GB2340415A

GB2340415A - An alcoholic beverage dispensing apparatus with addition of flavouring or other property modifier using a gas

Info

Publication number: GB2340415A
Application number: GB9908260A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Geoffrey Price; Iain Menneer
Original assignee: Bass PLC
Current assignee: Bass PLC
Priority date: 1998-04-16
Filing date: 1999-04-13
Publication date: 2000-02-23
Also published as: GB9908260D0; GB9808022D0

Abstract

Beverage dispensing apparatus having supply line(s) 6,8 from a beverage container 2 to dispense tap(s) 16,18, is provided with a membrane device 12,14 for injecting gas into the beverage together with a flavouring or other property modifier using a dosing device 15. The flavouring may be fruit (eg strawberry, pineapple, pear, apple, mango, cranberry, lime, blackcurrant, orange, raspberry), a confectionary (eg chocolate, coffee, tea, tannin or bubble gum) or a spice (eg cinnamon, cloves or herb) or methyl butene diol (MBT). The property modifier may affect smell, colour, thickness, taste or viscosity. The beverage being flavoured may be a flavoured alcoholic beverage (FAB). The dosing device may increase the N<SB>2</SB> and CO<SB>2</SB> content.

Description

2340415 IMPROVEMENTS RELATING TO THE DELIVERY OF BEVERAGES This invention

relates to a new apparatus and method related to the 5 delivery of beverages.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a beverage container, at least one supply line adapted to deliver beverage from the beverage container, gas injection means arranged to inject gas into a beverage in said supply line and being arranged to supply a flavouring medium to the supply line.

Using a gas as a carrier vehicle for the introduction of flavouring mediums, carried with the gas has benefits. The flavouring mediums could provide any of, or a combination of the following flavours:

a fruit flavour; (e.g. strawberry, or pineapple, or pear, or apple, or mango, or cranberry, or lime, or blackcurrent, or orange, or raspberry, or the like), or a confectionery flavour (e.g. chocolate, coffee, tea, tannin, bubble gum, etc.), or a spice flavour (e.g. cinnamon or cloves etc.), or a herb flavour, or methyl butene thiol(MBT).

It has been found that introducing MBT can give beer or lager a "light strucC effect. It is known that should beer or lager be left in the light it deteriorates, producing a distinctive flavour. Previously this distinctive flavour has been thought to be bad. However, it has been realised that some people may prefer beers or lagers with this distinctive flavour - a "light struck" flavour. Therefore, adding MBT may produce a beer or lager which is more palatable to certain people.

2 The flavour is preferably imported by having a flavour moiety, other than the gas molecules, carried by the gas and introduced into the beverage. The flavour moiety could be itself gaseous at the conditions of use, or a liquid at the conditions of use (possibly suspended, dispersed, or sprayed into the gas), or it could even be solid (e.g. fine particles or a powder suspended, dispersed or sprayed into the gas). Means for introducing the flavour moiety into the gas may be provided, or the gas may be pre-provided with flavour moiety. Of course, the gas may comprise the flavour moiety, but in which case we would exclude known gases in beers and other drinks (e.g. not CO or N, as the flavour moiety).

Such a structure is advantageous in that it would allow an un-flavoured or partially flavoured beverage to be provided in the beverage containment means and then flavouring medium added as required to adjust the flavour, possibly adding the flavouring medium to relatively small volumes of the beverage at a time. This may allow several differently flavoured beverages to be dispensed from the beverage container.

Such a structure is further advantageous in that it would allow a single un-flavoured beverage to be manufactured and supplied to dispensing outlets. The dispensing outlets could then flavour the beverage in a number of different ways to provide a variety of different consumable beverages. It is clearly beneficial to the manufacturer if they can produce only a single beverage: less manufacturing plant is required and therefore costs may be reduced.

Preferably the gas injection means injects gas into the fluid supply line. This has the advantage that the beverage maintained in the beverage container can be kept un-flavoured and only a small portion of the 3 beverage can be flavoured at any one time as it is dispensed from the beverage container.

