Primary-alcoholic Fermentations With Subsequent And/or Prior Operations Patents (Class 99/276)
  • Patent number: 11937732
    Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating brewing of beverages in a container includes an apparatus container and a plunger assembly. The apparatus container includes a base and a side wall extending from the base to define an interior space. A bottom end of the side wall is peripherally attached to the base and a top end of the side wall defines an opening. The apparatus container includes openings disposed on the side wall and disposable in the container for brewing a beverage in the container comprising a brewing fluid. The apparatus container receives a beverage ingredient in the interior space through the opening for the brewing. The plunger assembly includes a plunger handle and a plunger head and moves the plunger head into the interior space based on a force applied to the plunger handle. The brewing of the beverage is further based on the moving of the plunger head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: MIE Concepts INC
    Inventor: Zihni Enes Yigit
  • Patent number: 11767210
    Abstract: A beverage-making apparatus includes a container including a container body that includes heat-insulating material and has an opening that provides access to an interior of the container body. The container further includes: a container cover configured to open and close the opening of the container body, and at least three channels connected to the container and that are communicative with the interior of the container body. The at least three channels include at least one first channel and a second channel that are communicative with a beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior of the container body, the beverage ingredient pack configured to hold first beverage-making ingredients. The container further includes a third channel that is communicative with a space formed in the interior of the container body between a wall of the container body and the beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Heeyeon Kim, Sunyoung Park, Chungook Chong
  • Patent number: 11753610
    Abstract: An automated or semi-automated beer brewing system may adjust a brewing session based on data collected during the brewing session. The adjustments may attempt to achieve a set of desired taste characteristics, even though a brewing session may then deviate from an intended recipe. A performance model of the brewing system may include taste characteristic effects and operational aspects of an automated brewing system, and may be used to calculate changes to various brewing steps. A control system may analyze various measured parameters to determine deviation from an intended recipe, and may use the performance model to calculate updated brewing steps that may attempt to achieve the desired result. When such measured parameters indicate a malfunction, a brewing session may be paused or terminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: PB Funding Group, LLC
    Inventor: William H. Mitchell
  • Patent number: 11725167
    Abstract: Provided is a brewing system (10) comprising a brewhouse assembly (12) having a mash tun (14), a kettle (16), a filter (18) and wort chiller (20) arranged in fluid communication for brewing purposes. The brewhouse assembly (12) is configured to operatively produce wort from mash liquor. Wort produced by the brewhouse assembly (12) is generally stored in a transport container (22). The brewing system 10 further includes a plurality of fermentation assemblies (24) each arranged remotely from the brewhouse assembly (12). Each fermentation assembly (24) includes at least one fermenter (26) which is arranged in fluid communication with a plurality of bright beer tanks (28). Each fermenter (26) is operatively suppliable with wort from the transport container (22) and is configured to produce beer from the wort for subsequent storage in a bright beer tank (28).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Limestone Coast Brewing Company Pty Ltd
    Inventors: Sven George Grone, Geoffrey Ross Munday
  • Patent number: 11719473
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling temperature of a medium by refrigerant vaporization, or working gas condensation, or a combination of both, the system including a container, at least one a working gas reservoir having at least one reservoir section that includes a wall with an exterior surface structured to be thermally coupled with a volume of the medium in the container and to provide a volume of medium thermal coverage in the container, a condensation apparatus to provide regulation of working gas condensation in the reservoir, whereby the working gas reservoir forms a vapor space in each of the at least one reservoir section in response to receiving the working gas and to the condensation apparatus regulation of condensation to enable working gas condensation at or near a selected temperature of the volume of medium in the container that is thermally coupled to the respective reservoir section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas U. Abell
  • Patent number: 11709006
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling temperature of a medium by refrigerant vaporization, the system including a container, at least one a refrigerant reservoir having at least one reservoir section that includes a wall with an exterior surface structured to be thermally coupled with a volume of the medium in the container and to provide a volume of medium thermal coverage in the container, a vapor pressure apparatus to provide regulation of refrigerant vapor pressure in the at least one refrigerant reservoir, whereby the refrigerant reservoir forms a vapor space in each of the at least one reservoir section in response to receiving refrigerant and to the vapor pressure apparatus regulation of vapor pressure above the refrigerant to enable refrigerant vaporization at or near a selected temperature of the volume of medium in the container that is thermally coupled to the respective reservoir section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Inventor: Thomas U. Abell
  • Patent number: 11702619
    Abstract: A beer-making device according to an embodiment of the present invention may comprise: a chamber; a keg containing wort and mounted in the chamber; a keg cap integrated with a yeast capsule, which closes the inside of the keg by being coupled to the keg and is provided with a wort discharge passage for discharging the wort contained in the keg, a gas discharge passage for discharging a gas inside the keg, and a wort hose coupled to a lower portion of the wort discharge passage and extended to the inner bottom surface of the keg, and in which a yeast capsule, containing yeast to be supplied to the wort contained in the keg, is mounted to the wort discharge passage; a coupler which is fixedly installed in the chamber, and is provided with a wort passage connected to the wort discharge passage when the keg cap is coupled, and a gas passage connected to the gas discharge passage when the keg cap is coupled; a passage unit for connecting the wort passage and the gas passage of the coupler; a pump connected to the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: INTHEKEG, INC.
