Non-alcoholic beer mix drink

Abstract

The present invention relates to a non-alcoholic beer mix drink, characterized in that it comprises a mixture of a non-alcoholic beer and a malt drink and has an alcohol content of at most 0.5% by volume, and to a method for its production.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a non-alcoholic beer mixed beverage.

[0002] Nowadays, there is an increased demand from consumers for non-alcoholic beverages, including non-alcoholic beers.

[0003] The problem with non-alcoholic beers is that they often do not meet consumers' taste expectations, even when produced using modern methods for dealcoholising beer, as they are often perceived as having an "empty" or "bodyless" taste.

[0004] On the other hand, there are malt beverages, i.e. malt drink (also called "malt drink" or "malt") and malt beer, which are also alcohol-free or have a low alcohol content, but which are generally considered "children's beers" or in any case as having a very sweet taste and a very different taste from "real beer".

[0005] The task was therefore to create a new type of malt-based non-alcoholic beverage that would better meet consumer taste preferences.

[0006] The present invention therefore provides a non-alcoholic beer mixed beverage which is characterized in that it comprises a mixture of a non-alcoholic beer and a malt beverage.

[0007] A "non-alcoholic beer mix" or "non-alcoholic beer" refers to a beer mix or beer that contains up to a maximum of 0.5% alcohol by volume (vol.). The non-alcoholic beer mix and / or non-alcoholic beer can also contain a maximum of 0.4%, 0.25%, or 0.0% alcohol by volume.

[0008] A “malt beverage” is understood to be a (“real”) malt beer or a malt drink.

[0009] Real malt beer is essentially made like regular beer: malt (usually barley malt) is mashed, and a wort is produced by boiling it with hops, which is then fermented into beer with the help of yeast. Unlike "regular" beers, fermentation in malt beers takes place at a temperature that is "too low" for the yeast (for example, when using top-fermenting yeast, at a temperature of only around 10°C). Due to the low temperature, the yeast is unable to convert all of the malt sugar into alcohol, so malt beer has a higher residual sweetness than fully fermented beer. Finished malt beer typically has an alcohol content of no more than 2.5% vol.

[0010] And malt drink is generally understood to mean a beverage made by mashing a malt, usually containing or consisting of barley malt, which is usually also boiled with hops to produce a wort.

[0011] However, the wort is not subjected to any or only marginal fermentation, so that malt drink is alcohol-free, i.e. has an alcohol content of 0.5 vol.% or less, e.g. 0.0 vol.%.

[0012] Malt drink usually contains other additives such as syrups, so it cannot be called “beer” in the sense of the German Purity Law.

[0013] Where mixing ratios are mentioned below, these refer to volume mixing ratios unless otherwise stated.

[0014] The following describes embodiments of the various components of the beer mix according to the invention, as well as the beer mix itself. These embodiments can be combined with one another. Non-alcoholic beer

[0015] Alcohol-free beer within the meaning of the present invention can be produced by one of the known, common production processes, as described, for example, in W. Back “Selected Chapters of Brewery Technology”, Fachverlag Hans Carl, 2005, chapter “Alcohol-free Beer”, pages 255 to 274 or in W. Kunze, “Technologie Brauer & Mälzer”, 11th edition 2016, VLB Berlin, chapter 4.8.3.

[0016] For example, such processes include physical processes for the dealcoholization of alcoholic beer, i.e. the separation of the alcohol produced by membrane or thermal processes, or biological processes, such as processes with premature cessation of fermentation, or processes involving fermentation by means of special yeasts that do not produce alcohol.

[0017] The non-alcoholic beer can be made with bottom-fermenting or top-fermenting yeast.

[0018] In one embodiment, the non-alcoholic beer is a light beer, typically with a color of 12.5 European Brewing Convention (EBC) units or less, e.g. 9 EBC units or less, preferably with a color of 4 to 8 EBC units.

[0019] In a further embodiment, the non-alcoholic beer has a bitterness of 35 International Bitterness Units (IBU) or less, e.g. 30 IBU or less, preferably 25 IBU or less.

[0020] The non-alcoholic beer can be "classic hopped," meaning it was brewed using a process where all hop additions were made during the wort boil, or it can be "cold hopped," meaning it was brewed using a process where at least some of the hops were added after the wort boil, such as in an IPA.

[0021] The non-alcoholic beer in the beer mixed beverage according to the invention can also be a mixture of two or more different non-alcoholic beers in one of the described embodiments.

[0022] Non-alcoholic beer is preferably understood to be beer that is brewed according to the German Purity Law.

[0023] The non-alcoholic beer can be (naturally) cloudy or filtered. malt drink

[0024] For the purposes of the present invention, the term “malt beverage” refers to “real” malt beer and malt drink.

