Winterizing Your Draft Beer System

When temperatures drop, your draft beer system needs extra care. Cold weather can cause beer lines to freeze, glycol systems to fail, and equipment damage that’s costly to repair. Whether you’re shutting down for the season or just preparing for the chill, here’s how to protect your setup.

Why Winterizing Matters

Draft systems run on precision—temperature, pressure, and cleanliness. When the temperature dips below freezing, trapped beer or water can expand and crack your lines or fittings. Once that happens, you’re looking at leaks, contamination, and expensive downtime.

If you’re closing for winter, don’t just unplug and go. Proper winterization keeps your system safe and makes your spring startup smooth.

Steps to Protect Your System

1. Clean and Flush Lines:
   Start with a full beer line cleaning. This removes any residue or bacteria that can spoil beer over the winter.
2. Drain Everything:
   After cleaning, flush lines with water, then blow them out with CO₂ or air. Make sure no liquid is left behind—frozen residue can crack tubing.
3. Shut Down the Glycol System:
   If your walk-in cooler or glycol unit will be off for an extended time, follow proper shutdown procedures. Learn more about how glycol systems work.
4. Seal Kegs and Faucets:
   Disconnect and cap all keg couplers and faucets to keep out dust and pests.
5. Temperature Check:
   If your bar stays partially open, monitor ambient temperature to ensure glycol lines or remote systems don’t freeze.

Call in the Pros

Winter prep is simple to overlook but can save thousands in repairs. CBG Draft Services provides seasonal maintenance and shutdown services for bars, breweries, and restaurants throughout the Mid-Atlantic.

Schedule a maintenance visit before the first freeze hits—we’ll make sure your system’s ready to handle the cold.

Want to Learn More?

• Brewers Association: Draft Beer Quality Manual
• CBG Draft Services Blog for more guides on system care and maintenance.

‍