    Inventors: Won Seok Lee, Chang Hun Jeong, Taeil Kang, Byunggyu Kang, Seungchul Lee, Yoonsang Kim
  • Patent number: 11225634
    Abstract: A beverage maker includes a fermentation module including a fermentation tank that defines an inner space, and a lid that is configured to open and close at least a portion of the inner space, and a container configured to be accommodated in the inner space of the fermentation tank. The container includes a container channel configured to guide flow of fluid, and the lid includes a lid channel connected to the container channel, and a tube connected to the lid channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2022
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jinpyo Hong, Daewoong Lee
  • Patent number: 11208621
    Abstract: A beverage making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein, a fermentation tank cover covering the opening, and a heat exchange element arranged in contact with the fermentation tank. The beverage making apparatus also includes a first channel including a first end that is connected to the fermentation tank assembly; and a second end connected to: a second channel connected to a water tank, and a third channel connected to a dispenser of the beverage making apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sunyoung Park, Chungook Chong, Heeyeon Kim
  • Patent number: 11186809
    Abstract: A high-concentration anaerobic fermentation apparatus includes a liquid accumulation tank, a fermentation vessel, a feeding assembly, and a biogas residue collecting bin. The feeding assembly includes a hopper and a return conveyor belt including a first portion extending downward from the hopper till below a liquid level, a second portion extending upward from a bottom end of the first portion till above the liquid level, a third portion extending downward from a top end of the second portion till the liquid level, and a fourth portion extending upward from a bottom end of the third portion till out of the liquid level and above the biogas residue collecting bin. A pressure-feed flange is disposed at an outer side of the fermentation vessel, a feed channel is formed between the pressure-feed flange and the first portion, and a discharge channel is formed between the pressure-feed flange and the fourth portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: Zhejiang University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Shengdao Shan, Tianyong Xiang, Jingming Li, Ping Zheng, Huicai Cheng, Wu Huang, Zhirong Wang, Baolan Hu, Changai Zhang
  • Patent number: 11168290
    Abstract: A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2021
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chungook Chong, Heeyeon Kim, Sunyoung Park
  • Patent number: 10801000
    Abstract: An automated beer-brewing system and method includes plural brewing containers, supply containers, and post-beer brewing containers to bottle the brewed beer and to handle waste fluids and solids. Plural pipes couple the brewing containers to the group of post-beer-brewing containers and beer-brewing containers. Plural brew-cycle control valves are coupled to each of the pipes, to locate all of the control valves in a central region of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: CM BREWING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Curtis C. Kucera, Jakob Kucera
  • Patent number: 10058830
    Abstract: Station (10) for internally and externally storing, collecting and recirculating a fluid substance, said station (10) comprising a tank (11) and a recirculation circuit (14) of the fluid substance contained in said tank (10). The circuit (14) is provided with a first end associated with a lower supply opening (12) and a second end associated with an upper loading opening (13); the circuit (14) being provided with a pump (15) and a first valve (16) associable with an external tank (17) through a loading conduit (18), the valve (16) being configurable for selectively defining the conditions of recirculation of the fluid substance contained in said tank (11) from the lower opening (12) to the upper opening (13) isolating said external tank (17), and loading the fluid substance from said external tank (17) to said tank (11) isolating the lower supply opening (12) of said tank (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Inventors: Enrica Cinzia Maria Somenzi, Emanuela Paci
  • Patent number: 9688949
    Abstract: A beer making system may use a detachable vessel to contain liquid during the mashing and boiling steps, and may also be used during the fermentation steps of beer making. The beer making system may recirculate liquid through the vessel, then select between several flow paths during the beer making process. A removable reservoir system having a grain reservoir and several hops or adjunct reservoirs may be selected as a flow path, as well as a bypass flow path. A programmable controller may cause liquid to recirculate through a heater and one of the various flow paths, the sequence, timing, and temperature profile of which are defined in a recipe for a particular beer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: PicoBrew, Inc.
    Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger
  • Patent number: 9556408
    Abstract: A brewing system that includes bicycle-driven generators to offset, or supply, the electricity used in the brewing process. The brewing system includes at least one bicycle, a bicycle generator associated with each bicycle, and electrical components to store the electricity generators and/or feed the electricity back into a power grid. The electricity is then drawn on during the brewing process. There is also provided a data collector for receiving the electricity generated by each bicycle, a computer for monitoring and recording the electricity generated by each bicycle, and a video monitor that displays real-time statistics of the electricity produced by each bicycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: Windmill Pointe Brewing Company L.L.C.
    Inventors: Shawn M. Grose, Aaron Grose
  • Patent number: 9422514
    Abstract: A point-of-production brewing system which utilizes commercially available ocean and over-the-road shipping containers as a means to create a modular brewing system. Point-of-production brewing system is comprised of a system of modules for transporting and producing an alcoholic beverage and includes a wort production equipment module, a fermentation/maturation equipment module and a packaging module. The modular design allows for the system to be rapidly deployed and utilized to produce an alcoholic beverage on site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Inventor: Mark Plutshack
  • Patent number: 9247767
    Abstract: A method and system for forming a beverage mixture comprising protein is disclosed. The method comprises heating the beverage in a heat exchanger, transferring the beverage to a hold loop located outside of the heat exchanger, and denaturizing the protein within the hold loop for a residence time, after the beverage is heated in the heat exchanger such that the denaturizing occurs outside of the heat exchanger to prevent fouling of the heat exchanger. The system comprises a beverage forming tank, a heat exchanger for heating the beverage, and a first hold loop separate from the heat exchanger, which is configured to hold the beverage for a residence time to denaturize a protein in the beverage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignees: PepsiCo, Inc., Tetra Laval Holdings & Finance, S.A.
    Inventors: Hoang Hathuc, Arnab Sarkar, Rei-Young Amos Wu, Bozena Malmgren
  • Publication number: 20150147433
    Abstract: A disposable winemaking apparatus for fermenting wine containing skins, seeds, and stems that form a cap includes a single-use, dual chamber plastic bag that incorporates a mechanism to agitate and disperse the cap in order to maximize extraction of color and flavor. It also includes an integral press mechanism to squeeze out the fermented juice through a strainer, retaining the pomace in the disposable bag. The device may also be used for racking and transfer of wine during aging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Inventor: Vijay SINGH
  • Publication number: 20150140628
    Abstract: The present invention provides for passive V0C recovery in the fermentation process that does not affect or minimally affects the conditions within the fermentor vessel and does not affect or minimally affects the conditions within the headspace of the fermentor vessel itself while using the production of CO2 emitted during the fermenting process as the source of driving energy to move a portion of the gaseous/vaporous material in the headspace of the fermentor through an appropriately sized conduit to a chilled surface condensing device to condense the V0Cs (principally ethanol) for recovery and to exhaust the CO2 to the atmosphere or to recover the CO2 for other uses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Marci Norkin, Steven D. Colome
  • Publication number: 20150128809
    Abstract: For fermentation of wort during home beer brewing, a food grade plastic or glass cylindrical bottle is used which includes materials to reduce or eliminate UV light transmission through the bottle, and to minimize oxygen ingress into the bottle during fermentation where the bottle includes a flared neck gradually widening in circumference when approaching a bottle opening surrounded by a rim and the opening has dimensions capable of allowing a hand and arm inside the bottle for cleaning
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: John Thomas Hansmann, Bruce J. Newman
  • Publication number: 20150128810
