Language of Bottling, Kegging & Canning - a glossary of terms

There are some unique terms that you’ll come across when you start you journey in beverage production. Learn about some of the most common industry terms and what they mean.

Can ends: these are the can lids. When cans are produced from a can manufacturer, they do not have a lid attached. These are applied after being filled with the liquid on packaging lines.

Can seamer: this is the process of applying the lid (can end) to the base can. The two are seamed together to ensure no liquid can escape.

Carbonation: a process of dissolving carbon dioxide in water. The final result leaves the product with small bubbles.

Caustic: a cleaning product (also an acid) that containd highly alkaline and corrosive caustic chemicals.

Charmat: this is a method of carbonation that occurs inside stainless steel tanks, as opposed to directly into the bottle/keg/can from the packaging line.

Citric: a chemical (a base) used after a caustic clean to essentially rinse and complete the sterilisation process.

Crown seal: the bottle top often found on beer and cider bottles. Some are twist off and some are pry off.

Depalletizers: Robotic machines that unload (depalletize) empty bottles or cans from the pallet.

Hood: a hood is a piece of plastic that is wrapped over the cork and muselet on sparkling wine bottles.

Keg cap: this is a plastic, easily removed cap that signifies what product is inside the keg. These are placed on the keg after it is filled with product.

Muselet: the metal part found on top of sparkling wine bottles. This prevents the cork from popping out.

Pigging line: somewhat unique to Idyll, our products are sent direct to our bottling, canning or kegging lines via a direct line from outdoor tanks to the filler on each packaging line. Near the end of each packaging run, a pig (which is like a ball that just fits inside the pipework) is released and pushed through with nitrogen to empty the direct lines of product and minimise wastage. The ball is just small enough to fit inside the pipe to ensure the nitrogen never passes the pig and is mixed with the liquid product.

Screw cap: a metal, normally aluminium, cap that is placed onto the opening and neck of a wine bottle.

Velcorin: a safe-to-consume chemical that ensures no live bacteria remains in the liquid.

See also: Kegging Basics Explained for New Brewers