Abstract: A dispensing apparatus is described having a beverage source, containing a carbonated beverage liquid, and a dispensing tap. The dispensing apparatus includes a dispense tube disposing the beverage source in fluid communication with the dispensing tap and an infusion chamber arranged in connection with the dispense tube and configured to infuse an infusing ingredient with the carbonated beverage liquid. The dispensing apparatus includes a sensing unit configured to determine a level of carbon-dioxide in the liquid downstream of the infusion chamber. The dispensing apparatus includes a carbon-dioxide source coupled to the dispense tube via a valve. The dispensing apparatus further includes a control unit configured to operate the valve to allow flow of carbon-dioxide gas based on the determined level of carbon-dioxide in the carbonated beverage liquid, so as to bring the level of carbon-dioxide to a pre-defined level.

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.

Abstract: A beverage tap installation includes a tap housing defining an inner cavity and a tap head defining a liquid channel having an inlet, outlet, and a valve receiving slot. The tap head includes a valve actuator and a valve actuator operating mechanism. A removable flexible dispense tube has a beverage inlet and outlet, the flexible dispense tube includes a liquid valve lodged in the valve receiving slot and cooperates with the valve actuator. A locking mechanism allows removably mounting the tap head on the tap housing. The flexible dispense tube includes an abutment surface in proximity of the valve and the tap installation having an engaging member on the tap head or the tap installation and abutting the dispense tube when the valve is lodged in the valve receiving slot. The tap head is mounted on the tap housing and the engaging member is provided on the tap housing.

Abstract: The present invention describes appliances for preparing and dispensing beverages, such as beers, featuring a transparent window that allows a user of the appliance to view the beverage in a chamber of the appliance as that beverage is being prepared. The chamber in which the beverage is prepared can be either an integral part of the appliance or a disposable chamber that can be removed and replaced with a new disposable chamber after one or more servings of a. beverage has been prepared in the disposable chamber. The appliances can have methods for cleaning the chamber, or the chamber can be self-cleaning. If the chamber for preparing the beverage is a disposable container, it may come with a concentrated beverage already prepackaged in the container, and the casing of the container can prevent oxygen and light from penetrating the container and affecting the concentrated beverage contained within.

Abstract: A beverage container cooling unit has: (a) a housing having a slot for receiving a container therein, (b) a cooling element having a cold supply, (c) a heat conductive panel enabling heat transfer between a container provided in the slot and the cold supply; wherein the heat conductive panel has two material layers fixed against one another: (I) a first material layer defining a cooling surface facing the container receiving slot and an opposed surface, said first layer made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient of X1; (ii) a second material layer having a contact surface facing positioned against the opposed surface of the first material layer and a second opposed surface, the second material layer having a thermal expansion coefficient of X2, different from X1, the difference in thermal expansion causing the conductive panel to bulge at a change in temperature.

Abstract: A beverage tap installation includes a tap housing defining an inner cavity and a tap head defining a liquid channel having an inlet, outlet, and a valve receiving slot. The tap head includes a valve actuator and a valve actuator operating mechanism. A removable flexible dispense tube has a beverage inlet and outlet, the flexible dispense tube includes a liquid valve lodged in the valve receiving slot and cooperates with the valve actuator. A locking mechanism allows removably mounting the tap head on the tap housing. The flexible dispense tube includes an abutment surface in proximity of the valve and the tap installation having an engaging member on the tap head or the tap installation and abutting the dispense tube when the valve is lodged in the valve receiving slot. The tap head is mounted on the tap housing and the engaging member is provided on the tap housing.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus including (a) one thermoelectric cooler of the Pelletier type, having a hot surface and a cold surface is disclosed. The apparatus further includes (b) a heat sink thermally connected to the hot surface, and (c) a first and optionally a second heat conductive panels with a contact portion in thermal contact with a first and optionally a second corresponding portions of the cold surface over a first and optionally second contact areas. The contact portions of the first and optionally second heat conductive panels are pressed against the corresponding first and second portions of the cold surface with a first and respectively second contact pressures. A (d) control means controls the average temperature of the heat conductive panel. The control means includes area control means for varying the first and optionally second contact areas, and/or pressure means for controlling the first and optionally second contact pressures.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing apparatus having a container containing a beverage and a dispensing tube having three sections. The first section is a cartridge formed by a frame defining a perimeter of an inner area and supporting in the inner area a channel forming a serpentine. An upstream dispensing tube section fluidly connects the interior of the container to an inlet of the channel. A downstream dispensing tube section fluidly connects an outlet of the channel to a tapping valve. The appliance is provided with a cooling unit having a first and second cooling plates separated from one another by a distance defining an insertion slot. The distance separating the cooling plates can be varied, from a loading distance, d0, allowing the introduction of the cartridge into the slot, to a cooling distance, dc<d0, where the cooling plates contact the channel and apply pressure thereon deforming the channel.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a kit of parts for the in situ production of a fermented target beverage by addition of a liquid diluent (3), said kit of parts comprising: (c) A first chamber (1) containing concentrated beverage extracts, and (d) A second chamber (2), fluidly separated from the first chamber, containing ethanol of at least 80 vol. % purity, Characterized in that, the ethanol of the second chamber contains CO2 or N2 at saturation concentration at a temperature of 25° C. and at a pressure of at least 2 bar (=1 bar over atmospheric pressure). The present invention also concerns a dispensing apparatus and a method for the in situ preparation and dispensing of a fermented target beverage, using the foregoing kit of parts.

