewing industries of the UK. Its staff made useful contributions in the areas of
barley germination and
yeast physiology. Since that time its role has evolved to become more service orientated offering analysis, food safety and information packages to an international client base.
Brewers Patents Ltd The control of Brewing Patents Ltd was transferred in 1976 from the Brewers' Society to the Brewing Research Foundation.
Important Brewing Scientist Training Ground Many young scientists of the Brewing Industry found initial employment at this Foundation to become important contributors elsewhere in the Brewing and allied industries.
Merger In October 2008, Campden BRI was formed by the merger of Brewing Research International with Campden & Chorleywood Food Research Association (CCFRA) of
Chipping Campden, which was formed in 1919 and is the largest membership-based food research organisation in the world. In the 1920s it devised the Campden Solution, which was later commercialised as the
Campden Tablet. In June 2024, the Brewing site in Nutfield closed and is currently for sale. ==Functions==