Abstract: A flavorless, odorless and colorless malt base is produced by preheating a malt base derived from malt grains in aqueous solution in the presence of an activated charcoal absorbent to remove proteins from the mixture before or after fermenting the mixture in the presence of a yeast to convert carbohydrates to ethyl alcohol. The yeast and activated carbon are then removed and the fermented intermediate beer is subjected to treatment in series with an anion exchange resin, a cation exchange resin and an adsorption resin to remove undesired colors, odors and/or flavors. The resulting flavorless malt base can be used to formulate flavored malt beverages.

Abstract: An extract of an oak aged alcoholic product is produced by a process using a food grade solvent or a process which does not use a food grade solvent. The process using a good grade solvent includes adding a food grade solvent, such as ethyl acetate, to the oak aged alcoholic product and mixing the two liquids. The resulting mixture is allowed to separate into two layers. A first layer, including the food grade solvent, flavors, color, alcohol (i.e., ethanol) and water, is separated from the second layer, and the solvent is removed. In the process which does not use a food grade solvent, the oak aged alcoholic product has at least some of its wood notes and color removed to produce an intermediate product. Substantially all water and alcohol is then removed from the intermediate product. In another process for producing the extract without a food grade solvent an intermediate proof-adjusting step is added after the step of removing the wood notes and color and before the step of removing the water and alcohol.

Abstract: An extract of an oak aged alcoholic product is produced by a process using a food grade solvent or a process which does not use a food grade solvent. The process using a good grade solvent includes adding a food grade solvent, such as ethyl acetate, to the oak aged alcoholic product and mixing the two liquids. The resulting mixture is allowed to separate into two layers, a first layer and a second layer. The first layer, including the food grade solvent, flavors, color, alcohol (i.e., ethanol) and water, is separated from the second layer. The solvent is then removed from the first layer to produce the extract. In the process which does not use a good grade solvent, the oak aged alcoholic product having proof of about 80—about 120 has at least some of its wood notes and color removed to produce an intermediate product. Substantially all water and alcohol is then removed from the intermediate product.

Abstract: An extract of an oak aged alcoholic product is produced by adding a food grade solvent, such as ethyl acetate, to the oak aged alcoholic product and mixing the two liquids. The resulting mixture is allowed to separate into two layers, a first layer and a second layer. The first layer, including the food grade solvent, flavors, color, alcohol (i.e., ethanol) and water, is separated from the second layer. The solvent is then removed from the first layer to produce the extract. The extract can be added to a less costly alcoholic beverage, such as grain neutral spirits, or sugar beet spirits, to produce a beverage having the taste of a mature oak aged alcoholic beverage. Also disclosed is an accelerated whisky maturation method, including combining an alcoholic distillate with toasted oak chips, heating and aerating and/or oxygenating the resulting mixture to produce an accelerated oak aged alcoholic product. The toasted oak chips are then removed.

Abstract: An extract of a mature oak aged alcoholic beverage is produced by adding a food grade solvent, such as ethyl acetate, to the alcoholic beverage and mixing the two liquids. The resulting mixture is allowed to separate into two layers, a first layer and a second layer. The first layer, including the food grade solvent, is separated from the second layer. The solvent is then removed from the first layer to produce the extract. The extract can be added to a less costly alcoholic beverage, such as grain neutral spirits, or sugar beet spirits, to produce a beverage having the taste of a mature oak aged alcoholic beverage.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing flavors from the spent mash of a fermentation mixture is provided wherein the spent mash of the fermentation mixture after distillation is separated into two constituent portions, the thin stillage and the wet distillers' grains. The thin stillage portion is then combined with a base to adjust pH thereof to between about 7 and about 11. The pH-adjusted thin stillage portion is then cooked at a temperature between about 130.degree. F. and about 210.degree. F. for a period of about 4 to about 14 hours. The cooked solution is concentrated in an evaporator until about 30% wt. solids level is obtained. The product is then dried to about 5-about 10% wt. moisture content. The product obtained has different flavors, depending on the base added and the pH of the cooking step. If the base is sodium hydroxide, the product has a bland, sweet or yeasty flavor if the pH is 8.5, maple or caramel flavor if the pH is 9.5, and a cracker or nutty flavor if the pH is 10.5.

Abstract: A neck booklet machine is described which places an elastic band having a booklet connected to the band around a neck of a container. The booklets are vertically stacked in a curved magazine and pulled by a vacuum cup from the curved magazine, which matches the natural curvature of a stack of booklets having an elastic band on one side. The bottom of the curved magazine is open to allow the elastic bands to hang free. The neck booklet is picked up by a carrier pad and held against and transported along a slide plate. A low vacuum nozzle pulls the loose elastic band downwardly to enable a loop of the elastic band to be picked up by a needle point and held precisely below the booklet on the slide plate. The elastic band is pulled down and around an opening horn extending from the needle point as the neck booklet moves along the slide plate by the carrier pad. The opening horn is carried on supports on the bottom and side with a top opening to allow the elastic band to pass over the opening horn.

Abstract: A neck booklet machine is described which places an elastic band having a booklet connected to the band around a neck of a container. The booklets are vertically stacked in a curved magazine and pulled by a vacuum cup from the curved magazine, which matches the natural curvature of a stack of booklets having an elastic band on one side. The bottom of the curved magazine is open to allow the elastic bands to hang free. The neck booklet is picked up by a carrier pad and held against and transported along a slide plate. A low vacuum nozzle pulls the loose elastic band downwardly to enable a loop of the elastic band to be picked up by a needle point and held precisely below the booklet on the slide plate. The elastic band is pulled down and around an opening horn extending from the needle point as the neck booklet moves along the slide plate by the carrier pad. The opening horn is carried on supports on the bottom and side with a top opening to allow the elastic band to pass over the opening horn.