Topic: Cleaning/Sanitation
Steam sanitation
FREEHeat, especially moist heat, is an excellent way to sanitize and even sterilize brewing equipment. If you partially fill your keg with water, bring it to a boil and restrict the flow
Yearly Brewery Checkup
Digital and Plus Members OnlyOnce a year it pays to give your brewery the once-over. Clean everything that needs to be cleaned, check your inventory, map out your brewing calendar and the only surprise you’ll have all year is how smoothly your brew days proceed.
Cleaning and Sanitation Science
FREEThe science behind keeping your brewery clean and sanitized.
Can iodophor be used as a no-rinse sanitizer?
Digital and Plus Members OnlyIodophor is a very effective sanitizer and, unlike bleach, can safely be used as a no-rinse sanitizer without adversely affecting the flavor of your beer. The recommended concentration of iodophor is 25 parts per million. Most iodophors are diluted so that the typical use rate is somewhere around 0.1 ounce per gallon (7.8 mL per
Bleach to clean and sanitize
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThe author of the question about root-beer tainted beer did acknowledge in his question that bleach is a “no-no.” I focused on the root-beer flavor taint and should have commented on that assertion because bleach can have its place in the brewery. Household bleach, or sodium hypochlorite, has a bad reputation primarily because of what
Beer Minus Bacteria: Cleaning & Sanitation
Digital and Plus Members OnlyBrewing is all about having fun…but there’s nothing less fun than seeing a good batch of beer ruined by sloppy sanitation. A straightforward guide to cleaning and sanitizing your brewing equipment, plus a clip-and-save chart to help you pick the best products.
Cleaning a soda keg
Digital and Plus Members OnlyAh, the old birch-beer beer. This reminds me of a time when I screwed up a beer experiment with the remnants of a root beer experiment. We had three groups in our brewing lab class and each group would brew a beer that had one ingredient or process step changed. The results were assessed both
Cleaning beer glasses?
FREEWith beer glasses, the don’ts are much more critical than the do’s. The biggest no-no is leaving any type of soap or fat on the glass surface. These compounds will ruin beer
Can I use water with ozone in it to sanitize equipment?
Digital and Plus Members OnlyWhen ozone is bubbled through water, the water is said to be “ozonated.” Ozone is a potent oxidizing compound due to its instability and it breaks down according to the following chemistry: O3 -> O2 + O– The O2 of this equation is the most common form of oxygen in the atmosphere but the O–
Battle for the Beer: Cleaning & Sanitation
Digital and Plus Members OnlyThere’s a battle waging for your beer. The battle takes place every time you brew, whether you realize it or not. On one side are you and your yeast. On the other side are bacteria and other beer spoilers. Now about the rules: Each side can do whatever it takes to win. After all, this
Prevent Contaminated Beer: Tips from the Pros
Digital and Plus Members OnlyBrewer: Mark Matheson Brewery: Assets Grille & Southwest Brewing Co., Albequerque, N.M. Years of experience: Four Education: Bachelor’s degree in fermentation science from University of California, Davis House Beers: Cactus Kölsch, Duke City Amber, Copper Ale, St. Pablo’s Porter The most common form of contamination is bacteria, which grow faster than yeast. The most common
Sanitation: Tips from the Pros
Digital and Plus Members OnlyKurt Widmer Widmer Brewing The three things brewers should not forget when it comes to sanitation are: Looking clean is not equivalent to actually being clean or sanitary. There’s no replacement for good hot cleaning chemicals and elbow grease. Any sanitizing agent should be beer compatible. Frequently people use chlorine. They dilute bleach with water.