Bristol brewer Wiper and True has turned to heat transfer, separation and fluid handling experts Alfa Laval as it sets out on its next stage of growth.
The brewer prides itself on creating ‘beautiful beer’ that reduces the carbon impact on the planet. Wiper and True use cutting-edge technology to capture carbon dioxide produced during fermentation, preventing its release into the atmosphere.
But as production ramped up and the business scaled to meet increasing demand, maintaining brew consistency, while limiting yield loss, became a critical priority for the company.
“Whenever we try and attack costs in production, the one thing we never touch is ingredients,” said Karl Gowing, production manager at Wiper and True. “We never buy cheaper malt, yeast, or old hops because it creates a product that is cheaper in taste, too.
“So, when we were looking to scale-up our production, we were looking at how we could make sustainable efficiencies by introducing new machinery into our operation.”
Wiper and True decided on the Alfa Laval Brew 80 unit, configured with the ProCarb system and feed pump. The Brew 80 separation system consists of a separator, a process and service liquid unit, and an electrical and control system. The liquid outlet is sealed mechanically by an axial hermetic seal that prevents oxidation of the clarified product, while the separator discharges solids intermittently at a fixed volume.
The system can be modified with an optional ProCarb feature, a patented in-line carbonation technology that boosts productivity by combining rapid clarification with carbonation. This combination reduces the processing time from crash-cooling tanks to packaging from three days to three hours.
Karl said: “Transitioning to a two-tank system by bringing the Brew 80 on board has allowed us to get more beer out of a tank and move from losing 12-30% of our product to 8-9%. This means we are also achieving savings across water, heating, CO2 usage, and overall energy consumption.
“Essentially, the new equipment met all the requirements for lowering our costs. It’s not simply about making things cheaper, it’s about doing them in a way that’s sustainable, using less energy and water.”
Mark Breese, technical support specialist at Alfa Laval, said: “It’s been great to see the capability of the full Alfa Laval Brew 80 centrifuge package being taken advantage of at Wiper and True.
“The compact, flexible solution, suited to craft brewery operations, enabled the brewery to shift from traditional clarification to an efficient, sustainable, two-tank system that significantly improved beer consistency, boosted yield, and reduced environmental impact — making it a standout investment for the brewery’s future.
“We’re excited to see what other efficiencies the Brew 80 can deliver at the site, where quality of product and sustainable operations will always be at the forefront of any adjustment to the brewing process.”