There may be provided more than one supply line. This has the advantage that the more than one flavour of beverage may be provided from the same beverage container. That is a single un-flavoured (or partially flavoured) beverage may be provided in the beverage container and the flavour modified in different ways to produce more than one distinct beverage. The provision of more than one beverage from a single container is beneficial for a number of reasons: it takes up less space than providing two or more containers; the beverage is consumed quicker and so there is less chance of the beverage going off; manufacturing costs are reduced (it will be cheaper to produce a single beverage than to produce two beverages). Distribution savings may also be achievable.

There may be provided three, or four, or five, or more, supply lines.

Alternatively, or additionally, a master supply line may be provided to remove fluid from the beverage container which subsequently divides into a number secondary supply lines. Such a structure may be advantageous in that only a single line enters the container.

The gas injection means may be provided in association with either the main or secondary supply lines. However, it may be desirable to provide the gas injection means with the secondary supply line so that a number of differently flavoured beverages can be provided from the same beverage container.

4 Preferably the fluid container is a keg but it may be a cask or other such container.

The beverage may be of the type known as a flavoured alcoholic beverage. Or indeed the beverage may be any other form of beverage such as soft drinks, beers, lagers, porters, stout, waters, wines, spirits, fortified wines, etc.

For the avoidance of doubt a flavoured alcoholic beverage is a beverage which contains alcohol derived from a fermentation or distillation and flavoured with fruit, herbs, or spices. The drink will usually contain added sugar (or sweetener). Of course, the alcohol may be pure alcohol added to a drink. FAB's are usually (but not necessarily) coloured (for example a bright colour, such as orange, yellow, red, etc.).

Colouring may be added to achieve that. FAB's are not usually brown/golden lager colour, but they can be.

The gas injection means may comprise a membrane device adapted to separate the gas to be injected from the beverage. This has the advantage that the fluid is always completely contained. The membrane may be selectively permeable so that gas can permeate the membrane but liquids cannot do so.

Alternatively, or additionally, the gas injection means may inject gas directly into the beverage. There may be a gas introduction nozzle, andlor an onloff valve for gas introduction into the beverage, possibly into a beverage supply pipeline. A gas supply pipeline will preferably be provided.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method of dispensing a beverage comprising storing an amount of beverage within a container, providing a supply line to remove beverage from the container and further providing a gas injection (or gas introduction) means to injectlintroduce flavouring medium into the beverage.

Such a method is advantageous in that it can be used to provide a number of differently flavoured beverages from the same beverage 10 container.

Preferably the gas injection means injects flavouring medium into the beverage within the supply line. This is advantageous in that the beverage within the container is unaffected as flavouring medium is 15 injected.

The method may comprise altering the gas content of the beverage as flavouring medium is injected into the beverage. This may provided further flexibility in the number of beverages which can be dispensed 20 from a single container of beverage.

For instance CO, (and flavour moiety) may be injected into the beverage and thus some of the beverages produced from the beverage within the container may be carbonated whilst some others are not.

Alternatively, or additionally nitrogen andlor CO, may be injected so that some of the beverages may comprises substantially of a full protohead. (That is a drink which comprises substantially a complete head which settles out over a period of time: perhaps 1, or 2, or 3, or 4, or 5 minutes).

6 The method may comprise using a membrane in contact with the beverage within at least one supply line and to pass gas through the membrane into or from the beverage contained within the supply line.

This is advantageous in that the membrane allows the gas to be readily passed into or out of the beverage.

A suitable membrane device is available from Headmaster Ltd., Unit 6, Moorplace Farm Estate, Plough Lane, Bramshill, RG27 ORF, UK.

Alternatively, or additionally, the gas may be injected directly into the beverage contained within the supply line or at the dispense tap, before or after the onloff valve of the dispense tap.

The beverage is preferably maintained to a beverage side of the membrane and a gas or gas mixture is maintained on the other, gas, side of the membrane. An advantage of such a structure is that the gas can readily diffuse 1 pass by osmosis into the beverage. Of course, if a membrane gas-introducer is used the membrane should also let the flavour moiety pass.

Nitrogen or carbon dioxide, or a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide is preferably held on the gas side of the membrane. These gases are advantageous in that they can be used to alter the properties of the beverage. Of course, other gases (possibly other inert gases) may be held on the gas side of the membrane. For example nitrous oxide or helium.

The flavour may be mixed in with the gases held on the gas side of the membrane.

