From home brewers and craft breweries to large brewing facilities, bars and restaurants, maintaining and cleaning your beer equipment is crucial for the continuous crafting of top-quality beers. Taking proper care of your beer equipment not only produces a better beer, but it prolongs the life span of the equipment. At Foxx Equipment, we are experts in the beverage dispensing business and know a thing or two about keeping a clean system. That is why we put together this comprehensive guide to help you keep your beer equipment in pristine condition.
1. Understand Your Equipment
Each piece of your beer equipment has its own specific maintenance needs and understanding those needs is the first step in keeping them in good condition. Keg lines and faucets won't get cleaned the same way, but both do require regular care to ensure your quality of beer remains high. Knowing the materials is also a good thing to take note of. Stainless steel, copper and other metals and plastics work better with certain cleaning agents.
2. Routine Cleaning is Key
Beer dispensing requires routine cleaning and upkeep. Beer equipment is prone to harboring bacteria that can affect the taste of your beer and leave customers unsatisfied. Faucets on your taps should be cleaned each day after use with hot water. One culprit to bad-tasting tap beer, is dirty beer lines. The Brewers Association suggests cleaning your beer lines every two weeks, or between each keg you serve. Before you complain about how frequent this may sound, the longer you wait to clean your lines, the more intense the cleaning will need to be and the greater risk to your beer quality. Don't stress, with convenient Beer Line Cleaning Pumps on the market, cleaning your systems has never been easier.
3. Sanitize, Sanitize, Sanitize
There's cleaning and then there is sanitizing, and sanitizing eliminates that pesky bacteria and microbes that can spoil a beer and leave customers with a bad taste in their mouth. The most efficient way to sanitize all parts of your system that touch the beer is with high-quality Beer Line Cleaning Chemicals. Foxx provides a variety of Line Cleaning Chemicals that are approved by all major U.S. breweries and helps remove hop resins, yeast residue, sugar build-up, bacteria, proteins and mold.
4. Check for Wear and Tear
Quality control and maintenance go a long way as well. Regularly inspect your equipment for any signs of wear or damage, such as cracks, corrosion, or leaks. Small issues can quickly become big problems in the brewing process, affecting the taste and safety of your beer.
5. Deep Clean Periodically
Your daily and weekly maintenance procedures are crucial, but deep cleanings are extremely necessary once in a while. A deep clean will consist of dismantling parts like taps, valves, and connections where residues can build up over time. Soaking these parts in a cleaning solution will help remove stubborn deposits and ultimately ensure the longevity of your beer equipment and dispensing systems.
6. Use the Right Tools
Invest in the right cleaning tools, such as non-abrasive faucet and line brushes, coupler cleaning brushes and chemical-resistant neoprene gloves. These tools can help you reach every nook and cranny without damaging your equipment or yourself.
7. Record Keeping
This is a simple, yet often forgotten step. Keeping logs of cleaning and maintenance schedules will better help you stay on top of cleaning your beer equipment. These logs will be reminders that your equipment is due for a cleaning and it builds good cleaning habits, leading to increased longevity of your equipment.
8. Stay Informed
Finally, stay updated on the latest products and techniques in beer equipment maintenance. Following industry news and experts like Foxx Equipment can provide valuable insights and tips that will help you manage a successful beer business. Follow us on our socials and stay updated with our newsletter to stay informed.
Maintaining and cleaning your beer equipment might seem like a chore, but it’s a vital part of brewing. A little effort in equipment care goes a long way in ensuring the quality of your beer and the longevity of your gear. So, next time you brew, remember that the best beers start with clean equipment!
