Durham College Expands Beverage Centre Services With Name Change
The Centre for Craft Brewing Innovation at Durham College has been renamed the Centre for Craft Beverage Innovation, according to a college announcement on June 10, 2025. The college states that the new name is intended to reflect the centre’s expanded focus on supporting a wider variety of beverage producers in Ontario and beyond.
According to Durham College, the centre’s updated programming now serves not only craft brewers but also kombucha makers, cideries, wine producers, and manufacturers of alcohol-free beverages. The college attributes this change to developments within the craft beverage sector that have broadened the scope of the industry.
Durham College outlined three main programs now being offered through the centre. The Productivity Booster Program, as described by the college, is for established businesses and is intended to help improve production processes. The Product Innovator Program, according to the announcement, supports entrepreneurs who are working on new beverage products by providing coaching, information on trends, and pilot testing opportunities. The Farm Beverage Innovator Program is designed for farm-based producers, with guidance available on expanding operations and meeting regulation requirements, as reported by the college.
The centre’s services, according to Durham College, include product development, recipe refinement, lab testing, and prototyping. The college states that the Product Prototyping Service allows beverage makers to test and refine their recipes in small batches using facility equipment. For lab testing, Durham College reports that offerings cover alcohol content, pH levels, microbial stability, and shelf life, helping producers meet regulatory standards.
Chris Gillis, Manager of Applied Research Business Development at the centre, noted that these lab services give small-scale producers access to professional analytical tools that are typically available to large manufacturers.