BACKGROUND: Brewery wastewater is a potential feedstock for polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production since it contains high concentrations of easily biodegradable organic matter. Activated sludge was submitted to aerobic dynamic feeding conditions in a sequencing batch reactor fed fermented brewery wastewater in order to select a microbial culture with high storage capacity. The effect of several operational parameters, such as substrate concentration (57, 79 and 109 Cmmol L-1), pH (7 and 9 and without pH control (8-9)) and temperature (15 and 30 degrees C and without T control (15-28 degrees C)) was investigated. RESULTS: The concentration of PHA stored by the activated sludge increased with the substrate concentration, with 39% PHA content on a dry biomass basis obtained at 109 Cmmol L-1.The storage yield increased from 0.35 to 0.43 Cmmol HA Cmmol(-1) VFA when the substrate concentration was raised from 57 to 79 Cmmol L-1. However, a further increase in substrate concentration to 109 Cmmol L-1 led to a storage yield decrease to 0.39 Cmmol HA Cmmo1-1 VFA. Control of pH and temperature did not enhance PHA storage. CONCLUSIONS: Brewery wastewater is a good feedstock for production of PHAs using mixed cultures enriched under feast and famine conditions. PHA production can be enhanced by manipulating the operational conditions. (C) 2016 Society of Chemical Industry