7 The nitrogen content of the beverage in the supply line may be increased by an amount that is substantially in the range 10mg/1 to 70 mgIl, or possibly substantially in the range 15mg11 to 55mg11, or may be increased by substantially 40rng/1.

The carbon dioxide content of the beverage in the supply line may be increased by an amount that is in a range substantially between 0.25 vol. lvol. to 1.75 vol.lvol., possibly by a range substantially between 0.75 vol.lvol. to 0.25 vol.lvol. and may be substantially by 1 vol.lvol.

There may be more than one gas introduction device (e.g. membrane device), possibly in series, within the or each supply line to alter the gas content/properties of the beverage. This is advantageous if a large enough change in the gas content of the beverage within the supply line cannot be achieved by a single membrane devicelgas introduction device.

Alternatively, or additionally, the method may use a single membranelgas introduction device provided in one or each supply line.

This is advantageous if a single device can provide a large enough change in the gas content of the beverage within the supplementary supply line; it is cheaper to provide and maintain a single device.

Having realised that we can alter the taste of a beverage by carrying things into the beverage between a reservoir of beverage and a dispense tap, we also now realise that we can alter other properties of the beverage in a similar manner. For example, instead of/in addition to flavouring mediums in the gas we can provide substances to alter the smell of the beverage; andlor the colour of the beverage; andlor taste of 30 the beverage - a modifier to modify a property of the beverage.

8 According to a further aspect of the invention we provide a method of dispensing a beverage comprising storing a volume of beverage within a container, providing a supply line to remove beverage from the container, and modifying the properties of the beverage at some point in the supply line or dispense tap before the beverage is received in a drinking vessel, the modification of the properties of the beverage being achieved by introducing a gas into the beverage and carrying with the gas another modifier substance which achieves the desired modification of the 10 beverage.

The smell of the beverage may be modified; and/or the colour may be modified; andlor the thickness/viscosity; andlor the taste.

The modification could be to reinforce or enhance an existing property e.g. more citric acid to a fruit drink; more red colour to a red/pink drink; more aromatic fruit substances to a fruit-containing drink to give off a fruitier smell. The modification may be to complement or contrast with the beverage's basic, unmodified, properties - e.g. a sour taste to add to a sweet drink; or an unexpected smell to add to a drink (e.g. mint, such as peppermint smell andlor taste to a beer or fruit drink); or an unexpected colour to a drink - e.g. a red, orange, yellow, blue, or green colour to a lager.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the present invention; 9 Figure 2 shows a cross section through a portion of a supply line.

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram showing a second embodiment of the present invention; Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram showing a further embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 5 shows a schematic diagram showing a further embodiment of the present invention wherein only a single beverage is dispensed from a beverage container; In Figure 1 there is shown a beverage container, or keg 2, which contains a beverage in this case a Flavoured Alcoholic Beverage (or FAB). As is usual with kegs 2 there is a pipe, or primary supply line 4 which removes beverage from the container 2. The primary supply line 4 is split into two supply lines 6, 8 by a dividing means 10. Provided within each supply line 6, 8 there is provided a membrane device 12, 14 which is adapted to alter the gas content of the beverage contained within the supply lines 6, 8. A dosing means 15 is provided in association with the membrane device 14.

The keg, or container 2 is kept in a cellar and supplies two dispensing taps 16, 18 provided on a bar 20. Each dispensing tap is provided with a label mounting device or face 22, 24 upon which there is a removable/re-attachable label attached. Of course, a single dispensing tap 16, 18 could be supplied by the keg 2.

In use, the FAB is drawn from the keg 2 in the usual manner up the primary supply line 4. The FAB contained in the keg 2 has a base gas content, is partially flavoured and passes into the supply lines 6, 8. The membrane devices 12, 14 can be used to alter the gas content of the FAB contained within the supply lines 6, 8 and also to add flavouring medium to the beverage. The dosing means 15 ensures that the correct amount of 5 flavour is added to the beverage.

In practise, only one of the membrane devices 12, 14 may be provided. The base gas content of the beverage in the keg 2 may correspond to the desired gas content which is desired to be dispensed from one of the dispense taps 16, 18 and the gas content can therefore be left unaltered. Also, the partially flavoured beverage may be suitably flavoured and require no additional flavouring.

