BREWERIES AND CELLAR COOLING
The perfect brew – a recipe for success
Jason Webb, managing director, Electronic Temperature Instruments discusses the crucial role of temperature control in brewing.
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Controlling these variables can lead to better
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trust through consistent high-quality products, providing reliable
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chieving the perfect brew can be quite the balancing act. A variety of external factors can impact everything from fl avour and batch consistency to
alcohol by volume (ABV). When producing consistent and high-quality beers, brewers need to be aware of all the potential impacts on their delicate process. One critical factor that can make or break a brew is the temperature and humidity within the brewing room. Getting this wrong can signifi cantly impact the process, quality, and consistency. Mashing, fermentation, and conditioning are all dependent on strict controls to achieve a consistent fl avour and quality – with any fl uctuation or deviation causing an unwanted knock-on eff ect and potentially spoiling the entire batch. This leads to potential fi nancial loss and, if unnoticed, even long-term reputational damage. Brewing is a multi-stage process where ingredients like malt, water, hops, and yeast undergo a series of controlled reactions to produce each specifi c batch of beer. Temperature plays a critical role at every stage, from mashing the grains to fermenting the wort, conditioning the beer, and even down to packaging. Slight variations in temperature can lead to signifi cant diff erences in fl avour, ABV, and consistency. From the start, in the pre-brewing stage, a kiln is used during malting to dry the grains. Higher temperatures during this process create darker malts, contributing roasted fl avours and colour to the beer. Controlling this temperature is key to achieving the desired malt profi le, and without careful and accurate monitoring, it can lead to unexpected or unwanted results. In the later stages of the brewing process, temperature continues to lead the way in crafting the fi nal product. During mashing, mixing the crushed malt grains with a specifi c temperature of water between 60-72°C causes a chemical reaction, activating enzymes. Small deviations in temperature during mashing can change the balance between these enzymes, impacting the beer’s sweetness, mouthfeel, and ABV. Similarly, extracting the sugars through the lautering process, and sterilising and locking in the fl avours during the boiling process, are all temperature dependent. Lautering typically occurs at temperatures
24 December 2024 •
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around 75-78°C, and when boiling, brewers need to ensure a consistent boiling temperature of 100°C is maintained. These are only some examples of how delicate the temperature balance is throughout the early stages of the brew, and these continue through the entire life cycle. Outside of temperature being used as a component in the brewing process, controlling humidity is also an important factor. Depending on the environment, high humidity levels within the brewing area can encourage the growth of unwanted microbes like bacteria, mould, and mildew, which pose serious contamination risks. These microbes thrive in warm, moist environments and can lead to spoilage and safety issues if they fi nd their way into the brewing equipment or fermenters. Furthermore, much of the brewing equipment now includes sensitive electrical components that are vulnerable to moisture. Humidity control in storage facilities can also extend the shelf life of the fi nished product. Beer stored in high-humidity areas, especially with varying temperatures, can suff er from quality degradation faster than beer stored in stable, controlled conditions. Both temperature control and the monitoring of humidity
levels are vital factors in the brewing process. Investing in tools to monitor and control these levels is essential for ensuring consistent fl avour and quality, as well as a safe and stable environment. Consider an investment in a reliable temperature monitoring system as an investment in the brewery’s reputation. With modern technologies, equipping for success in the world of brewing is easier than ever. Temperature loggers and monitors can report, log, and alert to any fl uctuation, all controlled digitally and remotely through cloud technology. This saves on time and manual work, and also off ers a level of reliability and certainty to the data. Humidity and comfort thermometers off er real-time reviews of humidity levels and can alert you when there is an unexpected fl uctuation or if it rises or falls to a certain level. Integrating this equipment into day-to-day operations adds a layer of security and reliability for the business as a whole.
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