    Abstract: A number of variations may include a growler, which may include a cap that may include an a sealing means such as an o-ring, and a container defining a cavity and having a neck portion constructed and arranged to mechanically engage and sealing close the cavity when the cap is connected to the container. A method may include providing a growler, filling the growler with a fermentable liquid, sealing the growler, and fermenting the liquid within the sealed growler.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: Deep Wood Brew Products, LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Lehman
  • Patent number: 9017523
    Abstract: A two stage scrubber process for ethanol fermentation has a first stage using fusel oil to remove the hazardous air pollutants and recover the majority of the ethanol. A second stage uses water as the scrubbing solvent to recover any residual ethanol that is stripped from the first stage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Pinnacle Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Larry Kenneth Sibik
  • Publication number: 20150093470
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a reduced calorie beverage or food product employing fermentation of a plant-derived juice or liquid and removing the ethanol therefrom. The process involves first converting at least some of the sugar in a plant-derived juice or liquid by fermenting it with yeast to produce a fermentation product containing ethanol and subsequently removing at least some of the ethanol from the fermentation product, while maintaining the fermentation product at a temperature of less than fifty-five degrees Celsius to produce the reduced calorie beverage or food product. The alcohol removal step is performed at temperatures of less than seventy-five degrees in order to reduce the impact upon flavour and nutritional properties, relative to conventional alcohol removal at or near boiling temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Luc Hobson
  • Publication number: 20150093471
    Abstract: A fermenter is provided that heats and ferments a beverage feed material, such as grain and water, and a mashing device having a porous and permeable bottom to be positioned in the fermenter during heating to form an intermediate beverage feed material, such as a wort.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventor: Nathan Robert Janz
  • Patent number: 8991301
    Abstract: A device for steeping barley having a container for containing the barley to be steeped. The container has a floor and the floor has passageways for flowing at least one of steeping water and gases through the passageways. The device further includes a water line system under the floor directly connected to the passageways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Buehler AG
    Inventors: Bernardus Van Dieren, Gerardus Toonen
  • Publication number: 20150075386
    Abstract: A brewing system that includes bicycle-driven generators to offset, or supply, the electricity used in the brewing process. The brewing system includes at least one bicycle, a bicycle generator associated with each bicycle, and electrical components to store the electricity generators and/or feed the electricity back into a power grid. The electricity is then drawn on during the brewing process. There is also provided a data collector for receiving the electricity generated by each bicycle, a computer for monitoring and recording the electricity generated by each bicycle, and a video monitor that displays real-time statistics of the electricity produced by each bicycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: Shawn M. Grose, Aaron Grose
  • Publication number: 20150079255
    Abstract: A device for distributing wine uniformly over a wine cap includes a T-joint member, an impeller and a shaft. The T-joint member has a top opening, a bottom opening, a side opening, a through-opening extending from the top opening to the bottom opening and a side-through-opening extending from the side opening to the through-opening. The impeller includes a one-piece conical shaped body that has a circular base, a cylindrical center, a conical-shaped outer surface, a central-through-opening extending through the cylindrical center, and a plurality of curved blades extending from the top of the cylindrical center along the inclined outer surface. The T-joint member is configured to allow wine to be pumped into the through-opening through the side opening and to exit through the bottom opening and then to flow onto the impeller. The impeller is configured to allow the wine to flow uniformly around and down the conical-shaped outer surface of the impeller and through the impeller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 5, 2014
