The mash filter 2001: latest industrial results.

Melis, M. and Eyben, D.

Abstract
Performance figures obtained during industrial trials of the "2001" mash filter are presented, including graphs of wort haze, fatty acids and dissolved oxygen over the duration of mash filtration and tables comparing brewhouse yield with laboratory yield and sparge liquor consumption, wort composition, beer composition, beer flavour and staling rate, production capacity and costs with the equivalent figures for a lauter tun and a conventional mash filter. The principal advantages of the 2001 mash filter are the high brewhouse yield (equal to or even greater than the laboratory yield), low sparge liquor consumption, low spent grains moisture content and rapid throughput (12 brews/24 hours). Wort composition is generally similar except for lower concentrations of dextrins (because the finely milled grist facilitates enzymic activity during mashing) and fatty acids (resulting in a clearer wort and a higher ester content in the finished beer). It is stated that the device can operate at 70% of its full capacity and upwards, and that the degree of malt modification and the adjunct content of the grist are less important than in the case of conventional equipment. The service life of the filter cloths is stated to be 1500 brews, and that of the membranes to be over 2 years. Annual savings, in comparison to the cost of using conventional equipment, of 7.68 million Belgian francs (equivalent at the time of writing to 216000 US dollars) are claimed.
Keywords : equipment mash filtration performance