Abstract: A beverage container cooling unit has: (a) a housing having a slot for receiving a container therein, (b) a cooling element having a cold supply, (c) a heat conductive panel enabling heat transfer between a container provided in the slot and the cold supply; wherein the heat conductive panel has two material layers fixed against one another: (I) a first material layer defining a cooling surface facing the container receiving slot and an opposed surface, said first layer made of a material having a thermal expansion coefficient of X1; (ii) a second material layer having a contact surface facing positioned against the opposed surface of the first material layer and a second opposed surface, the second material layer having a thermal expansion coefficient of X2, different from X1, the difference in thermal expansion causing the conductive panel to bulge at a change in temperature.

Abstract: An appliance for the production and dispensing of malt based fermented beverage has a malt based fermented beverage concentrated inlet, liquid lines, a water inlet, a pressurized gas inlet, a carbonation unit having a water inlet and a pressurized gas inlet, a mixing unit in which the carbonated water and malt based fermented beverage concentrate are mixed. The appliance further has a pressure control unit allowing control of the pressure on the water at the water inlet of the carbonation unit.

Abstract: An appliance for the production and dispensing of malt based fermented beverage has a malt based fermented beverage concentrated inlet, a water inlet, a pressurized gas inlet, a carbonation unit having a water inlet and a pressurized gas inlet, a mixing unit in which the carbonated water and malt based fermented beverage concentrate are mixed, wherein the appliance has a cooling unit in which the water is cooled before carbonation.

Abstract: A device for dispensing liquid from a container includes a dispensing tube to dispense the liquid through a dispensing valve. A gas tube feeds pressurized gas into the container. The upstream end of the gas tube connects to a source of pressurized gas. A three way valve is coupled to the downstream end of the gas tube. The three way valve includes a keg duct in communication with the interior of the container, a gas duct connected to the downstream end of the gas tube, and a vent duct. The three way valve can switch from a dispensing position in which the keg duct is in communication with the gas duct, and out of communication with the vent duct, to a venting position in which the keg duct is in fluid communication with the vent duct and out of fluid communication with the gas duct.

Abstract: A beverage dispensing device dispenses different types of beverages or beverage components. At least one type of beverage is a malt based beverage or beverage component. The dispensing device has multiple supply lines each extending from a corresponding supply source and having a controllable supply line valve as well as a controlling device for sequentially setting the controllable supply line valves. A beverage dispensing device contains multiple beverages or beverage components to be dispensed into a receptacle after every sequence step has been executed and during a single tapping cycle.

Abstract: A polymeric keg connector for fluidly connecting the interior of a container has an opening with a fluid tube. The keg connector has a connector, a coupler, a support movable in a longitudinal direction Z with respect to the base body, a tube, and a penetration actuator. The distance the support is moved is sufficient for the tube penetration end to penetrate into the opening provided on a closure of the container. The sliding surfaces of the connector and the support are manufactured with a particulate-reinforced polymeric material and the polymeric material of the connector is reinforced by a particulate material that can be different from the particulate material reinforcing the support element.

Abstract: An appliance for the production and dispensing of malt based fermented beverage has a malt based fermented beverage concentrated inlet, a water inlet, a pressurized gas inlet, a carbonation unit having a water inlet and a pressurized gas inlet, a mixing unit in which the carbonated water and malt based fermented beverage concentrate are mixed. The carbonation unit is capable of generating gaseous bubbles having an average major dimension at the carbonated water outlet of the carbonation unit of less than 0.75 mm, preferably less than 0.50 mm, highly preferably between 0.25 and 0.75 mm.

Abstract: An appliance for the production and dispensing of malt based fermented beverage has a malt based fermented beverage concentrated inlet, liquid lines, a water inlet, a pressurized gas inlet, a carbonation unit having a water inlet and a pressurized gas inlet, a mixing unit in which the carbonated water and malt based fermented beverage concentrate are mixed. The appliance further has a flow rate controller at the liquid line which connects to the inlet of the carbonation unit and/or at the liquid line which fluidly connects the carbonation unit to the mixing unit.

Abstract: An appliance for the production and dispensing of malt based fermented beverage has a malt based fermented beverage concentrated inlet, liquid lines, a water inlet, a pressurized gas inlet, a carbonation unit having a water inlet and a pressurized gas inlet, a mixing unit in which the carbonated water and malt based fermented beverage concentrate are mixed. The appliance further has a gas pressure regulating means for varying the gas at the inlet of the carbonation unit.

Abstract: An appliance for the production and dispensing of malt based fermented beverage has a malt based fermented beverage concentrated inlet, a water inlet, a pressurized gas inlet, an in-line carbonation unit having a water inlet and a pressurized gas inlet, and a mixing unit in which the carbonated water and malt based fermented beverage concentrate are mixed.

Abstract: A method of dispensing a malt-based beverage dispenses into a receptacle ready for consumption and for use in an on-trade or off-trade environment. The method has the following steps. The step of composing a first component of the dispensed beverage is performed during dispensing by mixing a liquid with carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen. The step of adding the first component to at least a second beverage component so as to form the dispensed beverage is performed. The carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen is scented.