Page 32 - Beverage MasterAprMay 2021

Craft Brewery

is completed. The process is easy, and then we’re low-up reading once fermentation is complete.
good to go for another week. This densitometer Those values are plugged into a conversion chart to
also has international settings, and because we determine the percentage of alcohol in your final
export our bourbon to the U.K., we can provide product. Taking pH readings on a meter like our
their required test results.” MW102 within the brewing process takes place
from the beginning of the brewing process to the
Pope said that he also helps other distillers by end, using it for multiple applications and process-
testing and auditing their samples, providing anoth- es.”
er way to grow and support the distilling communi-
ty. Brown told Beverage Master Magazine that brew-
masters typically already have basic knowledge of
Quality H2O: pH testers and refractometers. Still, even if they
Good Water Equals Good Beer are new to the game, Milwaukee Instruments
provides user-friendly equipment, with complete
“That’s what brewers will tell you, and it’s certain- YouTube tutorials instructing the user on the oper-
ly a good rule to follow,” said Mike McBride, mar- ation, maintenance, storage and calibration of the
keting, IT and social media manager for Industrial meters. Most units come with a two-year warranty
Test Systems, a leading American manufacturer of on the base unit and six months on the electrodes.
instruments and chemistries designed to test water Their bench meters offer data logging that is an
quality parameters. “It’s just a fact because beer advantage over comparable handheld units.
is over 90% water, so it follows that good water
makes for good beer.” “It’s recommended that both types of meters be
calibrated before each use to maintain accuracy
Industrial Test Systems offers their popular eXact across all samples tested,” said Brown. “Our units
iDip Smart Photometer and their eXact pH meter can be calibrated by the end-user with no issues.”
to help brewers stay on top of their water parame-
ters. Steam & Water Flow Measurement:
Going with the Flow
“Visual testing only gives the end user a base-
line guide or range versus digital testing that is “Given the need for accuracy, consistency and
Image Credit: Allied Boilers much more precise and provides exact, repeatable repeatability, brewers should always choose the
results,” said McBride. “Our meters bring those highest quality meter they can afford,” said Marc
types of laboratory quality results to you, and that’s Bennett, regional sales manager for McCrometer,
important because of the many different tests Inc., worldwide providers of precision flow meters
performed on the water within a craft brewery. for liquid, steam and gas applications. “Flow meter-
One example is testing for water hardness because ing is all about optimizing production to give the
different beers require different levels. Dark beers brewer consistent and reliable results through
require harder water, while lighter beers use softer understanding the precise temperatures, pressures
water. You have to have an accurate, quality test to and flow being used.
determine what type of water you’re using.”
“The best way to measure steam is through
Brix and pH Meters: equipment like our V-Cone Meter. It helps a brew-
A Brewer’s Best Friend er understand the precise temperature, flow and
measurement of their team processes, allowing
“Measuring pH and Brix levels in brewing is essen- them to optimize their consistency,” said Bennett.
tial,” said Jason Brown of Milwaukee Instruments. “We know craft brewers are frequently tight on
“Both units are a must because those measure- space, so our V-Cone Meters are designed for tight
ments ultimately determine the type of beer you fit and retrofit applications while handling most
will brew, how the flavor will turn out, and what operating environments. Some of the largest, most
percentage of alcohol the brew possesses. To mea- well-known breweries use V-Cone meters for steam
sure alcohol content with a meter like our MA871 measurement, but they are very applicable for
digital Brix refractometer, you take an initial Brix smaller brewers as well.”
reading of the unfermented wort and then a fol-

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