Abstract: An alcohol free or low alcohol fermented malt based beverage is disclosed. The malt based beverage has an alcohol content of not more than 1.0 vol. % preferably not more than 0.7 vol. % having an aroma profile close to the one of alcoholic lager beers. The beverage has 7.00-30.00 ppm ethyl acetate and 0.01-0.20 ppm ethyl butyrate. The beverage preferably has the esters 0.05-2.00 ppm isoamyl acetate; 0.01-0.10 ppm ethyl butyrate; and 0.01-0.05 ppm ethyl hexanoate. The beverage preferably has the higher alcohol 5.00-30.00 ppm (iso-)amyl alcohol. The (iso)amyl alcohol is defined as the sum of 3-methyl butanol and 2-methyl butanol.

Abstract: The present invention discloses an opening tool for opening and/or removing a tab portion of a beverage can. The opening tool includes a hollow housing. The hollow housing includes a generally cylindrical housing body having a top end, a bottom end, an outer surface, an inner surface and an open cavity extending from a top end towards a bottom end of the housing body. The opening tool further includes one or more claws, having a claw body extending between a claw end portion and a claw tip such that the tip of each of the claws is adapted to be hangingly disposed within the open cavity of hollow housing. In operation, when a beverage can is passed through the hollow housing from the bottom end towards the top end, the claw tip of at least one of the claws engages and pulls-opens the tab portion while the beverage can moves out of the housing.

Abstract: The invention is an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container and preform and a method for making it. The bag-in-container has an inner layer forming the bag and an outer layer forming the container, and a mouth fluidly connecting the volume defined by the bag to the atmosphere. The container further has at least one interface vent fluidly connecting the interface between inner and outer layers to the atmosphere, wherein the at least one vent runs parallel to the interface between inner and outer layers and opens to the atmosphere at a location adjacent to, and oriented coaxially with the bag-in-container's mouth. Processes for manufacturing a preform and a bag-in-container as defined above are defined too.

Abstract: A preform for an integrally blow-moulded bag-in-container uses an inner layer and an outer layer, wherein the preform forms a two-layer container upon blow-moulding, and wherein the obtained inner layer of the container releases from the thus obtained outer layer upon introduction of a gas at a point of interface between the two layers. At least one of the inner and outer layers includes at least one additive allowing both inner and outer layers to reach their respective blow-moulding temperatures substantially simultaneously.

Abstract: A roving beverage dispensing device has a beverage container in a cooled compartment and a flexible beverage dispensing line with connecting means coupling its inlet end to the container. A pressure line is releasably connected to the container and to a source of pressurized gas. An elongated tapping column fixed to the top of the compartment comprises elongated inner channel bringing in communication the interior of the compartment with tapping valve element suitable for receiving a portion of the outlet end of the dispensing line and for controlling the flow of liquid therethrough. The largest diameters of the dispensing line and the connecting means are sufficiently small so that the dispensing line can be introduced from the top end of the tapping column through the elongated channel into the compartment and connected to the container.

Abstract: A glass container has an outer glass surface with an inkjet printed image provided on the surface. A cold-end coating (CEC) with a thickness between 0 to 20 nm is present between the outer glass surface and the inkjet printed image. Such glass container is preferably a one-way beverage bottle. A method of inkjet printing an image on a glass container comprises the steps of (a) manufacturing a glass container having a CEC layer; (b) removing at least part of the CEC layer to a level wherein the remaining CEC layer has a thickness of 0 to 20 nm; and (c) inkjet printing an image on the glass container.

Abstract: A method for treating a wort in a kettle provides a kettle with an inlet for feeding a wort into the kettle and with an outlet for flowing the wort out of the kettle. A heating means for bringing the wort contained in the kettle close to or at boiling temperature, as well as for controlling the temperature. A gas sparging system for sparging an inert gas into said wort. Feeding wort from a lautering step into said boiling kettle through the inlet, the wort at a temperature below its boiling temperature. During sparging, heating the wort and maintaining it at a treatment temperature below the boiling temperature of the wort for a duration between 15 and 90 min, and no longer than required to evaporate at most 4 wt. % of water initially in the wort. Transferring the treated wort to a trub separation step through the outlet.

Abstract: Article picking and treating apparatus The present invention provides an apparatus for picking and treating articles simultaneously, said picking and treating each being operated at a first and a second conveying line.

