Beer Filtration

Beer filtration is normally carried out in 2 basic stages with first the production of a bright beer and second the production of sterile beer (if this is required).

Production of Bright Beer
A bright beer looks clear and the major amount of the yeast and suspended solids has been removed. It is likely to contain a small amount of yeast and will not be sterile.

For this filtration there are two types of beer filter for the brewer to consider:

  1. D.E. (or kieselguhr) pressure filters using D.E. powder as a filter aid
  2. Sheet filtration using coarse/medium grade filter sheets

We recommed that Sheet Filtration is used for brews up to 1000 litres (10 hl/6 UK barrels) and that DE filtration is used for 1000 litres upwards.

Production of Sterile Beer

Once Bright Beer has been prepared this can be sterile filtered through a multi-stage cartridge filter system comprising a range of different porosity filters.

See our pages on DE Filters and on Sheet Filters.