Abstract: A multiport valve may use a magnetic sphere in a fluid flow path to block flow. A magnet external to the fluid flow path may cause the sphere to pull away from the blocked position and may permit flow. The magnet may be moved away from the sphere, causing the sphere to again block the flow. By arranging multiple ports along the path of a magnet, each port may be individually actuated with a single magnet. The magnet's position may be controlled by a motor, allowing for computer controlled selection of a valve to be actuated with a minimum of moving parts and leakage. Each sphere may seal against an o-ring or against a cone, and the magnet may be selected to overcome the pressure forces holding the sphere in the sealed position.

Abstract: An automated or semi-automated beverage brewing machine may be programmed using individualized recipes that may be modified and stored based on user input. A user may receive a query or provide input regarding a beverage they may have consumed, and their input may cause the recipe for their beverage to be updated or changed. The updated recipe may be stored for use the next time the user may request the beverage. In some cases, a cell phone app may be used to select and modify a beverage recipe, as well as to collect the user's input after drinking the beverage. In other cases, an automated or semi-automated brewing machine may have an interface through which a user may select beverages and, in some cases, provide input regarding the beverage. A user's preferred recipe may be transferred to different beverage brewing devices whenever the user may request the beverage.

Abstract: A fermentation monitoring system may measure the weight of a fermenting product to determine the progress of fermentation. The weight of a fermenting batch may decrease as carbon dioxide is given off, and a continuous or periodic weight measurement may be used as a control input to a fermentation system, which may adjust temperature to control fermentation or detect that fermentation is not progressing as expected. Such a system may be to use a weight scale attached to a fermentation vessel and have a control system capable of adjusting the temperature of the fermenting contents. One implementation may have a scale mounted inside a temperature controlled fermentation cabinet.

Abstract: A distillation/extraction insert may attach to a vessel containing liquid to be distilled, and may use heated water circulating through a heating coil, as well as draw a partial vacuum to induce boiling. A condensation coil may collect the vapor and condense the vapor into distillate. A controller may monitor various temperatures and vacuum level to precisely control the heated water being used to boil components in the liquid. The heated water may be created by a beer making machine, which may have a temperature controlled recirculating water system. The insert may be a self-contained unit that attaches to a vessel, where the vessel may also be used for fermenting brewer's mash for distillation. In some cases, an extraction chamber may be used for collecting essential oils from various materials.

Abstract: A user interface for a beer recipe creator may have a series of icons that may represent ingredients. A user may drag and drop or otherwise add the icons to containers on a display screen to add or remove ingredients to the recipe. With each added or removed ingredient, a set of descriptors may be updated. The descriptors may include numerical values of beer parameters as well as textual descriptions and visual descriptions. The system may allow a user to start with a desired beer style, and the parameters may show variances from the selected style. The system may generate an ingredients list, as well as a brewing recipe that may be transferred to a controller for a beer making machine. The system may adjust certain parameters that are controllable by the beer making machine to make flavor and other adjustments selected by a user.

Abstract: A beer making system may modify a beer ingredient/process recipe to adjust sensory characteristics of a desired beer. With a given ingredient list and starting recipe, a performance model of a brewing system may be used to generate an updated recipe when given a set of desired sensory characteristics of a desired beer. A user interface may permit a user to adjust characteristics such as thin/thick mouthfeel, dryness/maltiness, hops bitterness, hops flavor, hops aroma, and other characteristics. An updated recipe may change mashing schedules, boiling schedules, or other programmatically controlled aspects of a brewing system. The performance model may include heuristics as well as performance metrics derived from observing previous brewing sessions on one or multiple devices.

Abstract: A foam reducing device may impart a mechanical shear flow to a foam and may dispense an anti-foam agent. The device may reduce highly aerated foam into a dense foam or a liquid, and may significantly reduce the volume of material. One version of the device may have an inlet tube with a nominal diameter or dimension, where the inlet tube transitions to a pair of surfaces that are close together. The foam passes through the pair of surfaces causing flow with a high a mechanical shear. A mesh material may be present between the surfaces, and the mesh material may be treated with an anti-foam agent, such as silicone, which may further reduce the volume of foam. A catch basin may collect the reduced foam for disposal. The pair of surfaces may be configured with a weight or spring to move with respect to each other during periods of high flow.