    Publication date: March 19, 2015
    Inventors: ALEXANDER MITCHELL, EVAN SCHNEIDER
  • Patent number: 8968805
    Abstract: A device for brewing beer, particularly a wort pan (1), with a container body (2) to receive a wort reservoir (3) is described. The device contains an internal boiler (4) arranged in the container body (2), which is provided with a heat exchanger (5) and a guiding screen (8). Furthermore a wort forced flow (10) provided with a pump is also provided, which runs through the boiler (4). In order to increase the efficiency of the device, the wort forced flow (10) has a thin-layer distributor (17) for the wort, which contains a pipe subsection (11b) connected with the pump, which subsection leads above the guiding screen (8) via an outlet opening (13) with reduced outlet cross-section into the container body (2). Furthermore, above the outlet opening (13), a flow-guiding baffle surface (15) is provided, at which the flow arrives from below, to deflect the liquid towards the wort reservoir (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Klaus-Karl Wasmuht, Kurt Stippler
  • Publication number: 20150000531
    Abstract: A beer making device may have removable reservoirs through which brewing ingredients may be added. The removable reservoir may include a grain steeping reservoir and one or more adjunct or hops steeping reservoirs. A removable tub may contain the various reservoirs, and some or all of the various ingredient reservoirs may be removable from the reservoir tub. For example, a set of hops reservoirs may be manufactured as a single joined unit, and may be removable from the reservoir tub. The removable reservoirs may include a check valve which may shut off flow when the reservoir may be removed or dislodged, thereby minimizing leakage, and a beer making device may further sense such a situation and cause operations to cease.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger
  • Publication number: 20150000532
    Abstract: A cascading hops reservoir may have a series of hops or adjunct reservoirs, each having a drain and an overflow. The series of reservoirs may be used by causing flow through a first reservoir, which may cause liquid to flow through the reservoir and through the drain, as well as past an overflow. When a second set of hops or adjuncts may be added, the flow may be introduced to a second reservoir, which may flow through a drain and also overflow into the first reservoir. A series of multiple reservoirs may thus be used to introduce hops or other adjuncts into a brewing cycle in stages, with each additional stage including previous stages in the recirculating flow during the brewing cycle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger
  • Publication number: 20150000530
    Abstract: A beer making system may use a detachable vessel to contain liquid during the mashing and boiling steps, and may also be used during the fermentation steps of beer making. The beer making system may recirculate liquid through the vessel, then select between several flow paths during the beer making process. A removable reservoir system having a grain reservoir and several hops or adjunct reservoirs may be selected as a flow path, as well as a bypass flow path. A programmable controller may cause liquid to recirculate through a heater and one of the various flow paths, the sequence, timing, and temperature profile of which are defined in a recipe for a particular beer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 12, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: William H. Mitchell, James B. Mitchell, Avi R. Geiger
  • Publication number: 20140360376
    Abstract: This invention is directed to methods for recovery of C3-C6 alcohols from dilute aqueous solutions, such as fermentation broths. Such methods provide improved volumetric productivity for the fermentation and allows recovery of the alcohol. Such methods also allow for reduced energy use in the production and drying of spent fermentation broth due to increased effective concentration of the alcohol product by the simultaneous fermentation and recovery process which increases the quantity of alcohol produced and recovered per quantity of fermentation broth dried. Thus, the invention allows for production and recovery of C3-C6 alcohols at low capital and reduced operating costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Publication date: December 11, 2014
    Applicant: GEVO, INC.
