Protecting Concrete Floors: Alcoholic Beverages

This is the third in a series on substances that can damage concrete floors.

With the boom in craft brewing, the idea of visiting a neighborhood brewery is now a reality in Sacramento and Northern California. Many of these friendly and welcoming establishments are working out of warehouses or buildings not specifically designed for brewing, outside of the extensive plumbing and equipment that is installed for fermentation. Therein lies a problem, for in beer and cider you have the makings of damage to concrete floors.

What’s so Bad About Beer and Cider?

The acids in beer are largely dependent on the style. Sour beers may contain lactic acid or acetic acid. Fruit beers contain citric acid. And the list of potential acids in beer continues: malic acid, pyruvic acid, fumaric acid, succinic acid, formic acid and others may all be present. Plus, acids are commonly used to sanitize or preserve beers and beer making equipment, and to adjust water qualities, so the potential for acid spills in a brewery is ever present.

Ciders are made from a variety of fruit juices, but the most common is apple juice. The primary acids in this beverage are malic, phosphoric, citric and quinic acid. Other juices may provide additional acids. Basically, it’s quite clear that acid is a common component in beer and cider manufacturing. They are essential components of the flavors and production of many of our favorite beverages.

Prevent Acid Corrosion on Concrete

Cleaning up effectively is a critical part of any brewery operation. That means handling spills appropriately and doing so with water, other acids, and cleansers. All of this takes a toll on concrete floors. Untreated concrete is porous, so sealing it is essential for preserving it from long-term acid damage and making cleanups easier. Epoxy concrete sealers are available in non-slip formulas that make brewery work much safer and accidents less likely, while at the same time repelling the fluids that shorten the life of a concrete floor.

Therefore, before installing a new brewery, remodeling an old one or moving a brewery from one location to another, it is wise to consult with the concrete coating experts at California Custom Coatings. We look forward to helping our Northern California brewers and fermenters with protecting their (or their landlord’s) investment in concrete flooring. Even homebrewers can benefit from our non-slip concrete coatings that make brewing and cleanup a safer and less time-consuming enterprise.