There’s nothing like sipping a cold, freshly brewed IPA from a taproom keg. But, for brewers, preserving this intense hoppiness can be challenging. Over time, the flavors and aromas imparted by hops—particularly the more subtle ones—tend to fade.
But Matt Cutter, the founder of Upslope Brewing Company, has a solution to this problem. He’s developed a clever new technology that’s poised to revolutionize the beverage industry.
Called BevBoost, his innovative device infuses hop extract into beer at the time of consumption. The company is unveiling the technology in select beers starting this month.
“I’ve chased the taste of a fresh IPA in a can for years—and no one had cracked it,” says Cutter. “With BevBoost, we finally found a way to deliver that ‘just canned at the brewery’ experience, every time you pop the tab. This could change how the whole industry thinks about freshness.”
How BevBoost Works
BevBoost is a patented, dual-chambered widget that can be inserted into any aluminum can during manufacturing. The inner chamber of the widget can be filled with a liquid concentrate during the production process, before being sealed and dropped into the can.
Once the can is sealed, a second chamber in the widget begins to capture and store a small amount of the beverage’s carbon dioxide or nitrogen. When a beer drinker opens the can, the change in pressure causes the widget to open and release the liquid concentrate, just before the person takes the first sip.
The insert is food-safe and recyclable. It doesn’t compromise the beverage’s shelf life and it doesn’t require any special refrigeration arrangements. It’s compatible with existing canning infrastructure, meaning beer makers and beverage brands can simply plug and play.
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Craft beverage manufacturers can differentiate themselves by coming up with delicious concentrate combinations. The widgets are highly customizable and can hold fresh flavor compounds, functional ingredients, vitamins or additives like THC and CBD.
Manufacturers can create their own concentrates or choose from a growing menu of natural extracts. Current options include a variety of fruit boosts, like strawberry or grapefruit; hop boosts, featuring strains like Eldorado and Amarillo; mint, herb and spice boosts, like rosemary and ginger; and functional boosts, like caffeine and adaptogens.
For large manufacturers, the widgets should help cut down on expensive and wasteful product loss due to flavor and quality degradation caused by oxidation. Instead of throwing out beverages that have been on the shelves for months, manufacturers can use BevBoost to ensure they taste and smell fresh long after they come off the canning line.
“We think BevBoost has the potential to reshape how drinks are made, stored, and enjoyed across the beverage industry,” says Cutter. “We didn’t just create a new beer. We’re inventing the beginning of a new category of beverages.”
The BevBoost team includes Cutter as chief executive officer, as well as Steve Savage as chief operating officer. Savage is the co-founder of Eco-Products, a leading sustainable packaging company.
“I see a lot of business ideas, but BevBoost instantly stood out when Matt told me about it,” Savage says. “It’s rare to find a solution that makes a beverage taste better and last longer, and is also cost neutral. This launch is just the beginning of what’s possible. It’s going to be a fun ride.”
Hop-Boosted IPA Debuts in Boulder
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This month, the BevBoost team is launching a limited-release Hop-Boosted IPA featuring the technology at Upslope’s Flatiron Park tap room. It became available in the taproom June 4, and will be available at select Colorado retailers in the near future.
“We’ve spent years thinking about how to make hop-forward beers even better in a can,” says Cutter. “BevBoost delivers on that vision in a way that’s never been possible, bringing next-level hop character to life right when you crack it. This isn’t just a new IPA, it’s a new kind of drinking experience, and we’re proud to be the first to offer it.”
More broadly, BevBoost has big plans for expanding—from energy drinks to non-alcoholic craft beers. Sign up for exclusive future releases on the BevBoost website.