Abstract: A pinch valve may use a spring force to close a collapsible tube at a pinch point, and may open with a cam mechanism, which may be controlled using an electric motor. The open and closed positions of the pinch valve may be stable without the use of continuing electrical energy, and electrical energy may be consumed during a change between positions. One arrangement may use multiple tubes in a circular arrangement with a cam that may operate one or more of the valves at a time. The cam mechanism may be driven by an electric motor.

Abstract: A beer making system may use direct steam injection during wort manufacturing. Steam may be added directly to the wort, and may be part of a recirculating mash system. The steam may be the primary mechanism for adding heat to the system, and may eliminate many problems that often occur when using conventional heating systems. A water reservoir may feed a stream generator, which may inject steam into wort during mashing or boiling steps. A controller may monitor temperature and other parameters, and may calculate the dilution of wort based on the water added through the steam injection and allow a brewing system to compensate for said dilution and still produce desired results.

Abstract: A fermentation monitoring system may measure the weight of a fermenting product to determine the progress of fermentation. The weight of a fermenting batch may decrease as carbon dioxide is given off, and a continuous or periodic weight measurement may be used as a control input to a fermentation system, which may adjust temperature to control fermentation or detect that fermentation is not progressing as expected. Such a system may be to use a weight scale attached to a fermentation vessel and have a control system capable of adjusting the temperature of the fermenting contents. One implementation may have a scale mounted inside a temperature controlled fermentation cabinet.

Abstract: A beer making system may use a detachable vessel to contain liquid during the mashing and boiling steps, and may also be used during the fermentation steps of beer making. The beer making system may recirculate liquid through the vessel, then select between several flow paths during the beer making process. A removable reservoir system having a grain reservoir and several hops or adjunct reservoirs may be selected as a flow path, as well as a bypass flow path. A programmable controller may cause liquid to recirculate through a heater and one of the various flow paths, the sequence, timing, and temperature profile of which are defined in a recipe for a particular beer.

Abstract: A cascading hops reservoir may have a series of hops or adjunct reservoirs, each having a drain and an overflow. The series of reservoirs may be used by causing flow through a first reservoir, which may cause liquid to flow through the reservoir and through the drain, as well as past an overflow. When a second set of hops or adjuncts may be added, the flow may be introduced to a second reservoir, which may flow through a drain and also overflow into the first reservoir. A series of multiple reservoirs may thus be used to introduce hops or other adjuncts into a brewing cycle in stages, with each additional stage including previous stages in the recirculating flow during the brewing cycle.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to create and a process for using a compact, automated, all-grain beer brewing appliance. The method may include a microprocessor-based Process Control System, a Heat EXchanger loop, a Fluid Distribution Manifold, a Step Filter Basket, a Hot Fluid Tank, pumps, valves, plumbing and brewing control instruments. The invention may also make use of a Filter-Keg in lieu of a Hot Fluid Tank allowing fermentation, conditioning and dispensing from a single replaceable vessel.

Abstract: A beer making system may use a detachable vessel to contain liquid during the mashing and boiling steps, and may also be used during the fermentation steps of beer making. The beer making system may recirculate liquid through the vessel, then select between several flow paths during the beer making process. A removable reservoir system having a grain reservoir and several hops or adjunct reservoirs may be selected as a flow path, as well as a bypass flow path. A programmable controller may cause liquid to recirculate through a heater and one of the various flow paths, the sequence, timing, and temperature profile of which are defined in a recipe for a particular beer.

Abstract: A beer making device may have removable reservoirs through which brewing ingredients may be added. The removable reservoir may include a grain steeping reservoir and one or more adjunct or hops steeping reservoirs. A removable tub may contain the various reservoirs, and some or all of the various ingredient reservoirs may be removable from the reservoir tub. For example, a set of hops reservoirs may be manufactured as a single joined unit, and may be removable from the reservoir tub. The removable reservoirs may include a check valve which may shut off flow when the reservoir may be removed or dislodged, thereby minimizing leakage, and a beer making device may further sense such a situation and cause operations to cease.