Regular and thorough cleaning of beer lines is essential for preventing off flavors and maintaining the quality and taste of beer. Beer lines are cleaned by running a chemical cleaner through them. Before running the chemical cleaner through beer lines, they should be properly sanitized and rinsed.
One of the most common is called “NuKleen”. NuKleen is effective for removing beer stone, which is formed as beer is dispensed through the lines. Beer stone is made up of calcium and other minerals that cause off-flavors in beer and can clog the system.
NuKleen also contains phosphate to help break down any proteins that may be stuck in the lines and cause off-flavors.
Once the NuKleen has been run through the beer lines, flush the lines with water to remove all of the chemical cleaner. After the water has flushed through the system, a sanitizing solution should be circulated through the beer lines to kill any bacteria or contaminants.
The sanitizing solution should include a food-grade sanitizer, such as iodine or chlorinated water. For best results, the sanitizing solution should be circulated through the beer lines for at least 15 minutes.
After the sanitizing solution has been circulated through the system and the lines have been completely flushed with water, the beer lines are ready to be used again. It is important to clean beer lines regularly, as dirty lines can cause off-flavors in beer and may even clog the system.
Cleaning beer lines will ensure that you are serving the freshest and best-tasting beer possible.
How do I know if my beer lines are clean?
The most obvious sign is if you start to taste a metallic or sour taste in the beer being pulled through them. If your beer does not taste as expected and you have recently cleaned your lines, then it is likely that your lines haven’t been fully cleaned and might have bacteria, mold, or other residue in the lines.
You can also visually inspect your beer lines for discoloration or buildup. Discoloration on the inside of the lines can indicate a buildup from bad bacteria or mold. For more detailed information, you can use line cleaning products that come with color change indicators to show the levels of bacteria or other contaminants in the lines.
If any of the above signs are present, then it is important to clean your beer lines before continuing to serve. This can be done with a regular beer line cleaner or by flushing the beer lines with a cleaning solution.
Following a regular cleaning schedule is the best way to keep your beer lines clean and free of contaminants.
How much does it cost to clean beer lines?
The cost to clean beer lines can vary depending on the complexity of the job. Typically, you should expect to pay between $300-500 for service technicians to come and clean your beer lines. Costs can be reduced greatly if you clean your lines yourself as long as you follow the manufacturer’s instructions and use the right equipment for the job.
If you do decide to tackle the job yourself, you will need a beer cleaning kit which can cost anywhere between $100-$400, depending on the components included. The kit should come with a complete set of cleaning products, including a beer line cleaner and a line rinser.
If you’ve got a multi-level draught beer system, you might need specialized equipment to reach every level.
You will also need to invest in a cleaning bag which is designed to fit over the faucet’s nozzle. This will help to ensure that no cleaning solution gets directly into the glass. You may also need cleaning brushes to scrub the inner sides of the lines and a fitting wrench to connect your beer lines to the nozzle.
Additionally, you’ll need a few tools that you likely already have on hand such as towels, bristle brushes, measuring spoons, and measuring cups. You should also expect to use up some time, as cleansing the beer lines can be a time consuming process.
To recap, the cost to clean beer lines can range from as little as $100 if you clean them yourself to upwards of $500 for a technician to take care of the task for you.
How often should a pub clean the beer lines?
In general, beer lines should be cleaned every two weeks. Depending on the beer, some beers may require more frequent cleaning than others. For example, some beers that contain high levels of carbohydrates and proteins will require more frequent cleaning than beers with low amounts of carbohydrates and proteins.
Therefore, it is important for pub owners to be familiar with the type of beer they are serving and adjust their cleaning schedule accordingly. In addition, the amount of beer being sold in a given week can also affect how often the beer lines need to be cleaned.
If a pub is selling a high volume of beer in a week, more frequent cleaning may be required. Additional factors such as the type of lines being used and the presence of sludge, which can form on the lines if they are not cleaned regularly, can also affect how often a pub should clean its beer lines.
What happens if you don’t clean beer lines?
If beer lines are not regularly cleaned and maintained, beer can go stale and taste sour, overfoaming can occur, and deposits of brewery residues can build up in the line. These residues, known as beerstone, can cause bacteria to grow, leading to the presence of yeast, wild bacteria, and other organisms in the beer.
