Claims
- 1. An apparatus for the direct injection of one or more concentrated preparations of isomerized α-acids into wort or beer, such apparatus containing the following elements:
(a) a heat source for heating each preparation of isomerized α-acids; (b) a dispensing device for metering the flow of each preparation of isomerized α-acids into a pipeline; and (c) an injector fed by said pipeline for injecting the single or combined preparations of the heated, isomerized α-acids into wort or beer.
- 2. An apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein each of said preparations of isomerized α-acids are supplied directly from a disposable or returnable container.
- 3. An apparatus as described in claim 1 comprising two or more supplies of each of said preparations of isomerized α-acids, wherein said preparations of isomerized α-acids are each selectively metered from one of said supplies into said pipeline.
- 4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said supplies are packaged in disposable or returnable containers.
- 5. An apparatus as described in claim 1 and further including a device or means for mixing and diluting the concentrated preparation of isomerized α-acids with hot water before injection into the wort or beer.
- 6. A process for the preparation of substantially homogeneous, fluid and resinous concentrates of isomerized α-acids having a total concentration of such acids of not less than about 50% by weight and in which the acids are substantially in the form of their alkali metal salts and contain water sufficient to prevent solidification, which process includes the steps of:
(a) providing a concentrated preparation of isomerized α-acids in their free acid states; (b) heating said isomerized α-acids preparation to reduce its viscosity; (c) with vigorous mixing, adding a saturated, or near saturated, aqueous solution of an alkali metal hydroxide in an amount sufficient to neutralize at least 70% of the acidity of the isomerized α-acids.
- 7. A process as described in claim 6 and including the step of adding water before, during or following step (c).
- 8. A process as described in claim 6 wherein the alkali metal is potassium.
- 9. A concentrated preparation of isomerized α-acids as prepared by the process of claim 6 in which the amount of alkali metal is sufficient to provide a pH value of between 5 and 12 when the product is dissolved to a concentration of isomerized α-acids of about 2% by weight, in water.
- 10. A concentrated preparation of isomerized α-acids as prepared by the process of claim 6 in which the amount of alkali metal is sufficient to provide a pH value of between 7 and 11 when the preparation is dissolved to a concentration of isomerized α-acids of about 2% by weight, in water.
- 11. A concentrated preparation of isomerized α-acids as prepared by the process of claim 6 in which the isomerized α-acids are tetrahydroiso-α-acids.
- 12. A concentrated preparation of isomerized α-acids prepared by blending two or more preparations as prepared by the process of claim 6.
- 13. A concentrated preparation of isomerized α-acids as prepared by the process of claim 6 which contains a mixture of iso-α-acids and tetrahydroiso-α-acids.
- 14. A concentrated preparation of isomerized α-acids as prepared by the process of claim 12 which contains a mixture of iso-α-acids and tetrahydroiso-α-acids.
- 15. A concentrated preparation of isomerized α-acids as prepared by the process of claim 6 which contains a mixture of ρ-iso-α-acids and tetrahydroiso-α-acids.
- 16. Worts and beers bittered by use of the product of claim 6.
- 17. Worts and beers bittered by use of the apparatus of claim 1.
- 18. Worts and beers bittered by use of the product of claim 12.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/215,408, filed Jun. 30, 2000.
Divisions (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09892094 |
Jun 2001 |
US |
Child |
10247122 |
Sep 2002 |
US |