Sodium hydroxide (NaOH), also referred to as caustic, is a powerful cleaning and degreasing agent. It turns fats (lipids) and grease into soap. This makes sodium hydroxide effective at destroying organic material, such as beer-spoiling microbes and the skin of those handling the chemical without proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

The Brewers Association’s (BA) Safety Subcommittee developed the Chemical Companion Series to help beverage producers get to know their most commonly used chemicals and stay safe while handling them by creating supplemental safety information specific to beverage production that goes beyond what is found on a Safety Data Sheet (SDS).