    Inventors: William A. Evanko, Aharon M. Eyal, David A. Glassner, Fudu Miao, Kent Evans, Andrew C. Hawkins, Aristos A. Aristidou, Patrick R. Gruber
  • Publication number: 20140332364
    Abstract: Modular ethanol distillation units housed within one or two shipping containers and ethanol distillation units that include an evaporative plate located inside a distillation tank to promote evaporation of the ethanol. Modular distillation units housed within shipping containers are easily transported and set up in remote locations where suitable feed stocks are available or can be cultivated to supply the unit and to distill ethanol for local use or export. Distillation units include feedstock storage tanks, a mixing chamber, fermentation tanks, and a distillation system/tank, which can all be located within one or two shipping containers. Evaporative plates can include holes therethrough, dimples, troughs, or a combination thereof, and holes can be located within dimples.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2014
    Publication date: November 13, 2014
    Applicant: JA Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: James Derrel Lusk, Gene Shane, Eric Hewlett
  • Patent number: 8875616
    Abstract: A facility for introducing hop into a tank has a hop receiving tank that can be hermetically sealed and has an outflow and an inert gas supply at its bottom. The facility furthermore has a mixing apparatus that has two inlet pipes on its inflow side and an outlet pipe on the outflow side. This facility is adapted to a method for introducing hop into a tank, in which hop is put into a hop receiving container, air is expelled from the hop receiving container by inert gas and the hop with beer or “young beer” is supplied to the mixing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: ROLEC Prozess- und Brautechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Roth
  • Publication number: 20140205716
    Abstract: A method of introducing yeast into a fruit juice such as grape must to be fermented is disclosed. The method comprises feeding dry yeast into a flowing stream of the fruit juice and delivering the flowing stream of fruit juice with the yeast in it to a mixer (10). The fruit juice and yeast emerging from the mixer is fed into a fermentation tank. The yeast can include nutrients selected from inactivated yeasts, yeast autolysates, yeast cell hulls, yeast extracts, amino acids, peptides, proteins, sterols, ergosterol, thiamin, biotin, pantothenic acid, niacin, riboflavin, pyridoxine, minerals and inorganic nitrogen in the form of ammonium salts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Inventors: Alan Cameron MacDonald, Patrice Pellerin, Celine Sparrow
  • Publication number: 20140157992
    Abstract: A density measuring device is described having: a housing, internally defining a first chamber, designed to contain a fluid the density of which it is desired to measure, and housing, in a measurement operating condition, a float, designed to be immersed in the fluid; and an electronic circuit that detects a value of the density as a function of a thrust sustained by the float due to the effect of the fluid; the housing further defines a second chamber, designed to contain a filling gas and to house the float in a cleaning operating condition of the float, distinct from the measurement operating condition, for removing gas bubbles and/or solid particles that have adhered to an outer surface of the float during the measurement operating condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2013
    Publication date: June 12, 2014
    Inventor: Carlo FAROTTO
  • Publication number: 20140144328
    Abstract: Brewing assemblies and kits are generally disclosed herein. In particular, a brewing assembly comprising an upper member having a generally conical lower portion and a base member having a funnel shaped portion wherein the lower portion of the upper member is arranged to nest with the funnel shaped portion of the base member is disclosed. The present disclosure also describes brewing kits comprising a fermenter, a lid arranged to close a top opening of the fermenter, a tap connectable to a tap opening of the fermenter, and a base member having a substantially continuous and generally conical portion arranged to mate with a generally conical lower portion of the fermenter. Other embodiments are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 29, 2014
    Inventors: William James Greene, JR., Sam Dramis
  • Publication number: 20140123855
    Abstract: A method of producing bioproducts from a feedstock in a system configured to produce ethanol and distillers grains from a fermentation product is disclosed. A system configured to process feedstock into a fermentation product and bioproducts including ethanol and meal is disclosed. A bioproduct produced from a fermentation product produced from a feedstock in a biorefining system is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2014
    Publication date: May 8, 2014
    Applicant: POET RESEARCH, INC.
