To the untrained eye, a hose may look like just another hose or piece of equipment, but in the hospitality industry where the quality of food and drink is paramount – especially in brewing – the materials and the manufacturing processes can drastically impact the end product. In fact, the brewing industry has nowhere to hide when it comes to the consumer, you can pull a pint, but you can’t pull the wool over their eyes, explains Martin Robinson, managing director for Flextech.

When customers report strange odours tainting their beer, almost every time, issues can be traced back to inappropriate materials used in the process. An example of this is Nitrile Butadiene Rubber (NBR) which is suitably engineered for fatty foods and dairy applications, but it is not ideal for brewery use as over time the liner degrades.

Technical explanation

The reason lies in the properties of different hose compounds, which play a crucial role in brewing. NBR is excellent for oils and fatty liquid-based products, but often not the best for beer as its unique composition reacts differently to this material.

While opting for something that appears practical and, on the surface, appears to be a less expensive option, over time, the liner in NBR hoses can break down and leach adverse elements into a brew, negatively impacting taste, smell and the overall finished quality.

But it’s not just the lining material, the manufacturing process is equally important in influencing hose quality. Did you know that some manufacturers cut costs by using industrial-grade steel mandrels instead of stainless steel to form so-called food-safe hoses? In some cases, these mandrels are not adequately cleaned between production runs, leading to contamination from oils, dirt, or even foreign bodies such as insects.

Reports have even documented debris or imprints of insects on the hose liner itself. The first signs of such poor manufacturing practices often manifest as greasy, dirty liners, strange odours, or premature cracking as lower-quality materials begin to break down.

Fillers and releasing agents

Some manufacturers add fillers, such as chalk, talc, calcium carbonate and others to the base material in a cost-saving exercise. While this reduces cost, it also impacts the reliability of the hose.

The degradation caused by fillers is not immediately visible, but over time, hoses containing these additives can develop micro-cracks, decay more quickly, and release unpleasant odours into the beer.

A critical part of producing mandrel-built rubber hoses involves using releasing agents to prevent sticking during the removal from the 40m long mandrel and ensuring a smooth hose liner finish. However, if a non-FDA-approved releasing agent is used, it can filtrate into the hose liner and seep into the beer over time.

This slow contamination can produce subtle ‘off-flavours’ and smells in the final product.  In brewing, where consistency and quality are paramount, this can mean spoiled brews, disruption in the production line and a waste of ingredients.  Ultimately, a costly upheaval.

Understanding the value of quality

“But isn’t a hose just a hose, with different price tags attached?” No. Just as two beers are never the same, this also applies to hoses in that not all are created equal.

Choosing the right hose (or pint!) is not about price; it’s about ensuring quality.   Why would you choose great ingredients and ruin them with inferior equipment? The focus should be on delivering excellence in every batch of beer produced, over cost. 

By investing in high-quality hoses designed specifically for brewing, businesses safeguard the taste and aroma of their beer alongside their brand reputation.

While cutting corners may seem cost-effective upfront, the long-term consequences such as contamination, unpleasant odours, and premature degradation – can be far more expensive. As the old saying goes, “Buy cheap, buy twice.”

To save your sanity and ensure peace of mind, listen to the experts who say you should always choose a Butyl (BllR) lined hose like those in the Genuine Brewflex range, over NBR, Ethylene Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM) or a plastic hose.

The bottom of the glass 

A very simple way to assess the quality of your brewery hoses to preserve the craftsmanship and quality of your beer is to check your hose with your nose. Why? Because if your hose has a strong chemical, rubbery or musty smell, it could mean that low-quality materials or fillers were used in its production, or it could be very nearing the end of its lifespan. If a hose smells off, your brew might too.

An easy way to check is to take a new hose and smell the interior, then compare that odour to that of the current installation.  The ideal aroma should be neutral or barely noticeable. Don’t let your brew take on unwanted flavours or unpleasant odours from faulty or ageing hoses. If something smells not quite right, it’s possibly time to replace it. 

So, don’t ever think, “Screw it, just brew it” – give your hose a sniff before you start your next batch of beer to avoid compromising the quality in any way.  

The last thing you want is to spoil the craft you’ve worked so hard to perfect. A simple check could protect your product and reputation while saving you from a brewing and financial disaster.