In one particular example the FAB contained within the keg 2 has the correct carbon dioxide content and is pumped from the keg 2, via the primary supply line 4, through the supply line 8 to the dispense tap 16 without having the gas content altered nor having flavouring medium added. The same FAB is drawn from the keg 2 via the primary supply line 4 and flows into the supply line 6. The membrane device 12 is used to increase the nitrogen content of the FAB by substantially 40mg11 and the CO, content by substantially 1 vol.lvol. and flavouring medium is added. This altered FAB is dispensed from tap 18.

The FAB being dispensed from the two dispense taps 16, 18 although coming from the same keg 2, has different properties (due to the different gas content and flavour). Different drinkers may prefer to consume one or other of the FAB's and therefore effectively two or more different beverages can be dispensed from the same keg 2.

11 Should the membrane devices be altered to provide a different gas content to the beverage flowing through them the drink being dispensed by the dispense tap 16, 18 may be altered and therefore the label on the face 22, 24 is changed to identify the new beverage being dispensed.

Figure 2 shows a possible detail of one of the membrane devices 12, 14 and explains the principle behind the operation of the membrane device. A membrane 50 is provided in a wall of a pipe 52 (which contains at a beverage side of the membrane 50 beverage 54 flowing through the supply line). In a separate vessel 56 which interacts with the pipe 52 there is provided a quantity of gas 58 held at a gas side of the membrane 50. The gas can diffuse to the beverage through the membrane 50 and flavouring mediums contained in the gas are then carried into the beverage 54. (As the skilled person will realise it is also possible for gas to diffuse out of the beverage into the quantity of gas 58 should the concentrations be suitable).

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a beverage dispensing apparatus which in many respects is similar to that shown in Figure 1, and like reference numerals have been used on identical parts.

The skilled person will realise that there is no dividing means, nor primary supply line and that each supply line 6,8 extends into the container 2. This embodiment functions in the same way as the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is again similar in some respects to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, and like reference numerals have been used in identical parts.

12 As in the embodiment shown in Figure 1, a primary supply draws beverage from the container 2 and a dividing means 10, is provided to supply beverage to supply line 6. In this embodiment a further dividing means 11 is provided which divides the beverage supply into each 5 line 8,9.

A third dispense tap 17 is provided on supply line 9 as is a further membrane device 15.

Again the embodiment shown in Figure 4 functions in the same way as that shown in Figure 1 except that three flavoured alcoholic beverages each having a different gas content can be dispensed from the same container 2. Each of the flavoured alcoholic beverages can also have a different flavour.

The skilled person will realise that more than three taps 16,17,18 could be provided. Further, some of the taps could dispense identical FAB, but in different parts of the bar.

Indeed Figure 5 shows a system wherein only a single tap 16 is supplied from a keg 2. A supply line 60 removes beverage from the keg 2 and passes to a gas injection means 62. A further line 64 delivers beverage from the injection means 62 to the tap 16.

In use, beverage is drawn from the keg 2 on demand by the tap 16.

The beverage passes through the injection means 62 wherein gas containing a flavouring medium is injected into the beverage. Initially, the beverage is un-flavoured within the keg 2 and all of the required flavour is added in the injection means 62.

13 The following table shows the gas content of various beverages which could be dispensed using the present invention.

Example 1 5

HOOCH HOOCH MODIFIED IN KEG 1 VOUVOL CO 1 VOL/ VOL CO, BEFORE GAS MODIFICATION LOW N LOW N AFTER GAS I VOL/VOLCO2 ADDED 10,20,30, MODIFICATION 40mg/1 N, AT TAP LOW N2 Example 2

HOOCH HOOCH MODIFIED IN KEG I VOL/VOLCO2 I VOL/ VOL C02 BEFORE GAS MODIFICATION LOW N, LOW N2 AFTER GAS 1 VOUVOL CO, 2 VOL/ VOL CO, MODIFICATION AT TAP LOW N2 LOW N, We may set the gas contents of the different taps 16, 17, 18 so that the FAB dispensed from one tap is dispensed as normal (e.g. as normal cola, or lemonade, FAB) and from another tap as a full glass of foamy head which collapses over time (possible of the order of minutes).

