Abstract

Alcoholic spirits may be artificially aged under highly pressurized carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide may form carbonic acid, which may cause various esters to form in the presence of wood as well as to mellow the flavor when no wood is present. Wood may be pretreated with ozone, which may extract lignin which may further convert to vanillin during pressurized CO2 treatment, giving a vanilla note. After processing with pressurized CO2, a post-treatment of ozone may be given to the spirit, which may cause a mild oxidation and further mellowing of the spirit.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12H 1/22 - Ageing or ripening by storing, e.g. lagering of beer
• C12G 3/07 - Flavouring with wood extracts, e.g. generated by contact with woodWood pretreatment therefor
• B01J 3/04 - Pressure vessels, e.g. autoclaves
• B27K 5/00 - Staining or dyeing woodBleaching woodTreating of wood not provided for in groups or

Abstract

Kombucha, kefir, and other fermented beverages may be manufactured using a fermenter that draws off some fermented beverage, then adds starter liquid to a fermenter. Production may be regulated by managing heat, oxygen, or other inputs to achieve a desired quantity of finished beverage output, and production may be increased or decreased to match consumption. A controller may monitor beverage consumption and may adjust processing variables to achieve production goals, while automatically managing the overall process. A system may have a feed tank from which unprocessed liquid may be added to the fermenter at the same or similar quantities as finished beverage may be transferred to a dispensing system. The system may operate with little expertise or knowledge by a human operator.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12G 3/02 - Preparation of other alcoholic beverages by fermentation
• C12C 11/00 - Fermentation processes for beer
• C12G 3/025 - Low-alcohol beverages
• C12C 11/09 - Fermentation with immobilised yeast
• A23F 3/10 - Fermentation with addition of microorganisms or enzymes

Abstract

A user interface for a beer recipe creator may have a series of icons that may represent ingredients. A user may drag and drop or otherwise add the icons to containers on a display screen to add or remove ingredients to the recipe. With each added or removed ingredient, a set of descriptors may be updated. The descriptors may include numerical values of beer parameters as well as textual descriptions and visual descriptions. The system may allow a user to start with a desired beer style, and the parameters may show variances from the selected style. The system may generate an ingredients list, as well as a brewing recipe that may be transferred to a controller for a beer making machine. The system may adjust certain parameters that are controllable by the beer making machine to make flavor and other adjustments selected by a user.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 13/00 - Brewing devices, not covered by a single group of
• C12C 7/06 - Mashing apparatus
• G05B 13/04 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion electric involving the use of models or simulators
• C12C 7/20 - Boiling the beerwort
• C12C 11/00 - Fermentation processes for beer
• G05B 17/00 - Systems involving the use of models or simulators of said systems
• G05B 21/00 - Systems involving sampling of the variable controlled
• G05B 15/02 - Systems controlled by a computer electric

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.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 13/00 - Brewing devices, not covered by a single group of
• C12C 11/00 - Fermentation processes for beer
• G05B 17/00 - Systems involving the use of models or simulators of said systems
• G01B 21/00 - Measuring arrangements or details thereof, where the measuring technique is not covered by the other groups of this subclass, unspecified or not relevant
• G05B 21/00 - Systems involving sampling of the variable controlled
• G05B 17/02 - Systems involving the use of models or simulators of said systems electric
• C12C 7/20 - Boiling the beerwort

Abstract

A beer making system may use direct steam injection during wort manufacturing. Steam may be added directly to the wort, and may be part of a recirculating mash system. The steam may be the primary mechanism for adding heat to the system, and may eliminate many problems that often occur when using conventional heating systems. A water reservoir may feed a stream generator, which may inject steam into wort during mashing or boiling steps. A controller may monitor temperature and other parameters, and may calculate the dilution of wort based on the water added through the steam injection and allow a brewing system to compensate for said dilution and still produce desired results.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 7/20 - Boiling the beerwort
• C12C 7/06 - Mashing apparatus
• F04B 49/06 - Control using electricity
• F04B 23/02 - Pumping installations or systems having reservoirs

Abstract

A distillation/extraction insert may attach to a vessel containing liquid to be distilled, and may use heated water circulating through a heating coil, as well as draw a partial vacuum to induce boiling. A condensation coil may collect the vapor and condense the vapor into distillate. A controller may monitor various temperatures and vacuum level to precisely control the heated water being used to boil components in the liquid. The heated water may be created by a beer making machine, which may have a temperature controlled recirculating water system. The insert may be a self-contained unit that attaches to a vessel, where the vessel may also be used for fermenting brewer's mash for distillation. In some cases, an extraction chamber may be used for collecting essential oils from various materials.

IPC Classes  ?

• B01D 3/10 - Vacuum distillation
• B01D 1/00 - Evaporating
• B01D 1/02 - Evaporators with heating coils
• B01D 5/00 - Condensation of vapoursRecovering volatile solvents by condensation
• B01D 3/00 - Distillation or related exchange processes in which liquids are contacted with gaseous media, e.g. stripping

Abstract

A fermentation monitoring system may measure the weight of a fermenting product to determine the progress of fermentation. The weight of a fermenting batch may decrease as carbon dioxide is given off, and a continuous or periodic weight measurement may be used as a control input to a fermentation system, which may adjust temperature to control fermentation or detect that fermentation is not progressing as expected. Such a system may be to use a weight scale attached to a fermentation vessel and have a control system capable of adjusting the temperature of the fermenting contents. One implementation may have a scale mounted inside a temperature controlled fermentation cabinet.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 11/00 - Fermentation processes for beer
• C12C 13/10 - Home brew equipment

Abstract

A pinch valve may use a spring force to close a collapsible tube at a pinch point, and may open with a cam mechanism, which may be controlled using an electric motor. The open and closed positions of the pinch valve may be stable without the use of continuing electrical energy, and electrical energy may be consumed during a change between positions. One arrangement may use multiple tubes in a circular arrangement with a cam that may operate one or more of the valves at a time. The cam mechanism may be driven by an electric motor.

