Finding the Perfect Beer Line Cleaner For You
There's a reason the beer industry's worth $500 billion—there's a nuanced flavor for everyone. Beer comes in cans, bottles, or on tap for different drinking experiences. Cleaning the beer lines and using the right beer line cleaner usually goes unnoticed by many people, but it's one of the most critical steps when it comes to draft beer.
For that reason, having the right beer line cleaner's essential for bars, restaurants, taphouses, and casinos. As a beer-drinker, the last thing you want to worry about is your beer's hygiene.
Read on to find out how the right beer line cleaner can help your business.
Beer Line Cleaner Benefits
Beer line cleaners aren't just a should—they're a must. A dirty beer line can devastate business reviews. The moment a customer questions your beer's hygiene is the moment you lose their trust.
Have you ever seen Bar Rescue? Spoiler alert!
The tell-tale sign of failing bars are dirty, bacteria-laden tap lines. If you've experienced the following, you're due for a beer line cleaner:
- Mold, discoloration, or yeast overgrowth
- Bacteria in uncleaned areas
- Beer stones living inside the lines
- Tainted line color
- Foamy beers
- You haven't used a beer line cleaner in at least two weeks
- You're asking yourself, What's a beer line cleaner?
Beer line cleaners are vital in maintaining beer hygiene and safeguarding your customers' health. There's nothing like a health hazard to scare people off.
As an employee or business owner, your reputation is always on the line. Keeping beer clean ensures that expected beer experience. Cheers!
Cleaning the Draft Line
Working with fermented products increases the risk of bacterial growth. Beer line cleaners should be a regular part of the establishment's standard maintenance procedure to avoid any health complaints.
Before investing in a beer line cleaner, you'll need to identify your beer system. You'll either have a hand pump, a re-circulating pump, or a cleaning keg. Your system determines how the cleaning solution goes into the line, how it circulates, and for how long.
Since beer involves fermented yeast, cleaning requires more than just warm water and soap. Caustic cleaning solutions do the following:
- Eliminate bacteria
- Flush the system
- Keep beer fresh
- Maintain pH balance
Use the caustic cleaning solution every 2 weeks for routine cleaning.
Less frequently, use an acid solution for residual beer stones, salts, and soils in the draft line. Your beer faucets and couplers also need regular cleaning for optimal service.
Quality beer is not only about the beer but how it's served. Regular maintenance ensures you're serving your best, making it seem like you brewed the beer yourself!
Recommended Beer Line Cleaner
I've personally used two products, both by Micro Matic. One is a powder used for kegerators and hand pumps.
The other two are liquid cleaners. One is a caustic used every 2 weeks, and the other is an acid solution used quarterly. These solution-based cleaners are primarily used in commercial settings, cleaning beer lines with a re-circulating pump.
Caustic Cleaning Solution Used every 2 weeks
Acid Cleaner used quarterly for beer systems
Keep Your Beer Bacteria-Free
Beer's only enjoyable if it's safe to drink. For beer drinkers to have fun, they need to trust their servers. The easiest way to maintain that trust is with a trusty beer line cleaner.
Don't risk your customers' health. Microorganisms are invisible, so don't wait for evidence before cleaning!
Prevention is the best form of care. A robust beer line cleaner makes it easy to retain your customers. Keeping things clean keeps you in business.
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