[0025] "True" malt beer is usually produced using a special fermentation process as described above. This fermentation can be carried out using top-fermenting or bottom-fermenting yeast. Malt beer typically has an alcohol content of less than 2.5% by volume, for example, between 1.0 and 2.0% by volume.

[0026] For example, a malt beer known as "Doppelcaramel" is produced primarily in eastern Germany. This beer is bottom-fermented and naturally cloudy. It contains an average alcohol content of 1.2% by volume.

[0027] Furthermore, a malt beer known as "nutrient beer" was brewed using a top-fermented method, primarily in Bavaria. The alcohol content was 1-1.4% vol.

[0028] If malt beer is used to produce the beer mix according to the invention, its proportion may not exceed such a high level that the alcohol content in the finished beer mix is ​​not more than 0.5% by volume.

[0029] Due to the alcohol content of malt beer, it is preferably mixed with non-alcoholic beer containing 0.0 vol.% to produce the beer mixed beverage according to the invention.

[0030] Malt beer for producing the beer mixed beverage according to the invention is preferably hopped, more preferably so that it has a bitterness of at most 30 IBU, more preferably at most 25 IBU, more preferably at most 20, more preferably at most 15 IBU, such as at most 10 IBU.

[0031] Furthermore, the malt beer used to produce the beer mixed beverage according to the invention preferably complies with the German Purity Law.

[0032] Malt drink is considered a non-alcoholic soft drink and usually contains up to a maximum of 0.5% vol. alcohol, or a maximum of 0.4% vol., a maximum of 0.25% vol. or 0.0% vol. alcohol.

[0033] Malt drink is produced as described above by mashing a malt, preferably containing barley malt, which is normally also followed by boiling with hops to produce a wort.

[0034] However, the wort is not subjected to any or only marginal fermentation, so that malt drink is alcohol-free, i.e. has an alcohol content of 0.5 vol.% or less, e.g. 0.0 vol.%.

[0035] Malt extract, which is classified as a "malt drink" for the purposes of the present invention, can also be used to produce the beer mix according to the invention. The stated volumetric mixing ratios then refer to a hypothetical beer produced with the malt extract, e.g., with an original gravity of 10 to 13, e.g., 11 to 12.5° Plato.

[0036] The malt drink may contain other ingredients such as sweeteners such as syrups or sweeteners (sodium cyclamate, sucralose, acesulfame K, sodium saccharin, invert sugar syrup, rice syrup), apple juice concentrate, spelt malt, ammonia caramel, and natural flavors.

[0037] Preferably, these additional components are present in the malt drink only in small quantities, e.g. in quantities of no more than 7.5% by weight or no more than 5% by weight.

[0038] Preferably, sugar-containing substances such as syrups are present only in an amount of not more than 5% by weight, e.g. not more than 4% by weight, or not more than 2.5% by weight.

[0039] Malt beverages are usually made using barley malt or wheat malt, or a mixture of both.

[0040] The malt beverage, i.e. the malt beer or malt drink, is normally lightly hopped.

[0041] The malt beverage used to produce the beer mix beverage according to the invention preferably has, in contrast to commercially available malt beers and malt drinks, a light color which is preferably 35 EBC units or less, more preferably 25 EBC or less, more preferably 15 EBC or less, more preferably 12 EBC or less, more preferably 10 EBC or less, e.g. between 5 and 8 EBC units.

[0042] The malt beverage for producing the beer mixed beverage according to the invention can also be a mixture of two or more different malt beverages (malt beers and / or malt drinks) in one of the described embodiments.

[0043] The malt beverage for producing the beer mix beverage according to the invention is preferably hopped, more preferably so that it has a bitterness of at most 25 IBU, more preferably at most 15 IBU, more preferably at most 10 IBU, such as at most 7.5 IBU.

[0044] The malt beverage can be (naturally) cloudy or filtered. Further optional components of the beer mixed beverage according to the invention

[0045] The beer mix beverage according to the invention may comprise proportions of other components, e.g., beverages or beverage concentrates. These proportions are typically a maximum of 50 vol.%, preferably a maximum of 25 vol.%, more preferably a maximum of 20 vol.%, more preferably a maximum of 15 vol.%, and more preferably a maximum of 10 vol.%, such as a maximum of 5 vol.%.

[0046] In one embodiment, therefore, the beer mixed beverage according to the invention contains 50 vol.% or more, preferably 75 vol.% or more, more preferably 80 vol.% or more, more preferably 85 vol.% or more and more preferably 90 vol.% or more, such as 95 vol.% or more, of non-alcoholic beer and malt beverage.

[0047] The additional components mentioned can be, for example, non-alcoholic beverages (AfG), such as (fruit) lemonades, cola, or juices.

[0048] In one embodiment, the further beverage comprises a lemon, lime, orange, blood orange and / or elderberry lemonade or a lemon, lime, orange, blood orange or elderberry juice or juice concentrate, or a mixture of two or more thereof, preferably in one of the above-mentioned proportions.

