Stirring up Success: From Lab to Distillery
You’ve attended the Worldwide Distilled Spirits Conference (WDSC) 2026 in Edinburgh, the University of Salford offers practical, science‑led collaboration designed specifically for the needs of distilleries, spirits brands and supply‑chain innovators.
This page gives you a clear snapshot of what we do, why it matters, and how to start a conversation with us.
At the University of Salford, distilling innovation is led through Lark Hill Brewery and the MicroJoule Testing Hub (MJTH) - a university‑owned, industry‑facing facility that connects academic expertise with real production challenges.
We work at the intersection of:
- Distilling, fermentation and flavour science
- Analytical chemistry and quality validation
- Biotechnology and process optimisation
- Sustainability, decarbonisation and circular economy solutions
Our model is collaborative and applied: projects are commercially relevant and scaled to your needs.
How We Support Distillers & Spirits Businesses
Problem Led Applied R&D
- Proof‑of‑concept projects for new spirits, ingredients or processes
- Yeast, microbiome and fermentation optimisation
- Improving yield, consistency and flavour development
Testing, Validation & Technical Insight
- Microbiological and chemical analysis to support QA and compliance
- Method development and in‑house validation support
- Training teams to confidently use analytical data
Sustainability & Net Zero Innovation
- Reducing energy, water and raw material use
- Valorising spent grains and distillation by‑products
- Developing circular frameworks aligned to spirits production
Talent Embedded in Industry
- Students delivering live industry projects
- Short‑term placements, secondments and funded research routes
- Upskilling teams in emerging distilling technologies
Why work with us?
Companies choose to work with Salford because we offer:
- Specialist facilities and expertise
- Flexible project sizes - from short pilots to long‑term partnerships
- Support identifying innovation funding opportunities
- A proven track record across brewing, distilling and fermentation
We have already worked with many companies, delivering consultancy, proof‑of‑concept projects and commercially launched products.
Typical Projects Start Like This - No long proposals. No unnecessary complexity!
Initial conversation – a focused discussion about your technical or sustainability challenge
Defined pilot or study – scoped to cost, time and commercial relevance
Delivery & outcomes – data, insight or validation you can act on
Next steps – scale up, funding bids or longer term collaboration
Get in Touch
If you’ve seen us at WDSC 2026 and an idea has formed - or highlighted a challenge, we’d love to talk.
Get in touch to explore how the University of Salford can support your distilling or spirits business at innovation@salford.ac.uk.
We don’t just research the future of spirits. We help you build it.