GB1032760A - Continuous brewing process - Google Patents

Abstract

In the continuous production of hopped brewer's wort by heating wort in admixture with hops, the heating is accomplished by recycling part of the hopped wort through a swept surface heat exchange pump to raise the temperature of this recycle wort to above its atmospheric boiling point e.g. to 220-250 DEG F. and returning the hot recycle to the body of wort beneath the surface thereof, so that the body of wort is maintained at a rolling boil. In the several embodiments (1) a stream 10 (Fig. 3 not shown) of hopped sweet wort is supplied directly to the insulated boiling kettle 11, (2) the sweet wort and hops are introduced into the recycle wort (Figs. 1 and 2, not shown) (3) the sweet wort is introduced into the recycle wort but the hops are added directly to the kettle and (4) the hopped wort product is drawn off from the recycle line either in advance of, or following, the heat exchange pump instead of directly from the kettle. Regarding embodiment (2) above, the hops are preferably added to the recycle wort prior to its passage through the swept surface heat exchange pump. The kettle may be maintained at a pressure between atmospheric and the pressure of the hot recycle wort e.g. at 19 lbs. per sq. in gauge pressure. In general, four volumes of hopped wort are recycled per volume of sweet wort added. Examples are disclosed. It is stated that since the kettle does not contain any heat transfer surfaces it is unnecessary to utilizesuch expensive materials as copper in its construction.