Abstract: A beverage product that includes water, a color derived from natural sources, and a compound in an effective amount to inhibit fading of the color derived from natural sources. The compound is an unsaturated acid, and may be selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, and/or fumaric acid. The incorporation of the compound can be particularly useful for inhibiting color fading of the beverage product under thermal stress. The colors derived from natural sources may be an anthocyanin, cyclohexene dione dimers and/or a color derived from the reaction of an iridoid and amino acids. For example, the colors may include purple sweet potato, black carrot, purple carrot, black currant, blueberry, carthamus yellow, and/or gardenia blue. The compound can be effective to prevent color fading even in the presence of ascorbic acid, which promotes the fading of colors derived from natural sources.

Abstract: A method of making a haze-free nonalcoholic malt beverage is disclosed. The method includes forming a malt solution containing a coagulant and water, adjusting the pH of the malt solution so that the pH of the malt solution is less than about 4.0 and coagulating the protein from the malt extract in the malt solution. The coagulated protein from the malt solution is removed to form a refreshing haze-free malt beverage. A method of making a shelf-stable beverage is also disclosed. The method includes carbonating a solution with more than about 1.5 volumes of carbon dioxide per volume of finished beverage; adding an acidulant to the solution so that the finished beverage has a pH of from about 2.5 to about 4.0; and adding to the solution a chemical preservative. Also, a haze-free and shelf-stable nonalcoholic malt beverage is disclosed.

Abstract: A beverage product that includes water, a color derived from natural sources, and a compound in an effective amount to inhibit fading of the color derived from natural sources. The compound is an unsaturated acid, and may be selected from the group consisting of maleic acid, maleic anhydride, aconitic acid, mesaconic acid, itaconic acid, and/or fumaric acid. The incorporation of the compound can be particularly useful for inhibiting color fading of the beverage product under thermal stress. The colors derived from natural sources may be an anthocyanin, cyclohexene dione dimers and/or a color derived from the reaction of an iridoid and amino acids. For example, the colors may include purple sweet potato, black carrot, purple carrot, black currant, blueberry, carthamus yellow, and/or gardenia blue. The compound can be effective to prevent color fading even in the presence of ascorbic acid, which promotes the fading of colors derived from natural sources.

Abstract: A method of making a haze-free nonalcoholic malt beverage is disclosed. The method includes forming a malt solution containing a coagulant and water, adjusting the pH of the malt solution so that the pH of the malt solution is less than about 4.0 and coagulating the protein from the malt extract in the malt solution. The coagulated protein from the malt solution is removed to form a refreshing haze-free malt beverage. A method of making a shelf-stable beverage is also disclosed. The method includes carbonating a solution with more than about 1.5 volumes of carbon dioxide per volume of finished beverage; adding an acidulant to the solution so that the finished beverage has a pH of from about 2.5 to about 4.0; and adding to the solution a chemical preservative. Also, a haze-free and shelf-stable nonalcoholic malt beverage is disclosed.