Small beer pasteurizer

Types of small beer pasteurizers

Small-scale beer pasteurizers are essential pieces of machinery for craft breweries, microbreweries, and pubs. They enable the brewing process of beer to be elongated while retaining its quality, flavor, and nutritional content. The dominant kinds of small beer pasteurizers based on design and technology are as follows:

• Inline Beer Pasteurizers:

  These complex beer machines first pump the beer into heating plates where it is heated up to the desired pasteurization temperature; it is then held in a holding tube to maintain the temperature for a specific period. Lastly, it is cooled down in cooling plates before being packaged. Inline pasteurizers control the flow rate by using a series of heat exchangers and typically pasteurize larger capacities. They have a significant advantage of reducing organism re-growth after pasteurization. Moreover, they save packaging costs by reducing the need for refrigeration during transportation.

• Micro Beer Pasteurizers:

  Micro beer pasteurizers offer a smaller capacity like the one below, which is ideal for smaller-scale breweries. Digital control panels on micro beer pasteurizers simulate fluid flow in real-time. The machines can be connected to mobile devices so that the system can be accessed remotely. Features like automatic stand-by mode enhance energy efficiency and help to save cost in the long run. Also, unnecessary holding time can be optimized through the Efficiency Wizard. More importantly, some micro beer pasteurizers meet the requirements set by the Machines Directive 2006/42/EC and the low voltage directive 2006/95/EC.

  Micro beer pasteurizers are easy to operate and control. Moreover, they use less energy than other types of pasteurizers and can be used in places where electricity supply is limited.

• Flash Beer Pasteurizers:

  These machines heat the beer rapidly using heat exchangers, usually plate heat exchangers. The beer is heated for a few seconds to the required temperature and is then cooled down quickly before being filled into containers.

• Tunnel Pasteurizers for Bottled Beer:

  Bottled beer is usually pasteurized in a tunnel with water spray. The water is set to different temperatures in different sections so that the beer can be cooled down gradually.

• UHT Pasteurizers:

  These small beer machines use Ultra-High Temperature processing to heat the beer to a higher temperature than 135°C. Whenever the beer is heated to a temperature over 135°C, it sterilizes it better, which extends its shelf life further and makes it easier to export. The beer is then cooled down in heat exchangers.

Specification & Maintenance

• Capacity:

  Small pasteurizers generally have capacities from 50 to 200 liters per hour. This is equivalent to an entire beer brewing system and is ideal for small-scale production.

• Temperature Control:

  These pasteurizers give brewers the choice of controlling the pasteurization temperature. The typical temperature ranges are as follows: Pasteurization at 60 to 65 degrees Celsius for 20 to 30 minutes; Pasteurization at 70 to 75 degrees Celsius for 15 to 20 minutes; Pasteurization at 85 to 90 degrees Celsius for 5 to 10 minutes.

• Power Supply:

  Some small beer pasteurizers are electric and operate at 220 to 380 volts. Others use propane or natural gas as the fuel source. Gas-powered pasteurizers need to have a gas burner with a certain thermal power to heat the beer. The thermal power usually ranges from 50 to 200 kilocalories per hour.

• Weight and Size:

  Small pasteurizers for beer are usually not too big or heavy, making them easy to carry around. Their dimensions vary, but they are generally smaller than 2 meters tall, 1 meter wide, and 1 meter deep, with a weight of less than 500 kg. Their size can be easily accommodated in a brewing facility.

It is crucial to maintain the small beer pasteurizer in good operating condition and ensuring the beer remains tasty and fresh by routinely cleaning it with detergent and water. The parts of the beer pasteurizer should be cleaned thoroughly and dried to avoid residues and dampness. The main parts to pay attention to are:

• Heat exchanger:

  Heat exchanger pasteurizers should have their cooling water circuits and internal parts cleaned. Acid detergent should be used first to eliminate scale buildup. The circulating pump can then be used to ensure that the detergent fully passes through the heat exchanger. Afterward, abundant clean water should pass through the system to eliminate all detergent residues. Cooling water should also flush through the circuit of the heat exchanger. It is vital to clean the external surfaces of the heat sinks as well.

• Control Panel:

  The control panel must be clear of dust and debris. To clean other pollutants from the surface, it is essential to use a soft cloth moistened with a pH-neutral cleaning solution or distilled water. Doing this helps safeguard the sensitive components and ensures the controls operate properly and precisely.

• Circulation Pump:

  It is important to clean the outside surfaces and circulating pump suction and discharge ports. Circulating pumps usually have scale buildup. Detergent must be circulated through the pump to remove the scale buildup. The discharge port must have a bristle brush to ensure that the area is properly cleaned. On completing the cleaning, the residual water must be discharged through the pump for the next use.

• Manifolds and valves:

  The pasteurizer beer inlet and outlet must have their visible parts cleaned with detergent and water. The detergent, brushes, and clean water must be applied to the valves.

