The Dirty Truth About Beer Lines & Why Beer Line Cleaning Matters

If you run a pub, bar, or restaurant in Kent or London, you know that great beer keeps customers coming back. But did you know that even the best beers can taste awful if your beer lines aren’t properly cleaned?

At Cellar Buoys, we specialise in professional beer line cleaning, but unlike standard cleaning services, our advanced process keeps your lines clean for a full three weeks—so you don’t need to clean them every 7 days. That means better beer, less waste, and more savings for your business.

So, why is beer line cleaning so important, and how does our specialist service make a difference?

The Science Behind Beer Line Cleaning

1. What Happens
Inside a Beer Line?

Every time you pour a pint, small particles of yeast, hops, proteins, and minerals from the beer get left behind in the lines. Over time, these residues can cause all sorts of issues:

• Yeast build-up: Over time, yeast from the beer continues to grow in the lines, leading to a cloudy, sour taste and even creating a thick layer of yeast on the inside of the lines.

• Bacteria growth: If beer lines aren’t cleaned regularly, bacteria can build up. Bacteria thrive in the warm, wet environment of beer lines, and they can lead to sour or vinegary flavours, ruining your beer.

• Beer stone deposits: Beer contains minerals that, when left to accumulate, form a hard deposit called beer stone. Over time, this restricts beer flow and can cause your taps to clog, wasting valuable beer and making it harder to pour.

2. Why Beer Line
Cleaning Is So Crucial

If your beer lines aren’t kept clean, your customers won’t be getting the best possible pint. Here’s what can go wrong:

• Off-flavours: Beer should taste fresh, with no sour, stale, or musty flavours. If your lines aren’t cleaned, old beer residues and bacteria can turn the beer sour or flat, making customers think the beer is bad quality.

• Poor pours: Beer lines clogged with beer stone can result in poor flow, leading to excessive foam or beer that’s difficult to pour. A pint that’s too foamy or flat can ruin the experience for your customers and lead to waste.

• Health and safety issues: If your draught beer system isn’t cleaned regularly, bacteria and mould can thrive inside, leading to potential health risks for your staff and customers.

3. The Problem with
Standard Weekly Cleans

Most pubs and bars are told to clean their beer lines every 7 days, but standard cleaning methods can be time-consuming and often ineffective. Regular cleans don’t always remove all the harmful bacteria and yeast, and they can still leave beer stone deposits behind.

Not to mention, standard cleaning often requires you to supply your own gas or cleaning chemicals, adding extra costs and hassle. It’s a lot of work for something that’s just a temporary fix.

How Cellar Buoys’ Expert Cleaning Saves You Time & Money

Cellar Buoys is your trusted partner for premium beer line cleaning services across Kent and London. Our commitment to quality, paired with a flexible no-contract approach, ensures that your dispense system remains spotless and efficient. We offer a comprehensive, fully managed solution, starting with a free, no-obligation initial clean, allowing you to see how much you can save.

Unlike traditional weekly cleans, our advanced process keeps your beer lines fresh for a full three weeks, meaning you:

✔ Reduce waste – Less beer lost to cleaning, more poured pints.
✔ Save money – Fewer cleans mean lower costs.
✔ Improve taste – Consistently fresh, high-quality beer for your customers.
✔ Avoid hassle – No need for extra gas or cleaning chemicals—we bring everything.

One of the standout benefits of partnering with Cellar Buoys is reducing ullage. Unlike traditional weekly cleanings that result in beer waste 52 times a year, we only discard beer every 3 weeks—cutting wastage to just 17 times annually. That’s a huge reduction in lost revenue and product waste.

Our method focuses on a deep clean that targets all the elements of beer line maintenance:

• Cleaning yeast and bacteria build-up from every inch of the lines.

• Removing beer stone deposits that clog the system.

• Ensuring proper flow for perfect pours, every time.

The Cellar Buoys Difference

We take a more specialised approach to beer line cleaning, designed to reduce the frequency of cleaning while maintaining superior results. In addition, we offer Cellar Management and Master Glass training, bringing unrivalled expertise to ensure your customers enjoy the perfect pint, every time.

✅ Deep-cleaning process lasts a full 3 weeks
✅ No need for gas or supplies—we handle everything
✅ Flexible, no-contract service tailored to your needs
✅ Free first clean—no obligation

We ensure your beer line maintenance is as efficient and effective as possible, giving you more time to focus on serving great beer to your customers.

Ready to Improve Your Beer Quality & Reduce Costs?

If you run a pub, bar, or restaurant in Kent or London don’t waste time with outdated weekly cleans. Let Cellar Buoys handle your beer line maintenance with our specialist cleaning service.

📞 Call us today on 0753 5750654 to book your free first clean and experience the difference.