The cleaning and the sanitation process is an integral part of the beer making process. A thorough cleaning before making of a beer batch in a microbrewery helps reduces the risk of your beer getting spoiled. However, as beer making using a microbrewery kit is a sensitive process, there is a right and wrong way to clean. To ensure that the beer you have labored for remains excellent and free from contamination, below are certain things you need to know to clean effectively.
- Always Cleans Your Microbrewery Kit
Before you use your various brewing supplies in your new batch, ensure that you clean out any existing visible dirt. Focus on the pieces of dirt stuck in the wort or the fermentation tank as it only takes one piece of dirt to spoil your batch. Using clean water and a smooth cleaning cloth, carefully clean your wort before use.
- Use A Good Cleaning Agent To Clean Your Microbrewery Kit
As expected, using plain water and a soft brush to clean isn’t enough. For this reason, you need to invest in a cleaning agent to properly clean your equipment and remove invisible dirt. Fortunately, there existing powdered brewing wash that has simplifies the process and is widely available everywhere. Usually powered brewing wash is highly effective and cheap hence allows you to clean thoroughly without leaving a soapy taste.
- Avoid Using Bleach When Cleaning Your Microbrewery Kit
If you are using stainless steel beer equipment kits, then using bleach is a no-no. Usually, the bleach causes corrosion and turns anything that it comes in contact with to be slightly acidic. When using plastic, you can use bleach agents, but care should be taken to ensure it’s thoroughly rinsed out. As a small residual drop could spoil a beer batch, it’s best to avoid using bleach altogether to reduce the risk.
- Consider Using Chemical Cleaning To Clean Your Microbrewery Kit
In your quest to make great beer, you will encounter hard to reach places that you cannot physically scrub. When you do, instead of hoping for the best while doing nothing, choose to invest in a quality microbrewery equipment chemical cleaning agents. Though it’s slightly alkaline, it does not cause any corrosion in stainless steel or cause irreversible environmental damage. Soak your equipment including hoses, airlocks and racking canes for 20 minutes to ensure everything is clean and ready for use.
- Sanitize Your Microbrewery Kit
Finally, sanitize your beer brewing kit to ensure that all items that come in contact with the wort are free from contaminants. Invest in a flavorless, odorless and rinse free sanitizing agent to ensure you don’t need to rinse again. As the sanitizing foam gets into every crevice leaving it sparkling clean, ensure you clean everything including fermentor (carboy), airlock, stopper, thermometer, funnel, yeast packaging, scissors, and bottles
- Conclusion
Skipping the cleaning process increases the chances of a batch getting ruined. For this reason, take the cleaning of a microbrewery kit seriously. Additionally, ensure that you give your microbrewery equipment a good clean scrub before use. Overall, never use equipment that you have doubts about by soaking and using a cleaning agent to remove any hidden dirt.
