Crafting Clarity: A Brewer’s Guide to Filtration

Crafting Clarity: A Brewer's Guide to Filtration

A question we get a lot from our brewing customers is whether they really need to filter their beer. A better question to ask is, why NOT filter? You already do, in a sense, through processes like hot and cold breaks, kettle or whirlpool fining, and cold-crashing after fermentation. But filtration takes your brewing game to a whole new level by ensuring your beer reaches its full potential in terms of clarity, stability, and flavor.

Here's Why:

Eliminates Haze: Filtration can remove those haze-inducing elements from beer that you don’t want to be hazy. Say goodbye to unwanted cloudiness and hello to crystal-clear brews.
Reduces the Risk of Spoilage: Filtration minimizes the risk of spoilage organisms ruining your hard work, preserving the integrity of your craft.
Enhances Shelf Life and Flavor Stability: Your beer’s journey doesn’t end at the brewery; it continues in the hands of your customers. Filtration extends the shelf life of your beer, allowing it to maintain its peak flavor and aroma over time. This means your customers can enjoy your beer as you intended, whether it’s consumed days, weeks, or months after purchase.

What Types of Filters Are Available, and How Do They Work?

1. Centrifuge: This powerhouse is used for wort clarification, yeast removal from green beer, and eliminating particles ranging from 0.05 to 500+ microns. The centrifugal force effectively traps and removes unwanted elements. Centrifuges can filter virtually any solids load and offer yield improvement, with low oxygen pickup (usually <10 ppb). They can be used standalone or as a primary filtration ahead of a finer filtration. ATPGroup solution: SPXFLOW Centrifuge
2. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)/Kieselguhr/Perlite: Mineral-based filters used for yeast removal from green beer, aged beer clarification, and stabilizer removal. They cover a range from fine (0.35 micron) to coarse (4+ micron) and are known for their ability to handle light to moderate solids loads. They offer flexibility as both primary and final bright filters. ATPGroup solutions: Diatomaceous Earth (DE), Perlite, Fiber Floc 10 & 30, TMCI Padovan Green Leaf DE Filter, TMCI Padovan Victoria DE Filter
3. Plate and Frame – Sheet/Pad: These filters are designed for green beer clarification, light particulate removal, and sterile filtration. They filter light to moderate solids loads from fine (0.1 micron) to coarse (10+ micron). Sheets may contain embedded DE or carbon while pads are often 100% cellulose, and they work by retaining particles in the cellulose/DE or all-cellulose matrix. Back-flushable options are available. ATPGroup solutions: BECOPAD® a-Cellulose Filter Sheets, BECOPAD® Depth Filter Sheets, TMCI Padovan Master and CombiMaster Filters.
4. Lenticular: Ideal for particulate removal in green beer, lenticular filters range from fine (0.1 micron) to coarse (10+ micron). They retain particles in a cellulose/DE or all-cellulose matrix and are available with regular or activated carbon-impregnated discs. They share advantages with other filters in terms of their light to moderate load capacity and back-flushable options. ATPGroup solutions: BECODISC® Lenticular Filter Cartridges, BECODISC® BC Activated Carbon Stacked Disc Cartridges
5. Cartridge: Used for yeast removal from green beer and particulate removal, cartridge filters range from fine (0.2 micron) to coarse (20+ micron). They work by retaining particles in a polypropylene (PP), polyether sulfone (PES), or polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) matrix. Best for light to moderate solids loads, they offer fast change-outs and backflushable options. ATPGroup solutions: BECO PROTECT® FS Cartridges, BECO® MEMBRAN PS Beer Filter Cartridges
6. Membrane: Designed for alcohol removal and beer concentration, these filters are available from very fine (0.01 micron) to ultra-fine (0.0001 micron). They are composed of a cellulose acetate, polyamide (PA), polyetherimide (PEI), polysulfone (PSF), or polyethersulfone (PES) matrix. Particles flow into the concentrate, and permeate flows to a separate tank. Membranes require clean product (no solids) and are excellent for specific applications like de-alcoholizing or concentrating (especially for NA or NAB beer). ATPGroup solutions: TMCI Padovan Osmosys Series Ultra/Nanofiltration Filter
7. Cross-flow: Best for high solids removal and green beer clarification, cross-flow filters come with PES or ceramic membranes and range fine (0.2 micron). They work by retaining particles in a concentrated flow and can handle light to heavy solids loads. Self-cleaning options are available for continuous unattended operation. ATPGroup solutions: TMCI Padovan Dynamos Ceramic Cross-Flow Filter System, TMCI Padovan Nitor+ EasyMEM Membrane Cross-Flow Filter System

Questions to Answer Before Choosing to Filter (or Not)

Before you dive into the world of filtration, take a moment to reflect on these crucial questions:

1. Is contamination a concern, and can filtration address it?
2. How do you want your beer to look in the package or serving tank?
3. How is your distributor handling your beer if it’s packaged?
4. How long will your beer sit on retail shelves?
5. What’s the expected on-premise keg storage time?
6. How frequently will you filter, and how many streams of beer?
7. If you sterile filter, what about your fillers and packaging materials?
8. What are your desired barrel capacity and flow rates?
9. How easy and how costly is it to replace filter components?
10. Will filtration impact your beer’s flavor?

By asking the right questions and understanding the available filter types, you can make informed decisions that lead to exceptional brews that stand out in taste and quality. We’re here to help! Your ATPGroup Brewing Representative will work with you to find the filtration products and solutions that fit your needs and your budget. For more information, please call ATPGroup at (914) 834-1881, e-mail [email protected], or visit our website at ATPGroup.com.

ATPGroup also offers a full range of brewing supplies, brewing equipment, and cleaning & sanitation solutions for breweries. For more information, please call ATPGroup at (914) 834-1881 or e-mail our brewing experts at [email protected].