Draught Beer Line Cleaning Study

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The Brewers Association (BA) is pleased to announce that NSF International Applied Research Center (ARC), in cooperation with the Center for Biofilm Engineering (CBE) at Montana State University, is the recipient of a $120,000 grant to conduct an unprecedented draught beer line cleaning study.

This study, the first of its kind and the largest grant awarded to date from the Brewers Association, will see development and execution through 2017 with the potential for project expansion into future years.

The goals of the study are to:

  • Create a deeper understanding of the development of biofilm in draught beer lines.
  • Validate or disprove current draught line cleaning recommendations found in the Draught Beer Quality Manual.
  • Develop and create a repeatable standard assay to be used as the basis for determining the cleaning effectiveness of draught beer line cleaning variables, including:
    • Frequency
    • Flow rate
    • Chemical type
    • Chemical concentration
  • Assess the impacts of various materials and components used in draught dispense systems.
  • Identify the components in varying craft beer styles that contribute to the development of biofilm in draught beer lines.

The study will draw on the combined expertise of the ARC and the CBE, which includes decades of experience researching biofilm in industrial settings and internationally recognized quality standards related to public health and sanitation.

“The NSF International Applied Research Center and the Center for Biofilm Engineering are excited to work with the Brewers Association to examine the science behind the presence of biofilms in draught beer lines,” said Jesse Miller, Director of the Applied Research Center, NSF International. “Our work aims to create a reproducible standard method for draught beer line testing that allows purveyors of draught beer to optimize their cleaning procedures and ensure the highest quality product is being delivered to customers.”

“By combining the method development expertise of the CBE with the unique, rapid testing ability of the NSF International Applied Research Center, we are confident that a reliable, reproducible method will be created to assist the brewing industry with an effective draught beer line standard cleaning method,” said Darla Goeres, Associate Research Professor at Montana State University’s Center for Biofilm Engineering.

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