Eventually, these will create odors and tastes that can be detected in the beer and make it unsafe to drink. The buildup of beerstone can also result in blockages that can cause pressure to build up in the beer lines, potentially leading to ruptures and leakages.
Keeping beer lines clean also allows the beer to flow smoothly and quickly, providing a better drinking experience for customers. In short, not cleaning beer lines can be detrimental in multiple ways, ranging from ruined beer to hazardous leaks.
How do you clean beer lines in a pub?
Cleaning beer lines in a pub is an essential part of maintaining your beer tap system. By following a few simple steps, you can ensure that your draught beer lines stay clean and that your customers enjoy delicious, cold beer.
Step 1: Disconnect the lines and equipment. Begin by disconnecting all of the lines and equipment connected to the beer tap system. This will allow you to separate and clean each part of the system separately.
Step 2: Fill the lines with a cleaning solution. To begin the cleaning process, fill the beer lines with a cleaning solution. This should be a cleaning product specifically designed for use in a beer tap system, such as APEX Line Cleaner from Keg King, a leading Australian supplier.
Step 3: Let the cleaning solution work. Let the cleaning solution sit in the beer lines for 20-30 minutes, so that it can break down any beer particles and scale buildup.
Step 4: Flush the lines with water. When the time is up, flush the beer lines with cold water until the water runs clear.
Step 5: Sanitize the lines. To finish up the cleaning process and make sure that your beer lines are free of bacteria, fill the lines with a sanitizing solution and leave it in the lines for 15 minutes.
Then, flush the beer lines with cold water again and they’re ready to use.
By following these steps, you can ensure that your beer lines are kept clean, allowing you to serve the best quality of beer to your customers.
Is beer line cleaner toxic?
No, beer line cleaner is not toxic. Beer line cleaner is specifically designed to remove built-up beerstone, which is a combination of yeast, bacteria, minerals and organic material that form on the inner walls of beer lines.
It contains a mixture of strong detergents, organic acids and buffering agents, which are all non-toxic and will not harm humans if accidentally ingested. Beer line cleaner is designed to be safe but should still be handled with caution, as it can irritate the skin and eyes.
It is also important to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on how to properly dilute and use beer line cleaner. Properly diluted and used, it is safe for humans and will not be toxic.
Can dirty beer lines make you sick?
This is a difficult question to answer definitively as there are a lot of factors at play. However, it is generally agreed that dirty beer lines can lead to contamination of your beer which can make you sick.
Including through accumulation of yeast, bacteria, and other contaminants. If these contaminants are not removed, they can lead to contamination of your beer.
Including using a brush, soaking in a cleaning solution, or using a high-pressure cleaning system. It is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when cleaning your beer lines to ensure they are properly cleaned and sanitized.
If you believe your beer lines are contaminated, it is important to seek professional assistance to ensure they are properly cleaned and sanitized. Failing to do so can result in serious illness.
How long can you leave beer line cleaner in the lines?
It is recommended that beer line cleaner should be left in the lines for at least 15 to 30 minutes, but no more than 1 hour. During this time, you should maintain a temperature of at least 38°F (3°C) for best results.
After the cleaner has been in the lines for the designated time, it should be removed and flushed out with cold water. This can be done by running several pints of cold water through the line to get rid of any residue left behind.
It’s also important to have an air line connected to the lines when flushing out the cleaner to agitate the lines and help push the cleaner out. Flushing the lines should take the same amount of time as racking the beer; usually 10-20 minutes.
Once the lines have been flushed with cold water, they should be sanitized with a sanitizing solution, such as a star-san or iodophor solution.
How often should beer lines be cleaned with detergent?
It is recommended that beer lines should be cleaned with detergent every two weeks when using a chemical detergent. When using a non-chemical detergent, the frequency of cleaning can be extended up to one month.
The exact frequency of cleaning will depend on the type of beer lines and their environment. Lines used in a busy bar or restaurant may need to be cleaned more often than lines used in a more casual setting.
It is also important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning beer lines with detergent as well as any additional maintenance instructions from the brewery. Additionally, regular line cleaning with CO2 or air can help reduce the frequency of full cleaning cycles.