IPC Classes  ?

• F16K 7/06 - Diaphragm cut-off apparatus, e.g. with a member deformed, but not moved bodily, to close the passage with tubular diaphragm constrictable by external radial force by means of a screw-spindle, cam, or other mechanical means
• F16K 11/02 - Multiple-way valves, e.g. mixing valvesPipe fittings incorporating such valvesArrangement of valves and flow lines specially adapted for mixing fluid with all movable sealing faces moving as one unit
• F16K 31/04 - Operating meansReleasing devices electricOperating meansReleasing devices magnetic using a motor
• F16K 31/06 - Operating meansReleasing devices electricOperating meansReleasing devices magnetic using a magnet

Abstract

A user interface for a beer recipe creator may have a series of icons that may represent ingredients. A user may drag and drop or otherwise add the icons to containers on a display screen to add or remove ingredients to the recipe. With each added or removed ingredient, a set of descriptors may be updated. The descriptors may include numerical values of beer parameters as well as textual descriptions and visual descriptions. The system may allow a user to start with a desired beer style, and the parameters may show variances from the selected style. The system may generate an ingredients list, as well as a brewing recipe that may be transferred to a controller for a beer making machine. The system may adjust certain parameters that are controllable by the beer making machine to make flavor and other adjustments selected by a user.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 11/00 - Fermentation processes for beer
• C12C 13/10 - Home brew equipment
• C12C 13/00 - Brewing devices, not covered by a single group of
• C12C 7/06 - Mashing apparatus
• G05B 13/04 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion electric involving the use of models or simulators
• C12C 7/20 - Boiling the beerwort
• G05B 15/02 - Systems controlled by a computer electric

Abstract

A fermentation monitoring system may measure the weight of a fermenting product to determine the progress of fermentation. The weight of a fermenting batch may decrease as carbon dioxide is given off, and a continuous or periodic weight measurement may be used as a control input to a fermentation system, which may adjust temperature to control fermentation or detect that fermentation is not progressing as expected. Such a system may be to use a weight scale attached to a fermentation vessel and have a control system capable of adjusting the temperature of the fermenting contents. One implementation may have a scale mounted inside a temperature controlled fermentation cabinet.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 11/00 - Fermentation processes for beer
• C12C 13/10 - Home brew equipment

Abstract

A beer making system may use direct steam injection during wort manufacturing. Steam may be added directly to the wort, and may be part of a recirculating mash system. The steam may be the primary mechanism for adding heat to the system, and may eliminate many problems that often occur when using conventional heating systems. A water reservoir may feed a stream generator, which may inject steam into wort during mashing or boiling steps. A controller may monitor temperature and other parameters, and may calculate the dilution of wort based on the water added through the steam injection and allow a brewing system to compensate for said dilution and still produce desired results.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 7/06 - Mashing apparatus
• C12C 7/20 - Boiling the beerwort
• F04B 49/06 - Control using electricity
• F04B 23/02 - Pumping installations or systems having reservoirs

Abstract

A beer making system may modify a beer ingredient/process recipe to adjust sensory characteristics of a desired beer. With a given ingredient list and starting recipe, a performance model of a brewing system may be used to generate an updated recipe when given a set of desired sensory characteristics of a desired beer. A user interface may permit a user to adjust characteristics such as thin/thick mouthfeel, dryness/maltiness, hops bitterness, hops flavor, hops aroma, and other characteristics. An updated recipe may change mashing schedules, boiling schedules, or other programmatically controlled aspects of a brewing system. The performance model may include heuristics as well as performance metrics derived from observing previous brewing sessions on one or multiple devices.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 11/00 - Fermentation processes for beer
• C12C 13/10 - Home brew equipment
• C12C 13/00 - Brewing devices, not covered by a single group of
• C12C 7/06 - Mashing apparatus
• G05B 13/04 - Adaptive control systems, i.e. systems automatically adjusting themselves to have a performance which is optimum according to some preassigned criterion electric involving the use of models or simulators
• C12C 7/20 - Boiling the beerwort
• G05B 15/02 - Systems controlled by a computer electric

Abstract

The present invention provides a method to create and a process for using a compact, automated, all-grain beer brewing appliance. The method may include a microprocessor-based Process Control System, a Heat EXchanger loop, a Fluid Distribution Manifold, a Step Filter Basket, a Hot Fluid Tank, pumps, valves, plumbing and brewing control instruments. The invention may also make use of a Filter-Keg in lieu of a Hot Fluid Tank allowing fermentation, conditioning and dispensing from a single replaceable vessel.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 11/00 - Fermentation processes for beer
• C12C 13/02 - Brew kettles

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.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 11/00 - Fermentation processes for beer

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.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 7/04 - Preparation or treatment of the mash
• C12C 7/20 - Boiling the beerwort
• C12C 13/10 - Home brew equipment
• C12C 7/26 - Cooling beerwortClarifying beerwort during or after the cooling
• C12C 11/00 - Fermentation processes for beer

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.

IPC Classes  ?

• C12C 7/06 - Mashing apparatus
• C12C 11/00 - Fermentation processes for beer
• C12C 7/20 - Boiling the beerwort
• C12C 1/02 - Pretreatment of grains, e.g. washing, steeping