Uses of small beer pasteurizers

Small-scale beer pasteurizers are used by craft breweries and microbreweries, as well as by the following:

• First Nations: First Nation communities can use small beer pasteurizers to create economic development initiatives, produce value-added products, and preserve culturally significant beers.
• Remote or Island Breweries: Breweries located in remote or island communities with limited access to large-scale infrastructure may benefit from small pasteurizers. Compact equipment allows these breweries to improve shelf life, enhance product safety, and facilitate distribution to mainland markets.
• Tasting Rooms and Brewpubs: Establishments featuring on-site brewing alongside restaurant or entertainment facilities face space and budget constraints.
• Startup Breweries: Small pasteurizers offer an affordable means for startup breweries to enter the market, establish a customer base, and gather valuable brewing experience before scaling up their operations.
• Research and Educational Institutions: Brewering schools and universities with food science departments may use small beer pasteurizers for research, educational purposes, or to develop pilot-scale brewing processes.
• Beer Canning Facilities: Companies specializing in mobile canning services for craft breweries often seek efficient ways to ensure the quality and stability of canned products. Small beer pasteurizers enable these mobile canning providers to offer on-site pasteurization services, improving the shelf life and safety of freshly brewed beverages for their clients.
• Distilleries: Distilleries producing both spirits and beer may find value in small beer pasteurizers. These units allow for the extraction of beer's alcohol content through pasteurization, creating a feedstock for distillation processes.
• Food and Beverage Innovation Hubs: Innovation centers focused on exploring new flavors and brewing techniques can utilize small beer pasteurizers to experiment with unique beer styles.
• Contract Breweries: Contract brewing facilities that produce beer on behalf of multiple brands may need to pasteurize their products to meet specific customers' requirements. Small beer pasteurizers provide contract breweries with the flexibility to accommodate different clients' needs.
• Taproom Startups: New taprooms entering an already-saturated industry need to find a defining characteristic and an essential way to stand out from the crowd. One affordable way is to invest in a small beer pasteurizer to improve product quality.
• Small-Scale Fermentation Facilities: Facilities focused primarily on fermenting small batches of specialty grains, fruits, or other unconventional ingredients into fermented beverages may consider investing in a small beer pasteurizer. This equipment would enable them to diversify their product offerings by incorporating beer into their lineup of fermented beverages, catering to the growing demand for unique and artisanal drinks.

How to Choose Small Beer Pasteurizers

When it comes to choosing a small beer pasteurizer, there are several factors to consider to ensure that the right equipment is selected for the specific brewing needs.

• Capacity Needs

It's important to consider the capacity requirements to ensure that the chosen pasteurizer can handle the volume of beer being processed.

The capacity is typically measured in liters or gallons per hour.

These are crucial considerations whether it is a small-scale brewery or a larger commercial operation.

• Pasteurization Method

There are several methods of pasteurization, including hot water pasteurization, steam pasteurization, and in-line pasteurization.

Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages.

When choosing the beer pasteurizer, it is essential to consider the method suitable for the brewing process and facility.

• Space Requirements

Beer pasteurizers can vary in size and dimensions, and it is critical to consider the space requirement to ensure that the equipment fits well within the brewing facility.

This will help to enable a smooth brewing process.

• Integration with Existing Setup

When choosing a small beer pasteurizer, it is important to ensure that it can integrate with the existing brewing setup.

Consider the equipment's connections, controls, and automation features. Ensure that it can work seamlessly with other brewing equipment.

• Compliance with Food Safety Standards

The essential part of the process of buying a small beer pasteurizer is to ensure that the equipment complies with food safety standards and regulations.

Consider the certification and approvals of the pasteurizer to ensure that it meets the necessary safety requirements.

• Budget Constraints

Small beer pasteurizers can vary depending on the brand, model, and features.

It is important to set a budget when choosing the equipment and consider the cost of investing in a high-quality pasteurizer that meets the brewing needs.

Small beer pasteurizer FAQ

Q1: How safe is pasteurized beer?

A1: For many years, pasteurization has been used to increase the shelf life of products and reduce the risk of consumers contracting harmful diseases. The same applies to pasteurized beer. Consumers can accept it because the process has killed harmful microorganisms.

Q2: What are the disadvantages of beer pasteurization?

A2: Microbial stabilization is one of the only major drawbacks of pasteurization. Once the beer is microbiologically stable, it is nearly impossible for any living organism to return to it.

Q3: Does pasteurizing beer change its taste?

A3: In small-scale pasteurization, the flavor and aroma characteristics of the beer are maintained. However, in large-scale pasteurization, the subtle changes in flavor may occur when the beer is heated to high temperatures.

Q4: How long does pasteurized beer last?

A4: Pasteurized beer can have a shelf life of 6 to 9 months depending on the storage conditions.