Proper draft line cleaning helps maintain beer quality and reduce risks from buildup and cleaning-chemical residue. Caustic and acid cleaners can be effective, but they must be handled and rinsed according to the product instructions to reduce the risk of exposure and residue.
Heartland Energy Group LTD develops green-chemistry products for industrial and commercial applications. We develop custom formulations that reduce the use and generation of hazardous substances.
1. Prepare Draft Lines
The first step to clean your draft lines is to turn off CO2 and disconnect the keg coupler before introducing any cleaning formulation. This helps prevent accidental pressure buildup or release during the cleaning process, contamination of the next keg and unwanted reactions. Then, flush the lines with clean water to clear any residual beer and loose debris. This also reduces dilution of the cleaning solution.
2. Circulate Draft Line Cleaners
Beer lines accumulate different types of residue. To effectively clean them, you’ll need to circulate the appropriate cleaning solution. This is typically done using a recirculating pump or a pressurized cleaning keg. Cleaning products have specific dilution, contact-time and temperature requirements, so it is essential to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
After preparing your cleaning solution according to these guidelines, connect your cleaning solution reservoir — whether it’s a bucket with a pump or a cleaning keg — to the beer line. Then, activate your cleaning system to push the solution through the lines until it flows out of the tap. Once the lines are filled with the cleaner, let it circulate through the system for the recommended contact time. Consider using a recirculating pump to continuously move the solution through the lines.
Organic buildup comes from the proteins, sugars and hop resins in the beer. Yeast and bacteria can contribute to biofilms on draft-system surfaces. Alkaline cleaners are commonly used to break down organic residues, including proteins and biofilms. Beer stone is a mineral deposit composed largely of calcium oxalate. Acid cleaners are commonly used to remove beer stone and other mineral deposits. You may need to use both types of cleaners sequentially, flushing with water between each, depending on the type and extent of buildup.
3. Rinse and Verify a Residue-Free System
Traditional cleaning solutions are designed to break down organic matter and mineral deposits. If any residue is left in the lines, it will leach into the beer and can continue to react with the line material or tap components over time. Compatibility with lines and components depends on the product and materials. Chemical residues from cleaning products can expose consumers and may cause harm, depending on the product and amount. It may also affect system materials.
Rinse with fresh water as directed, then verify the rinse end point using the product instructions and an appropriate pH test. Use pH test strips or a meter to verify the rinse end point specified by the cleaner’s instructions. Clean faucets and couplers as part of system maintenance, following the component manufacturer’s instructions for disassembly, cleaning and rinsing. Unclean faucets and couplers can undermine line cleaning and affect beer quality, so include them in the cleaning and maintenance routine.
Choose Safer Formulations for Beer Line & Brewery Cleaning
Traditional caustic and acid formulations carry inherent risk if a step is missed or rinsing is incomplete. Heartland Energy Group LTD offers formulations engineered for a triple-zero HMIS score (non-toxic, non-corrosive and non-fuming) and EPA Design for the Environment recognition, reducing the margin for error while offering effective cleaning power. Our solutions range from antimicrobial formulations to custom products for brewery-specific needs.
Contact us to discuss a tailored, safer cleaning formulation for your draft system. Call us today at 877-797-2811 to learn how we can support your brewery’s line-cleaning process.
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