Before you start canning your next batch, make sure to ask yourself the following questions.
1. Do you have enough materials?
Though this is a simple question, it’s important to know if you have enough materials so you can minimize waste along with any issues that may arise during your canning process. Do you have enough cans, lids, trays, and labels? Depending on if you’re canning 6-packs or 4-packs, do you have the right packaging? The last thing you want to do is start canning only to realize you’re low on supplies. Check your materials so you can keep your canning process running!
2. Are the utilities ready?
In addition to making sure you have enough materials, you should also ensure that your utilities are ready. Run through your compressed air, CO2, power, and water so they are all set appropriately and your machine is ready to roll.
3. Do you have the right canning temperature?
Setting the right temperature for your beer is crucial when it comes to maintaining low Dissolved Oxygen (DO) pickup. Remember, beer that is too warm will always over-foam and thus create waste. Typically, the temperature should not exceed 35.6°F to prevent over-foaming.A good canning temperature is 33-34°F (1-2°C) to create a protective foam layer on the cans between filling them and seaming them. Higher temperatures can create problems with too much foam (or slow down a counter-pressure filler).
On the other hand, beer that is too cold (below 0°C/32° F) will not create the much-needed foam and can impact the lid fit on the can. This will lead to a high DO pickup. To be safe, you should try to keep your beer as warm as possible while at the same time making sure it has the right amount of foam.
4. Is your machine clean?
We know beer can get messy. Maintaining a clean machine is important. Keeping a clean canning line not only helps you produce high quality beer, it also makes sure your equipment works as it is intended to so you get the most out of your canning process.
Make sure to sanitize the beverage path from the tank through to the cans to avoid maintenance issues, ensure you are following relevant health codes, and most importantly, brew a great batch.
5. Is your carbonation ready?
In addition to having a clean machine, having perfect foam creation is key. Carbonation plays a fundamental and not to mention an important role in the entire beer canning process.
Make sure the temperature to PSI ratio aligns with the style of beer you’re brewing so you don’t end up wasting your time and materials on a bad batch. Low carbonation levels will lead to a low foam while too much carbonation can cause taste issues.
6. Is there a canning log AND a seam inspection log ready to record?
Keeping a canning log and a seam inspection log is highly important to make a quality beer. Recording these measurements will help you uncover unwanted patterns and address any problems with the seam tightness, body hook and cover hook, and overlap. Start every canning run with a full seam teardown and record all the seam measurements. Analyze the logs to see if there are seam problems starting to develop and fix them before they can cause leaking cans.
Let’s Start Canning!
Need help with your canning operation, just have a question, or looking for auxiliary equipment? The Twin Monkeys team has decades of beverage and automation experience. Our canning machines are designed to be affordable and easy to maintain. Call one of our representatives to learn more about Twin Monkeys, our canning equipment, our service team, and how we can help you grow your beverage company.