High Gravity Beer Clarification to Reduce Haze Formation
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Solution Overview
Problem
High gravity beer production methods using reverse osmosis lead to haze formation over time, which is undesirable in filtered beer styles that prioritize clarity, and existing stabilization techniques are inadequate for addressing this issue.
Innovation Solution
A method involving reverse osmosis followed by cooling the retentate to near-freezing temperatures and subjecting it to clarification processes such as centrifugation, filtration, and fining agent addition to remove particles larger than 0.4 microns, combined with debrewing to achieve a turbidity of less than 2 EBC units.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If reverse osmosis is used to produce high gravity beer, then transport efficiency is improved, but haze formation occurs over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing clarification processes (centrifugation, filtration, fining agent addition) on the high gravity beer before it is transported. This removes haze-causing constituents in advance, preventing haze formation during storage and transport, thus resolving the contradiction between transport efficiency and physical stability.
2Manufacturing precision
If fining agents are used to remove haze, then clarity is improved, but flavor compounds are stripped
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the dosage and type of fining agents, and by adjusting process parameters such as pH and temperature during fining. This optimization allows achieving the desired clarity (turbidity < 2 EBC) while minimizing the loss of flavor compounds, thus resolving the contradiction between clarity and flavor preservation.
3Quantity of substance
If high alcohol concentration is achieved during fermentation, then high gravity beer is produced, but yeast stress increases and flavor is impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by using reverse osmosis to separate water from the fermented beer, thereby concentrating it to high gravity. This alternative concentration method avoids the need for yeast to ferment at extremely high alcohol concentrations, thus preserving flavor quality while achieving the desired high alcohol content in the final product.
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
The method produces a physically stable beer with reduced haze, maintaining clarity and improving transport efficiency by reducing haze-causing constituents, enhancing microbial stability, and preserving flavor.
Implementation Method 1
receiving retentate from which water has been removed by reverse osmosis from a reverse osmosis filter system having an initial alcoholic precursor to the alcoholic beverage in a feed stream
Implementation Method 2
subjecting the cooled retentate to a clarification process configured to remove particles having a size of 0.4 microns and larger to produce a clarified retentate, the clarification process including (a) centrifuging
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of reducing haze by creating a physically stable alcoholic beverage that has been obtained via filtration and separation processes includes receiving retentate from which water has been removed, from a reverse osmosis filter system having an initial alcoholic precursor to the alcoholic beverage in a feed stream, wherein a concentration of alcohol in the retentate has reached between about 10% and 40% by volume, cooling the retentate to a temperature between about 2 degrees below a freezing point of the retentate and a freezing point of the initial alcoholic precursor to the alcoholic beverage in the feed stream, and subjecting the retentate to a clarification process that removes particles having a size of about 0.4 - 0.8 microns and larger to produce a clarified retentate. The clarification process includes centrifuging, filtration using a filter, and/or forming a supernate and a precipitate and then decanting the supernate.