The Correct Way To Clean Beer Lines

A beer line clean is something that is critical for the condition of the beer that finishes in the glass, and ultimately the stomach of your customer when you run any sort of pub, club, or bar. Most people in the business recommend that a proper beer line clean is undertaken once a week, although there are manufacturers of various products who state that this can be extended when using their cleaners.

In general, line cleaners will be either caustic or acidic. Caustic, or alkaline, cleaners have a high PH and will kill yeasts, moulds, and bacteria, and will also kill hop resins, carbohydrates, bio-films, and proteins. Acid line cleaners will dissolve beer stone. Neither type should be mixed together, and you should wear rubber gloves and eye protection. You should also stick strictly to the cleaner manufacturer's recommendations regarding concentration as it not only is safest but also is the most cost-effective method for a beer line clean. It is also possible to use a hydrogen peroxide cleaner which is environmentally friendly, but these will not clean beer stone or lime scale which can build up. 


In order to correctly clean the beer lines, the beer should first be flushed from the line with water which removes it so that it does not dilute the properties of the cleaner. The second step is to clean the lines with the appropriate cleaner. What is most important is to follow the manufacturer's instructions to the letter. The cleaner must be allowed to make contact for a minimum amount of time, but equally must not be left in the pipes for too long as this could have a damaging effect on the lines if left, say, overnight. 

The third step is to ensure that the chemical is flushed from the beer lines by using plenty of water. Once the lines have been flushed, a good idea is to check the PH level with a PH tester or with litmus paper in order to make certain all the chemical has been removed. Then you reconnect the casks and run beer through the lines and discard it so that the lines are completely full of beer again.

It is important to note that the taps and couplers should also be cleaned at the same time as they need to be as clean as the beer lines themselves. 

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