    Inventors: John Warren Lawton, JR., Jason Alan Bootsma, Stephen Michael Lewis
  • Publication number: 20140072691
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for adding hops in beer manufacture, having the following process steps; a) separation of a sub-quantity (07a) of water and/or wort (07) and/or beer as an aqueous fluid, b) addition of hop extract (10) in liquid or pasty form to the separated aqueous fluid (07a), c) production of a macroemulsion (13) of the hop extract by emulsifying the hop extract (10) in the aqueous fluid (07a), d) increasing the pressure in the macroemulsion (13) of the hop extract to a feed pressure of in particular higher than 100 bar, e) production of a microemulsion (17) of the hop extract by feeding the pressurized macroemulsion (13) through a gap or a valve (16) or by feeding the pressurized macroemulsion against a baffle plate, f) at least partial return of the microemulsion (17) of the hop extract to the beer manufacturing process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2012
    Publication date: March 13, 2014
    Inventors: Ludwig Scheller, Rudolf Michel, Patrick Bahns
  • Publication number: 20140017354
    Abstract: The present subject matter relates to systems and methods for automated, whole grain brewing. In one configuration, such a system can include a base, a boil kettle positioned on the base, a first heating element in communication with the boil kettle and configured to selectively heat fluid contained in the boil kettle, and a mash tun positioned on the base, the mash tun configured to receive one or more solid or fluid materials therein. A pumping system positioned at least partially within the base can be connected to the boil kettle and the mash tun, the pumping system being operable to selectively pass fluid into, out of, and among the boil kettle and the mash tun. In addition, a control system can be positioned at least partially within the base and configured to selectively control the first heating element and the pumping system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Publication date: January 16, 2014
    Inventors: James Joseph, Brandy Callanan
  • Publication number: 20140010915
    Abstract: Primary fermentation of grape must can be performed in rectangular vessels, such as conventional fruit picking bins, while providing a comparable surface area to volume ratio of toasted or plain oak to barrel fermentation. The oak or any other wood is provided in the form of planks that are supported in a stacked and spaced apart arrangement in a supporting frame that sits within the bin. The frame and oak can be removed together when sufficient oak flavor has been extracted or before pressing the juice from the must to complete secondary fermentation. The wood and or frame can also provide a means to submerse the cap that forms in primary fermentation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 8, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Applicant: ECHO BRAVO LLC
    Inventor: Edwin L. Barr
  • Publication number: 20130340624
    Abstract: A portable assembly for cooling the contents of a fermentation vessel is provided. In one embodiment, the assembly comprises an insulated, cylindrical enclosure having a fixed bottom and a removable lid. A flexible heat exchanger is cylindrically disposed within the enclosure and encircles the fermentation vessel. In one embodiment, the flexible heat exchanger is connected to a vessel containing thermally conductive fluid by flexible tubes that extend outside the enclosure. In one embodiment, a heating element is used to heat the fermentation vessel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2013
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventor: Steven Dee Wayne Webber
  • Publication number: 20130287927
    Abstract: The present invention provides a preparation method and system for clarified plum wine and plum extract, blanching plum at 95° C. for 5 minutes, and then extracting the blanched plum with extracting solution containing 70-75% alcohol in volume ratio of 1:2 (w/v) at 8˜10° C. in vacuum for 30 minutes before centrifugation, cooling clarification of the plum juice at ?8° C. and ?20° C. is carried out immediately for 30 minutes respectively, so as to obtain clarified plum wine. Afterwards, the plum wine is concentrated in vacuum to ? of original volume to obtain clarified plum extract; therefore, high quality plum wine and plum extract can be obtained without destroying the plum tissue, and the production efficiency is quite ideal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Zer-Ran YU, Be-Jen Wang
  • Patent number: 8563056
    Abstract: The invention provides a continuous method for the production of a yeast fermented beverage, comprising consecutive continuous processing steps; wherein the gravity of a mash extract is maintained at more than 22° P; the gravity of the wort produced from the mash extract is maintained at more than 22° P until said wort is diluted with additional water; and the gravity of the diluted wort is within the range of 10-35° P; and wherein less than 30 wt. % of the fermentable sugars in the mash extract and wort are derived from fermentable sugars added after hydrolysis of the starch contained in the mash. The method offers the advantage that it is highly efficient in terms of energy consumption and extraction yields. Furthermore, it achieves extremely high productivity, especially in the operation of the brewhouse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Heineken Supply Chain B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrikus Mulder, Onno Cornelis Snip, Douglas John Banks, Herman Hendrik Jan Bloeman
  • Patent number: 8545908
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of producing yeast fermented beverages, which method comprises the following consecutive continuous processing steps: a. introducing wort into a series of one or more propagation vessels in which it is combined with a recirculated stream of yeast-containing residue and in which the yeast is allowed to propagate under aerobic conditions while being kept suspended; b. transferring the yeast-containing wort from the propagation vessel into a series of one or more fermentation vessels in which the yeast is kept suspended under anaerobic conditions and is allowed to metabolize carbohydrates present in the wort; c. transferring at least a part of the fermented wort from the series of one or more fermentation vessels to one or more separators to remove a yeast-containing residue; d. recirculating part of the yeast-containing residue to the series of one or more propagation vessels; and e.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Heineken Supply Chain B.V.
