MBAA TQ https://doi.org/10.1094/TQ-60-2-0616-01 | 
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Eric Samp. New Belgium Bells Brewing Company, Fort Collins, CO, USA
Abstract
The discrimination ratio (Dr) is a simple statistic that is commonly used in measurement systems analysis that spans all industries. It basically estimates the ability of the measurement system to differentiate between measurement system noise and process noise. Descriptive sensory data from brewery panels provides summary statistics on beer samples tasted by panels, and it would be of benefit for sensory panel leaders to understand how their panel data can differentiate between these two components of variation. The objective of this article is to explain how breweries can determine these ratios and use this information to judge results from panel data.
