Draft Beer Line Cleaning Chemicals, Kits & Equipment
Clean lines are the foundation of quality draft beer. Yeast, protein, hop resins, and beer stone build up inside beer lines, faucets, and couplers within days of use — causing off-flavors, excessive foam, and bacterial contamination that no amount of good beer can overcome. The Brewers Association mandates a minimum 14-day cleaning cycle for all commercial draft systems. We stock everything you need to stay on schedule.
Cleaning Chemicals
- Alkaline (caustic) cleaners — the primary cleaning agent; dissolves organic deposits including yeast, protein, and hop resins; use every two weeks as your standard line cleaner
- Acid cleaners — removes beer stone (calcium oxalate) and mineral scale that alkaline cleaners can't touch; use periodically (every 3–6 months) as a supplemental deep clean
- Sanitizers — kills residual bacteria after cleaning; used as the final step before returning lines to service
Cleaning Equipment
- Cleaning cans — hand-pump cans for manual line cleaning; the standard method for direct draw and single-keg systems
- Electric recirculating pumps — continuously circulate cleaner through lines for more thorough cleaning with less labor; recommended for long draw systems and high-volume operations
- Cleaning adaptors & components — faucet plugs, coupler adaptors, and fittings for connecting cleaning equipment to your specific system configuration
Cleaning Kits
- Direct draw cleaning kits — everything needed to clean a direct draw or kegerator system; includes cleaner, can, and adaptors
- Economy cleaning kits — budget-friendly starter kits for operators setting up a basic cleaning program
The Two-Step Cleaning Process
- Alkaline clean — circulate or push alkaline cleaner through lines; soak 15–20 minutes; flush with water
- Acid clean — follow with acid cleaner periodically to remove beer stone; flush thoroughly
- Sanitize — apply sanitizer as final step; do not rinse after sanitizing
- Brush clean faucets — disassemble and brush-clean faucets every two weeks alongside line cleaning
Need help setting up a cleaning program? Contact us — we work with bars and breweries on BA-compliant cleaning protocols regularly.
