In-Stream Beer Aromatization via Solid Carrier Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current dry hopping methods are inefficient for rapidly aromatizing small quantities of beer, leading to non-reproducible flavor profiles and high storage and logistics costs, as they often require longer processing times and are limited to a single hop variety.
Innovation Solution
A method and device for in-stream dry hopping, where a container filled with solid aroma carriers is integrated into a beer dispenser, allowing beer to flow through and extract lipophilic aroma substances under controlled pressure, enabling quick and reproducible aromatization of individual beer units with minimal bitter substance release.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If traditional dry hopping methods are used to extract aromatic oils from hops, then the beer achieves desired aroma, but the process takes days to weeks and is not suitable for rapid aromatization of small quantities
Solution Approach 1:
The invention divides the traditional large-scale dry hopping process into individual serving-sized portions. Each portion is separately aromatized in a dispensing device, allowing rapid extraction of aromatic oils without requiring days or weeks of traditional processing time.
Solution Approach 2:
Hops are pre-loaded into capsules or cartridges that can be quickly exchanged in the dispensing device. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for lengthy extraction processes when beer needs to be aromatized, as the hops are already positioned for immediate contact with the beer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single hop variety is used in the Randall module, then the device structure is simple, but flavor variety is limited and reproducibility is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The dispensing device is designed with a universal capsule/c cartridge system that can accommodate different types of hops and hop combinations. The same basic device structure can dispense various flavors by simply changing the capsule or cartridge, making the device multi-functional without requiring complex internal mechanisms for each flavor variant.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses disposable or easily replaceable capsules and cartridges containing hops. These single-use containers allow rapid flavor changes without cleaning or complex reconfiguration of the device, maintaining simplicity while enabling extensive flavor variety and reproducibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple taps with different hop varieties are installed to offer different flavors, then flavor variety is achieved, but storage and logistics costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of storing multiple large quantities of different hop varieties in the traditional horizontal dimension (multiple kegs/taps), the invention transitions to a vertical dimension by pre-portioning hops into compact capsules or cartridges. This allows extensive flavor variety to be stored in a small space, as each capsule contains a precise, minimal amount of hops ready for immediate use.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for rapid and reproducible flavoring of small beer quantities, reducing storage and logistics costs while enabling a variety of flavors by quickly exchanging hop containers, maintaining flavor consistency, and minimizing bitter substance release.
Implementation Method 1
beer with an initial pressure of at least 0.1 bar flows into the hop chamber and thus into the container filled with the aroma carrier and is aromatized by extraction of lipophilic aroma substances from the solid aroma carrier
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for the reproducible flavoring of individual servings of beer in a beer dispensing system, in which a) a container filled with a quantity of solid flavoring carrier adapted to the quantity of one or more servings and through which beer can flow is inserted into a hop chamber integrated in the beer dispensing system, b) the inserted container is attached in the hop chamber in such a way that a flow path of the beer is provided, which leads from the beer inlet through the container filled with the flavoring carrier into the beer outlet, c) the beer inlet is opened so that flavoring takes place from the solid flavoring carrier, d) in a dispensing process simultaneous to or following step c), the beer outlet is opened so that the flavored beer is directed from the hop chamber into the beer outlet, while the extracted solid flavoring carrier remains at least predominantly in the container.