    Inventors: Hendrikus Mulder, Onno Cornelis Snip, Herman Hendrik Jan Bloemen, Douglas John Banks
  • Patent number: 8528463
    Abstract: A modular process for organosolv fractionation of lignocellulosic feedstocks into component parts and further processing of said component parts into at least fuel-grade ethanol and four classes of lignin derivatives. The modular process includes a first processing module configured for physico-chemically digesting lignocellulosic feedstocks with an organic solvent thereby producing a cellulosic solids fraction and a liquid fraction, a second processing module configured for producing at least a fuel-grade ethanol and a first class of novel lignin derivatives from the cellulosic solids fraction, a third processing module configured for separating a second class and a third class of lignin derivatives from the liquid fraction and further processing the liquid fraction to produce a distillate and a stillage, a fourth processing module configured for separating a fourth class of lignin derivatives from the stillage and further processing the stillage to produce a sugar syrup.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Lignol Innovations Ltd.
    Inventors: Christer Hallberg, Donald O'Connor, Michael Rushton, Edward Kendall Pye, Gordon Gjennestad, Alex Berlin, John Ross MacLachlan
  • Publication number: 20130220133
    Abstract: A point-of-production brewing system which utilizes commercially available ocean and over-the-road shipping containers as a means to create a modular brewing system. Point-of-production brewing system is comprised of a system of modules for transporting and producing an alcoholic beverage and includes a wort production equipment module, a fermentation/maturation equipment module and a packaging module. The modular design allows for the system to be rapidly deployed and utilized to produce an alcoholic beverage on site.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventor: Mark Plutshack
  • Publication number: 20130199376
    Abstract: A fermentation method and system which includes providing juice to be fermented into a container. The juice having a cap that is a collection of solid components of grapes. The cap has a permeable consistency and floats in the juice. The method includes moving a portion of the juice from below the cap upward into contact with the cap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Publication date: August 8, 2013
    Inventor: David D. Rule
  • Publication number: 20130183403
    Abstract: A method of preparing yeast fermented beverage is provided, comprising (a) fermenting wort with yeast to produce a fermented liquid containing yeast, alcohol, polyphenols and protein; (b) optionally removing the yeast; (c) combining the fermented liquid with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) particles to bind at least a fraction of the polyphenols and/or proteins, wherein at least 80 wt. % of the PVPP particles have a diameter of 5-300 ?m; (d) removing a slurry containing the PVPP particles; (e) filtering the slurry over a filter having a pore size of 0.1-80 ?m to produce a PVPP-enriched retentate and a PVPP-depleted filtrate; (f) regenerating the PVPP particles in the PVPP-enriched retentate by desorbing and separating the polyphenols and/or protein from the PVPP-particles; and (f) optionally, further refining and recirculating the regenerated PVPP particles to step (c). The method can be operated with single use PVPP or regenerable PVPP and does not require capacious filter hardware.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Tom Reinoud Noordman, Marcel Van Der Noordt, Anneke Richter
  • Publication number: 20130183402
    Abstract: A method of preparing a yeast fermented beverage is provided, which method comprises (a) fermenting wort with a biologically active yeast to produce a fermented liquid; (b) combining the fermented liquid with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP) particles to bind at least a fraction of the polyphenols and/or proteins contained in the fermented liquid; (c) removing a slurry containing the PVPP particles and yeast from the fermented liquid; (d) separating said slurry into a yeast-enriched fraction and a PVPP-enriched fraction a technique selected from flotation separation, settling separation and separation using a hydrocyclone; (e) regenerating the PVPP particles before, during and/or after the separation by desorbing polyphenols and/or protein from said PVPP-particles; and (f) recirculating the regenerated PVPP particles to step (b). The method can be operated with single use PVPP as well as regenerable PVPP and does not require sophisticated filter hardware for regenerating the PVPP.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventors: Tom Reinoud Noordman, Marcel Van Der Noordt, Anneke Richter