Abstract:
Apparatus for packaging articles, such as container ends (T60), using a product (2) having a plurality of interconnected compartments (12) formed in two continuous superposed sheets (4, 6) by a lengthwise extending seam (14) and a plurality of spaced apart widthwise extending seams (16) so that each compartment (12) has one open end (22), by moving one of the compartment (12) to a predetermined location, gripping the widthwise extending seams (16) of the one compartment (12), moving one of the gripped seams (16) toward the other of the gripped seams (16), applying a force to the open end (22) to move apart the portions (24, 26) of the superposed strips (4, 6) forming the one compartment (12), holding a plurality of articles (160) at a location aligned with the open end (22), pushing the articles (160) into the one compartment (12), at least partially closing the open end (22), moving the partially closed compartment (12) to move another compartment (12) into the predetermined location and repeating the process to form a plurality of interconnected partially closed compartments (12).
Abstract:
Pretreating hops includes soaking hops in whiskey for a period of time until the hops absorb a portion of the whiskey and begin to swell. These pretreated hops are in the form of hop flowers, a hop extract, a concentrated hop resin or liquid, or combinations thereof. In any case, the pretreated hops take on the flavors and aromas of the whiskey. A beer product is described that uses these pretreated hops added during the boil stage of brewing the beer, during fermentation of the beer, and/or after fermentation of the beer. Adding the pretreated hops during the brewing process results in the flavors and aromas from the whiskey imparting to the beer. The process obviates the requirement for finishing the beer in whiskey barrels or adding whiskey to the beer product after manufacturing to obtain a complex flavor profile.
Abstract:
Methods and systems are described that produce a nonalcoholic beer. The method includes heating water within a container, adding selected components to the water including at least one salt or at least one acid, bringing the water to a boil, adding selected hops to create a water brew, cooling the water brew, adding a selected percentage of a high krausening wort to the cooled water brew, allowing the wort to complete a fermentation cycle to produce a base product, diluting the base product by a percentage to thereby produce an ABV to at or below 0.5%, and adding at least one flavoring to the base product to produce the nonalcoholic beer.
Abstract:
Methods and systems are provided for processing constituent materials from brewer's spent grains (BSG) for making packaging and/or products. The spent grains are arranged into a set of balanced constituent materials of approximately 80% to 90% grains, 10% to 20% hops, and less than 1% of spices by weight. This set of constituent materials is then formed into products, such as paper and packaging. The paper can be used to create labels or other carriers for beverages, especially for bottled beverages.
Abstract:
Compositions and methods are disclosed for stabilizing the flavor of a fermented beverage, most particularly beer, by the addition of a composition comprising a tannin and a solid carrier prior to, or during early stages of, fermentation of the beverage. The invention is also directed to the fermented beverage prepared by such a method. The composition may include at least one polyphenol therein and may be in the form of a pellet.
Abstract:
A system for determining the state of the beverage and for communicating beverage information to a user. A mobile device runs an application to determine the start temperature of the beverage that is desired to be cooled. Thermochromatic inks are used on the packaging of a container and the user's camera on the mobile device senses temperature information on image of container, to display colors corresponding to known temperature ranges. The application determines the time it will take for the beverage within the selected type and size of container to achieve the desired end temperature selected by the user. The user places the beverage in a cooling device, a timer is initiated by the user, and the application then issues a message to the user indicating that the beverage has achieved its desired end temperature. The user may link information generated from the application to a social networking site.
Abstract:
A container lid includes a conventional main or pour opening and a vent opening spaced from the main opening. A vent score defines the shape of the vent opening, and a vent panel covers the vent opening. The vent panel has a raised convex shape. The lower surface of the tab handle includes a protruding portion, seen as a concave shaped element when viewed from above the container lid. The protruding portion of the tab handle can be aligned with the vent panel so application of a downward force on the tab handle transfers force to the vent panel and breaks the vent score. The shapes of the vent panel and concave element of the tab handle can be adjusted for selective and controlled force transfer to create the vent opening.
Abstract:
A beverage cooler carton (10) is intended to receive ice (I) or other cooling means. The carton (10) is made of a material which is impervious to liquid, which may be contained within the carton (10) during use. The carton (10) includes folding end panels (8) which extend continuously between adjacent upper and lower panels (12, 20). There are no seams or breaks in the material around a periphery of the carton (10) which might degrade the ability of the carton (10) to hold a liquid. There is also disclosed is a method of assembling the carton (10).
Abstract:
Methods and systems are described that produce an ultra-high gravity alcoholic beverage from a high gravity alcoholic beverage stream using an efficient, low waste, combination reverse osmosis and forward osmosis system and an enhanced draw solution. Utilizing a reverse osmosis system prior to using a forward osmosis system in removing water content from a high gravity alcoholic beverage stream significantly reduces a draw solution load when compared to a process that utilizes a forward osmosis system alone or prior to using any other dewatering system. In addition, the enhanced draw solution, comprising at least one of acetaldehyde, amyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl octanoate, iso-amyl acetate, iso-amyl alcohol, iso-butanol, n-propanol, pentyl acetate, and phenyl ethyl alcohol, offers an efficient and low-cost alternative to ethanol-based draw solutions.
Abstract:
A system and method are provided to produce a beverage concentrate such as a beer extract. A forward osmosis (FO) filtration technique removes pure water from a conventional brewed beer; accordingly, the beer extract can be produced without distillation or other alteration steps that may negatively impact of flavor and aroma components of the beer. A draw solution is used to provide a differential osmotic pressure through a FO filtration device. The diluted draw solution is recycled by reverse osmosis, distillation, and combinations thereof.