Sunday, April 20, 2014

Effective Ideas On Brewery Sanitation

By Essie Osborn


Brewers are advised to bear in mind several important factors. Looking clean and actually being clean are two different aspects. Elbow grease and good cleaning chemicals cannot be replaced. The agent chosen for sanitizing should be compatible with beer. This prevents a scenario where you are required to rinse the equipment using water that is contaminated.

The use of sodium hydroxide remains the most effecting way of cleaning these equipment. This reagent is sensitive and not available to all brewers. Its use has been substituted by trisodium phosphate. It ensures that your fermenters are free of protein residues on the walls. The level of brewery sanitation affects the quality of your final product.

Sanitizing is important for all items that come into contact with your drink. Washing is not enough since the water and agents used are likely to have contaminants. Washing aims at removing dust and dirt. Sanitizing is aimed at killing the bacteria and other micro-organisms that remain after washing.

The equipment must be washed thoroughly before sanitizing. Washing with water does not get rid of a lot more bacteria and invisible micro organisms. Special agents will clear the bacteria that builds-up in areas that are not easy to reach. Sponges and brushes are used for areas that are easy to reach.

A stronger detergent is useful if the contaminants or stains are strong. The walls of the fermenter are likely to have residues which are cleared using a stronger agent. The residues leave a filmy deposit that requires expert clearing. The rinsing must also be thorough to avoid contaminating your brew.

Cleaners that are based on bleach do not work well with stainless steel surfaces. Glass is the best material for such surfaces. This means that apparatus made of steel should be used for the shortest time possible. The reaction with steel surfaces is likely to result in perforated surfaces. The danger of using plastics includes absorption of chemicals by the plastic surfaces.

The market has provided a range of sanitizers. There are instructions on how each is used with corresponding quantities. Some containers should not be used over prolonged periods of time. Others will require a few minutes to get the work done. The choices depend on an individual.

Calcium oxalate is a common contaminant and is referred to as beer stone in many circles. It results from the use of certain reagents. The best sanitizer in this case is caustic. It is available in stores as liquid or solid. This depends on the brand offering the sanitizer.

It is not helpful to clean the boilers without sanitizing the others equipment. Spoons used for stirring require similar attention because they cause the same amount of damage. The combination of a bactericide and a fungicide helps to raise the levels of sanitation. The spoons are likely to get clean in the process of stirring. Germs are unlikely to survive the heat.

Tubing and PVC hose require particular attention. They contain crevices that are not easy to physically clean. The length of some of these pipes is usually prohibitive. They also present the challenge of maintaining the right pressure and temperature. Shorter tubes and pipes are more effective.




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