Poster 0167 EBC 2015 Beer Monitor Basic
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The document describes a new low-cost method called the Beer Monitor Basic for measuring alcohol content inline in breweries. It is an economic alternative to the industry standard Beer Monitor Classic that provides accuracy of ±0.1% alcohol content for applications not requiring the highest accuracy. Test results found it was stable over time, accurately measured batch to batch variations within 0.0005 g/cm3 density differences, and correlated well with laboratory measurements with a standard deviation of 0.05% alcohol content. The Beer Monitor Basic is described as an easy and low maintenance solution for final quality control checks before packaging.
Poster 0167 EBC 2015 Beer Monitor Basic
- 1. Beer Monitor Basic: a new, economic method for inline alcohol measurement in the brewery Daniel L. Gore, Brewer & Maltster, Application & Product Specialist Anton Paar GmbH, Austria # 0167 Beer Monitor Accuracy Classic Basic Alcohol %v/v ±0.02 ±0.10 Original Extract °Plato ±0.04 ±0.10 Real /Apparent Extract °Plato ±0.02 ±0.20 Alcolyzer Alc. %v/v Beer Monitor Basic Alc. %v/v Deviation Beer 1 4.51 4.55 -0.04 Beer 2 5.15 5.09 0.06 Beer 3 6.71 6.75 -0.04 Beer 4 9.42 9.36 0.06 Why a New Low-Cost Alcohol Sensor? Anton Paar’s Beer Monitor Classic has been the industry standard for over 20 years. What has changed? Why is a new sensor necessary? • Some installations require only the alcohol concentration • Some installations do not require the highest accuracy • Some breweries want an “entry level” system • Some breweries desire low cost of ownership and zero maintenance The observed, batch to batch density difference is quite stable. For example, Ales 1 and 2 below, are brewed regularly year-round and show a low density difference, while the Lager and Bock, brewed less frequently but in multiple batches, also have a low average density difference. Beer Monitor Basic Trial Test The Beer Monitor Basic was tested before the bottle filler for 6 weeks in a regional US craft brewery and compared to the customer’s laboratory reference (DMA 4500 M and Alcolyzer Beer). The basic trial criteria were: overall measurement stability under process conditions, influence of batch to batch variations and correlation to the lab reference. Overall Measurement Stability The stability of the process measurement was very good. Normal process variables, such as line stops and tank changes showed little to no effect. Batch to Batch Variations As previously observed in the original density comparison, batches brewed together required only minor adjustments, while batches brewed several days apart required a single new adjustment at start up. The standard QC sample pulled from the bright tank prior to packaging was used. Correlation to Alcolyzer Results were positive with a standard deviation of 0.05 alcohol %v/v. Trial Installation Summary The Beer Monitor Basic is an extremely easy to install and low cost alternative for inline final quality control testing where the highest accuracy is not required. Commissioning is kept very simple and requires no samples to create a product profile. Furthermore: • Filtered and bottle conditioned beer are measured with equal accuracy • Density and extract variations have only minor alcohol influence (±0.0001 g/cm³ = 0.06 %v/v) • Ideal for final alcohol check pre-packaging • Easy, low cost installation • Zero maintenance ∆ Density Ale 1 Ale 2 Season 1 Season 2 Lager Bock Min -0.00325 -0.00172 -0.00208 -0.00241 -0.00022 -0.00098 Mean 0.00000 -0.00001 -0.00005 0.00005 0.00000 -0.00001 Max 0.00318 0.00161 0.00238 0.00252 0.00028 0.00077 Std. Dev. 0.00036 0.00048 0.00109 0.00096 0.00010 0.00030 # Batches 1086 282 53 63 355 92 Pictured above the Beer Monitor Basic (upper left) and Alex 500 (lower right). How Does the Beer Monitor Basic Work? The Beer Monitor Basic uses sound velocity, the same principle as the Original Extract Monitor, and a stored, average brand density 20°C value. An optional CO2 sensor can be added but is not necessary for basic measurement results. To ensure an alcohol accuracy of ±0.1 %v/v and repeatability of ±0.06 %v/v under typical brewery conditions, the average brand specific density 20°C fluctuation should not exceed 0.0005 g/cm3. Data was collected from multiple breweries of various sizes in Germany, Austria, India and the USA and the average density 20°C fluctuation was observed over an entire year or more. In all, over 2000 different batches were compared. Average Density Fluctuations Batch to batch variations were seen only on products brewed several days or weeks apart and coincided with different malt deliveries. Consecutive batches showed little to no variation in the average density values. 06.03.2014 07:04:44 06.03.2014 08:41:29 06.03.2014 10:18:16 06.03.2014 11:54:42 OE °Plato Alcohol 20°C %v/v 12.7 12.5 12.3 12.1 11.9 11.7 6.0 5.9 5.8 5.7 5.6 5.5 25.06.201427.10.201312.02.201324.04.201215.07.201122.11.2010 -0.00025 Lo Limit +0.00025 Hi Limit ∆ Density 0.0005 0.0003 0.0001 0.0001 0.0003 0.0005 g/cm3 Season 1 and 2 are brewed only seasonally and show higher deviations. Even so, batches brewed together, or at least close together, still showed acceptable density deviations, under the allowed 0.0005 g/cm3. How Do the Beer Monitor Basic and Classic Compare? While the Beer Monitor Basic is an economic alternative to the Beer Monitor Classic, it is not as accurate and therefore not ideal for blending applications.