The beer brewing process involves many steps. Filtration is necessary at several different points in beer production from rinsing the mash with sterile water to cleaning or sterilizing the kegs and bottles before filling.
Breweries are regulated by the FDA under the U.S. Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) of 2010, and are also subject to a number of industry standards such as Safe Quality Foods.
Compliance requires having a comprehensive Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan or Hazard Analysis and Risk-based Preventive Controls (HARPC) plan in place. Filtration of process air, water, and steam is key to that effort.
Each brewery will have unique needs, but in general, there are more than a dozen locations where filtration is critical to the safety of your product and equipment. Here are just some examples:
Collaborating with an experienced filtration partner can help you develop a compliant filtration system that is also cost-efficient.
To get you started, Donaldson offers these complimentary resources:
Regulatory and Best Practice Overview:
A summary of applicable filtration and sanitary design standards for liquids,
steam, and sterile air use in food and beverage processing.
Filtration Map for Breweries:
A diagram illustrating common control points in breweries, along with
filtration solutions to consider at each point.
Filter Maintenance Schedule:
A recommended filter replacement schedule for steam, compressed air, and
liquid filters in a process line, to optimize both safety and cost efficiency.