Abstract: A metal bottle-shaped container comprising a neck portion (5) defining an opening to the container, the neck portion extending into a neck finish (6) configured to receive a crown closure for sealing the opening, the neck finish comprising three distinct sections, a proximal section (6.P) extending from the neck portion of the container and connected thereto by a first bend (6.1), a distal section (6.D) comprising the free end of the neck finish and an intermediate section (6.1) extending between the proximal section and the distal section and connected thereto by respectively a second bend (6.2) and a third bend (6.3), characterized in that the proximal section is substantially planar and has a width of at least 0.5 mm measured between the first and second bends.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of inkjet printing an image on a glass container comprising the steps of: a) manufacturing a glass container having a CEC layer; b) removing at least part of the CEC layer to a level wherein the remaining CEC layer has a thickness of less than 20 nm by washing the CEC from the glass container with an aqueous solution containing non-ionic surfactant, rinsing with water and blowing the water from the container by means of a pressurized air stream, c) inkjet printing an image on the glass container.

Abstract: A can for containing a liquid has a top end having a dispense area defined by a first score line and a pull tab coupled to the top end by a rivet. The pull tab has a puncturing end for breaking the first score line and pushing into the interior of the can without detaching the dispense area to open a dispense aperture. A vent area is defined by a second score line and positioned on the opposite side of the rivet. The first and second score lines are separated by at least one torsion stripe of the can top material for acting as a hinge by torsion upon lifting the actuating end of the pull tab. As the dispense aperture is opened by pushing the dispense area into the interior of the can, a vent aperture is opened by pulling the vent area outwards.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an automatic vending machine for dispensing beverage cans. The machine includes a main housing having a can delivery slot. The housing includes a refrigerant compartment for storing the beverage cans. The housing further includes a delivery sub-system for delivering a beverage can from the refrigerant compartment to the delivery slot accessible to a consumer. The delivery sub-system is configured to orient and open the can while delivering to the delivery slot.

Abstract: A glass container has an outer glass surface with an inkjet printed image provided on the surface. An at least partially water soluble cold-end coating (CEC) with a thickness from 0.002 to 10 micrometers is present between the outer glass surface and the inkjet printed image. The glass container is preferably a one-way beverage bottle. A method of inkjet printing an image on a glass container comprises the steps of (a) manufacturing a glass container having an at least partially water soluble CEC layer with a thickness from 0.002 to 10 micrometers, and (b) inkjet printing an image on the glass container.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a portable handle assembly for use with one or more secondary packages. The handle assembly includes a base portion. The base portion includes a first handle pocket at a proximal end extended towards a second handle pocket at a distal end. Each of the handle pocket includes a recess having an inward opening and an outward opening. The handle assembly further includes a handle having a gripping portion extended towards a first enclosed portion at the proximal end and towards a second enclosed portion at the distal end. Each of the enclosed portions is adapted to be received within the recess of at least one of the handle pocket such that it is slidingly clamped there within. When a user grasps the handle by lifting up the gripping portion, at least one of the enclosed portion slides out to a locked state and moves back.

Abstract: A process prepares a beverage or beverage component. The process includes an enzymatic treatment of brewer's spent grain including addition of one or a combination of enzymes with alpha-amylase, gluco-amylase, cellulase, xylanase, protease and/or beta-glucanase activity and fermentation by a strain of lactic acid bacteria. The combination of enzymes and enzymatic treatment conditions is such that the lactic acid bacteria produce 4.5 g/L lactic acid and metabolise sugar such that the resulting fermented broth contains less than 2.5% w/w and preferably less than 0.5% w/w residual sugar or the lactic acid bacteria produce 4.5 g/L lactic acid and metabolise sugar such that the resulting fermented broth contains at least 2.5% w/w residual sugar.

Abstract: A kit for dispensing a beverage through a dispense tube comprising a dispense valve, the kit comprising: •—an assembly of a keg (1) and a closure (2), the keg (1) and closure (2) assembly comprising: •a. an inner vent mechanism incorporated in the closure or at the interface of keg and closure, the inner vent mechanism configured to fluidly connect the inner space and intermediate space when an overpressure of predetermined value Poo occurs in the flexible bag; and •b.

Abstract: A method for preparing an aromatic beverage is as follows. The method includes subjecting a fermented beverage to a first filtration step including nanofiltration or ultrafiltration to obtain a retentate fraction and a permeate fraction including alcohol and volatile flavour components. Then, the method includes subjecting the permeate fraction including alcohol and volatile flavour components to a second filtration step of reverse osmosis to obtain a base liquid of at least 2% ABV. Combining the base liquid with exogenous aromas thereby obtains the aromatic beverage. Desirable fermented beverages are a beer or a cider.

Abstract: The present invention describes methods and devices in which concentrated beverage products, each packaged in a pressurized container, can be combined with liquids and/or other ingredients to produce one or more servings of a beverage. These products provide users with a convenient way to prepare both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages (including carbonated beverages) in various serving sizes and quantities by combining the pressurized beverage concentrate with (possibly carbonated) liquids and other ingredients.