Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a beverage dispensing apparatus comprising at least one beverage dispensing module and a base unit upon or within which the or each module is positioned. Each module comprises a container housing a beverage reservoir and a beverage dispensing arrangement comprising a dispensing valve operable to be selectively opened to dispense beverage from the reservoir. Each module further comprises valve sensing means operable to determine when the dispensing valve is opened and provide a valve status signal indicative of whether the dispensing valve is opened. Each module further comprises communication means in communication with the valve sensing means and arranged to receive the valve status signal. The base unit comprises a base-module receiver operable to communicate with the communication means of one or more modules to receive the valve status signal therefrom. The apparatus is particularly suitable for alcoholic beverages.

Abstract: The module comprises a deformable beverage container and a dispensing arrangement within a housing. The module further comprises a beverage outlet arrangement fluidly coupled with the beverage container. The dispensing arrangement has a pressurizing roller for selectively urging beverage from the beverage container and out of the beverage outlet arrangement. The module further comprises a securing arrangement having a securing device that is actuatable between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration is for maintaining the pressurizing roller in a storage position relative to the beverage container and the second configuration is for releasing the pressurizing roller from the storage position.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a beverage dispensing system including at least one beverage dispensing container, a computing device and a base unit upon or within which, in use, the at least one container is positioned. The at least one container includes a reservoir of beverage, a communication element for storing data indicative of contents of the beverage dispensing container, a manually actuatable dispensing valve selectively controlling flow of beverage from the reservoir to a container outlet, and pressurizing means for pressurizing beverage against the dispensing valve such that when the dispensing valve is opened beverage flows from the reservoir and out the container outlet.