[0049] In one embodiment, the beer mixed beverage according to the invention does not contain any portions of other beverages, ie the beer mixed beverage consists of the non-alcoholic beer and the malt beverage. The inventive beer mix drink

[0050] The beer mixed beverage according to the invention preferably comprises more non-alcoholic beer than malt beverage.

[0051] More preferably, the volume mixing ratio between non-alcoholic beer and malt beverage in the beer mixed beverage is at least 55:45, preferably at least 60:40, more preferably at least 65:35, more preferably at least 70:30, and even more preferably at least 75:25.

[0052] Preferably, the volume mixing ratio between non-alcoholic beer and malt beverage in the beer mix beverage is at most 97.5:2.5, preferably at most 95:5, and more preferably at most 90:10.

[0053] For example, the volume mixing ratio between non-alcoholic beer and malt beverage in the beer mix can be 85 : 15

[0054] The beer mix beverage according to the invention preferably has a light color, such as a color of at most 25 EBC units, at most 20 EBC units, at most 15 EBC units, or at most 10 EBC units.

[0055] In this embodiment, the beer mixed beverage according to the invention has a particularly appealing color, which differs significantly from the color of conventional malt beverages, which have a rather dark color.

[0056] For example, the color of the beer mix can be between 4 and 12.5 EBC units, e.g. between 4.5 and 10.5 EBC units, or between 5.0 and 8.5 EBC units, e.g. between 4.5 and 8 EBC units.

[0057] In a preferred embodiment, the beer mixed beverage according to the invention has a moderate to light bitterness, which is typically 30 IBU or less, preferably 28 IBU or less, and more preferably 25 IBU or less.

[0058] For example, the bitterness of the beer mix can be between 4 and 20 IBU, e.g. between 5 and 15 IBU.

[0059] The beer mix can be (naturally) cloudy or filtered ("glossy fine"). If the beer mix is ​​to be filtered, this can be achieved, for example, by using both the malt drink and non-alcoholic beer, and any other components already filtered, or by filtering the beer mix after its production.

[0060] In the embodiment in which the beer mix beverage is (naturally) cloudy, one, several or all components of the mixture used in the production of the beer mix beverage may be (naturally) cloudy.

[0061] The beer mix according to the invention can be easily produced by blending the components malt beverage and non-alcoholic beer, which were produced separately. If necessary, additional components, such as previously produced non-alcoholic beer, can also be blended in. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited non-patent literature

[0000] W. Back “Selected Chapters of Brewery Technology”, Fachverlag Hans Carl, 2005, chapter “Alcohol-Free Beer”, pages 255 to 274 or in W. Kunze, “Technology Brewers & Maltsters”, 11th edition 2016, VLB Berlin, chapter 4.8.3

[0015]

Claims

[1] Non-alcoholic beer mixed drink, characterized by that it comprises a mixture of a non-alcoholic beer and a malt beverage and has an alcohol content of not more than 0.5% by volume. [2] Beer mixed drink according to claim 1, characterized by that it includes more non-alcoholic beer than malt beverage. [3] Beer mixed drink according to claim 2, characterized by that the volume mixing ratio between non-alcoholic beer and malt beverage in the beer mixed beverage is at least 55:45, preferably at least 60:40, more preferably at least 65:35, more preferably at least 70:30, and even more preferably at least 75:

25. [4] Beer mixed drink according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the volume mixing ratio between non-alcoholic beer and malt beverage in the beer mixed beverage is at most 97.5 : 2.5, preferably at most 95 : 5, more preferably at most 90 :

10. [5] Beer mixed drink according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the beer mix has a light color. [6] Beer mixed drink according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it has a colour of not more than 25 EBC units, not more than 20 EBC units, not more than 15 EBC units, or not more than 10 EBC units. [7] Beer mixed drink according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that it has a moderate to light bitterness. [8] Beer mixed drink according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that its bitterness is 30 IBU or less, preferably 28 IBU or less, and more preferably 25 IBU or less. [9] Beer mixed drink according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the non-alcoholic beer has a bitterness of 35 IBU or less, e.g. 30 IBU or less, preferably 25 IBU or less. [10] Beer mixed drink according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the non-alcoholic beer is a light beer with a color of 12.5 European Brewing Convention (EBC) units or less, e.g. 9 EBC units or less, more preferably with a color of 4 to 8 EBC units. [11] Beer mixed drink according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the malt beverage has a color of 25 EBC units or less. [12] Beer mixed drink according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the malt beverage has a bitterness of at most 25 IBU, more preferably at most 15 IBU, more preferably at most 10 IBU, such as at most 7.5 IBU. [13] A process for producing a beer mixed beverage according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by that its components are mixed together.