Beer Processing
Beer processing consists of three main steps: brewing, fermentation and clarification. In the third step, microfiltration plays an important role in producing a quality product. Control of particulate and microbial levels is essential in order to maintain the consistency and the quality of your beer.
While production processes may vary slightly depending on the type of beer you’re making, the general process of producing beer remains the same. Millipore provides you with the tools, technologies and expertise to customize your process, offering total solutions that talk to efficiency, quality and cost effectiveness.
»Learn more about beer processing
Device Recommendation Guide
| Drawing Reference | Products | |
| Yeast Propagation | ||
| Propagation tank venting, sterile filtration of inlet air | Aerex 0.2 µm | |
| Propagation tank oxygen inlet sterile filtration | Aerex 2 0.2 µm Aervent 0.2 µm | |
| Trap Filtration | ||
| Clarification: Remove diatomite particles and PVPP fines | Polygard-CR
Polygard Trap | |
| Cold Sterile Filtration (if no caustic CIP) | ||
| Clarification: remove particles, colloïds, contaminants | Polygard-CR Polygard-CE | |
| Prefiltration : protection of final filter for better economics | Bevigard-M Polygard-CE | |
| Final Filtration: remove beer spoilage microorganisms | Vitipore II 0.65 µm | |
| Cold Sterile Filtration (if caustic CIP) | ||
| Clarification: remove particles, colloïds, contaminants | Clarigard 0.3 µm | |
| Prefiltration : protection of final filter for better economics | Clarigard 0.5 µm | |
| Final Filtration: remove beer spoilage microorganisms | Brewpore 0.55 µm | |
| Debrewing Liquor - Water | ||
| Prefiltration:protection of the final filter for better economics | Bevigard-M | |
| Final Filtration: remove microorganisms | Vitipore II 0.45 µm | |
| Carbon Dioxide Adjustment | ||
| CO2 Sterile Filtration | Aerex 2 0.2 µm Aervent 0.2 µm | |
| Filling | ||
| Rinse Water Prefiltration: protection of final filter for better economics | Polygard-CR 1.0 µm | |
| Rinse Water Final Filtration: water sterile filration for bottle rinsing | Clarigard 0.5 µm | |
| Gas Filtration | Aerex 2 0.2 µm Aervent 0.2 µm | |
| Facilities Filtration | Details | |
| Drawing Reference | Process Monitoring Steps | Products |
| Microbial Enumeration | Milliflex Quantum, EZ-Pak + Microfil, MicropreSure, 55-Plus Monitor, Milliflex Rapid | |
| Rinse Water | MicropreSure | |
| Microbial Testing of Surfaces | Swabs and Samplers | |
| Air Monitoring | M Air T |
About Beer Processing
Yeast Propagation
After the sugar solution has been prepared in the brewing house, yeast is added. This single-cell micro-organism will absorb simple sugars and turn them into carbon dioxide and alcohol. The taste of your beer is determined by the beer yeast culture, due to the different range of esters that are produced.
The purity of the yeast strain used to produce the beer is really a key to the quality and the consistency of your beer. The air vented in the container of the yeast propagation before pitching must be free of microorganisms in order not to spoil the culture.
Trap Filtration
Trap filtration is a necessary step to retain diatomite particles and PVPP fines after diatomite filter clarification and the PVPP stabilization.
Cold Sterile Filtration
Cold sterile filtration is an alternative technology to thermal pasteurization. Pasteurization is a traditional method used to inactivate spoilage bacteria and that is based on heating the product to a specific temperature for a determined period of time. However, the risk is to damage the flavor with the heat treatment. Sterile filtration effectively removes the spoilage microorganisms, but without damaging beer’s flavor. It allows your beer to be processed safely, while maintaining its freshness. After the three filtration steps, particles and micro organisms that could spoil your beer are removed.
Carbon Dioxide Adjustment
It is specific to beer processing. It is not just the addition of carbon dioxide, it is more adjusting the level of carbon dioxide as gas is already present in beer due to the fermentation process
Filling : Bottle Washer and Bottle Filler
Rinse water polishing ensures a good microbiological and particulate quality of the bottle prior to filling. The water you will use for water jetting has to be free of contaminants.
back to top
