Some of the major challenges for brewers are to make safe quality beer that maintains consumer confidence, while meeting retailer expectations and minimising both costs and wastage. This has been achieved in many microbreweries by using a simple rapid test, to determine the hygienic quality of their production equipment and working surface areas.

Langham Brewery is a successful small independent steam-powered microbrewery situated between the West Sussex towns of Midhurst and Petworth in the beautiful South Downs National Park. Lesley Foulkes and James Berrow, Langham Brewery’s partners, attribute much of the brewery’s success in producing quality and consistent beer to maintaining high sanitation processes and keeping the busy brewery operations spic and span. A core part of these processes is achieved utilising the SystemSURE Plus products from Hygiena International for the quick and accurate ATP testing of surface areas.

Langham have been using Hygiena International’s cleaning systems since 2008. ATP testing is a simple and affordable test method which verifies cleaning effectiveness in seconds. The science is based on the detection of organic residues on surfaces and in water samples using a bioluminescent reaction. Pen-shaped test devices contain a modified firefly enzyme that reacts with organic material to produce light, which is then measured in a handheld meter (called a luminometer) about the size of a TV remote control. The luminometer converts the light output into an RLU number (Relative Light Unit): the lower that number, the cleaner the surface (or less contamination in the water sample if a CIP system is being tested).

The brewery relies on quick turnaround. As soon as a tank is emptied it is immediately deep cleaned ready for the next beer. The brewing team all are trained how to use the ATP meter to instantly validate their cleaning procedure. The ATP meter indicates what is clean and what is not clean. If occasionally a higher ATP level is indicated then another caustic cleaning cycle is undertaken, until the score gives confidence that the vessel is clean enough to ensure the quality and consistency of the next brew.

SALSA is a recognised food safety certification scheme that is widely accepted by both retailers and food service providers. It is a joint venture between four major trade associations representing the UK food chain and is administered and operated by the Institute of Food Science and Technology. A core element of the SALSA standard is strong and provable hygiene.

For Langham Brewery, the peace of mind brought by the SystemSURE ATP quick validation tool reinforces confidence in Langham’s quality control systems, and what better proof of that than their SALSA plus Beer accreditation.

The practical benefits of ATP hygiene monitoring have been well proven and established for over 20 years. Ogden et al (1993) at the Green King brewery showed that the technology was used to change the assessment of brewery hygiene from a “retrospective exercise into a positive preventative measure” because “it detects ‘soil’ and not just microorganisms, it is likely to give a more accurate representation of the condition of the plant”.

Any unacceptable soiling is detected and used to positively release equipment into manufacturing. Over a one year period, the improvement in the pass rate on different vessels ranged from 27% to 90%. One recurring problem was found to cause 50% of all failure and it was quickly identified and remedied.

The benefit from the ATP test included:

• Financial savings due to improved quality control and avoidance of spoilage
• Improved production efficiency (right first time)
• Improved confidence in product quality
• Increased motivation and productivity of staff

See the Hygiena range of products for beer and wine processors at: www.hygiena.com/beer