Beer equipment is widely used in daily life, enabling people to brew a variety of beer. The cleanliness of beer equipment is crucial for the quality of brewed beer, so equipment cleaning should not be overlooked. Let ACE Craftsmanship share with you the method of cleaning beer equipment:
Selection of Stainless Steel Beer Equipment
The most significant advantage of stainless steel is its resistance to acids and alkalis. However, the inner walls of the container must be as smooth as possible to ensure thorough cleaning and removal of all recurring dust. Special attention must be paid to equipment selection, such as smoothing welds and polishing inner walls. The corrosion resistance of stainless steel depends on the purity of the surface metal and the formation of an inert layer. Therefore, shielded gas welding is required to avoid oxidation, and physical or chemical passivation (pickling) is necessary. Stainless steel should not be used with iron tools, as it may cause deterioration due to iron ions.
Fermentation Tank Cleaning
When the beer in the fermenter is empty, do not let the carbon dioxide out. Rinse the tank twice with water to ensure there is no beer smell. Before injecting lye water, release carbon dioxide. Place the fermenter in alkaline water and cover it with a bubble cap, regardless of whether it is hot or cold. During the next beer-making process, pump out the alkaline water, then rinse with water 3-4 times for 60-80 seconds each. The sampling port must be open during cleaning, and once cleaning is complete, close the sampling port. Establish a disinfection procedure for the sampling port and connecting nozzle after removing the water pipes. When pumping alkaline water into the fermenter, open the sampling port and air outlet to prevent offsetting of antacid and carbon dioxide, and to avoid vacuuming the can.
The dirt on the walls of the fermentation tank is a mixture of inorganic and organic matter, which is difficult to clean with a single cleaning agent. Using caustic soda alone only removes organics. To achieve a better cleaning effect, the cleaning temperature should reach above 80°C. Cleaning with nitric acid alone has a certain effect on inorganic substances but is almost ineffective for organic substances. Therefore, fermentation tank cleaning requires both an alkaline cleaning solution and an acidic cleaning solution.
Fermentation tanks should be cleaned before sterilization. Effective sterilization depends on thorough cleaning. In actual production operations, cleaning is always done first, followed by sterilization.
Cleaning steps for the fermentation tank:
- Discharge the residual carbon dioxide gas in the tank. Use compressed air to displace carbon dioxide for 10-15 minutes (depending on the compressed air flow).
- Rinse the remaining yeast in the fermenter with clean water, then rinse the fermenter with hot water at 90°C to warm it up.
- Disassemble the discharge combination valve and aseptic sampling valve, use a special brush dipped in lye to clean them, and reinstall them.
- Clean the fermenter by circulating hot alkaline water over 1.5-2% at 80°C for 30 to 60 minutes.
- Rinse the fermentation tank with hot or warm water to neutralize the discharge liquid, then rinse with cold water until it reaches room temperature.
- Wash with a 1% to 2% nitric acid solution for 15 minutes.
- Rinse the fermenter with water to neutralize the drain.
Through strict cleaning and disinfection, the stability of the brewed beer can be further improved.
Cleaning of Beer Brewing Equipment Hoses
Most hoses used are made of rubber, which poses a threat to connecting pipes. It is often a big mistake to judge the condition of the inside of the hose based on its external appearance. The internal demands of the pipes are stringent, and they are difficult to clean. Internal cracks and minor damage are hard to detect. Only weak bases can be used to clean the pipes, as oxidizing acids like nitric acid and copper ions can accelerate pipe aging. It is important to remember not to clean pipes and copper pipes together. The quality of rubber tubes can vary, and some may impart specific flavors to the beer, especially if they are damaged or aged inside. Therefore, individuals need to check the pipeline’s suitability for use with food.
Summary
If you want to learn more about beer equipment, you can contact us through private message. We welcome discussions and are proud to have provided beer equipment to many craft breweries. We can serve both large and small breweries. If you plan to open or expand a brewery, you can contact us directly. Our engineers will design and manufacture brewery equipment tailored to your brewing process. We can provide a complete turnkey solution for your brewery needs. Additionally, if you plan to expand your existing brewery, we can offer customized solutions to meet your requirements.
