Abstract: A container filling apparatus includes a system for flushing air from a container during the filling of the container with a liquid such as a carbonated beverage. The filling apparatus includes a chamber having a filling valve at the lower end thereof which chamber is adapted to be filled with the beverage and lowered into the container before release of the beverage through the filling valve. A gas passage is associated with the chamber and is controlled so as to direct a volume of inert gas into the container prior to the opening of the filling valve to purge the air from within the container. During the actual filling of the container with the beverage, the gas passage is blocked; however, just prior to the termination of the filling cycle, the gas passage is opened to create a slight amount of foam at the surface of the beverage in the filled container and to place a layer of gas at the very top of the container to prevent the subsequent contamination of the beverage.