One of the beverages may be provided as standard flavoured, and a second of the beverages may be dispensed as special flavoured. Perhaps 14 one beverage may be for instance lemonade and a second beverage may be cherry flavoured lemonade. The skilled person will realise that this is only an example and that any other flavours could be added to beverages.

The initial, protohead, foamy volume may collapse to form a drink with substantially the same volume of liquid (plus head if a true, stable head is present on the drink). For example we may provide a lemon flavoured FAB which is dispensed as a glass substantially full of foam which collapses down to substantially the same volume of cleared liquid plus true head (or just to all cleared liquid, no head).

It might take 20, 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180 or more seconds for the foamy protohead to collapse to a substantially constant volume of cleared liquid (possibly plus head), or the above points may define the startlend of ranges of time for that effect to be achieved.

Thus we add flavoured gas between the keg and the bar (typically).

Although it is discussed hereinbefore to allow the flavour moiety to enter the beverage via a membrane device it would be possible to inject the flavour moiety. Indeed, the device may inject solid or liquid or gaseous matter into the beverage.

The skilled person will appreciate that the beverage within a supply line to a dispense tap can be at a pressure higher than atmospheric pressure. Should liquid or solid matter be introduced into the supply line, the matter may turn into a gaseous state when the liquid passes the dispense tap i.e. post-dispense tap under atmospheric conditions. Indeed, liquid or solid N, may be introduced. Solid CO, may be introduced. The invention may lie in the realisation that injection of solid or liquid N, may be performed. The invention could also lie in the realisation that injection of that solid CO, may be performed. Should gases (when considered at atmospheric pressure) be introduced in their solid or liquid phase these may comprise the flavour moiety discussed hereinbefore. 5 Additionally or alternatively other flavour moieties may be used.

Claims

16 CLAIMS

1. A beverage dispensing apparatus comprising a beverage container, at least one supply line adapted to deliver beverage from the beverage container, gas injection means arranged to inject gas into a beverage in said supply line and being arranged to supply a flavouring medium to the supply line.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 which further comprises a dosing means adapted to meter the amount of flavouring medium delivered to the supply line.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the injected flavouring medium includes at least one of the following: a fruit flavour; (e.g. strawberry, or pineapple, or pear, or apple, or mango, or cranberry, or lime, or blackcurrent, or orange, or raspberry, or the like), or a confectionery flavour (e.g. chocolate, coffee, tea, tannin, bubble gum, etc.), or a spice flavour (e.g. cinnamon or cloves etc.), or a herb flavour, or methyl butene thiol (MBT).

4. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the injection means is adapted to inject a flavour moiety along with the gas into the supply line.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4 which is adapted in use, to inject a gaseous, at the conditions of use, flavour moiety.

6. An apparatus according to claim 4 which is adapted, in use, to inject a liquid moiety, at the conditions of use, (possibly suspended, dispersed, or sprayed into the gas).

17

7. An apparatus according to claim 4 which is adapted, in use, to inject a solid moiety at the conditions of use (e.g. fine particles or a powder suspended, dispersed or sprayed into the gas).

8. An apparatus according to any one of claims 4 to 7 wherein the moiety is pre-provided in the gas.

9. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the flavouring medium comprises the gas.

10. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims adapted, in use, to dispense several differently flavoured beverages from the beverage container.

11. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the gas injection means injects gas into the supply line.

12. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein there is provided more than one supply line, delivering beverage from the beverage container.

13. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein a master supply line is provided to deliver beverage from the beverage container which subsequently divides into a number secondary supply lines.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the gas injection means is provided in association with either the main or secondary supply lines.

18

15. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the fluid container is a keg or, a cask.

16. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims adapted, in use, to dispense a beverage of the type known as a flavoured alcoholic beverage.

17. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 15 adapted, in use, to dispense at least one of the following: soft drinks, beers, largers, 10 porters, stout, waters, wines, spirits, fortified wines.

18. An apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the gas injection means comprises a membrane device adapted to separate the gas to be injected from the beverage.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the membrane is selectively permeable so that gas can permeate the membrane but liquids cannot.

20. An apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 17 wherein the gas injection means injects gas directly into the beverage.

21. A method of dispensing a beverage comprising storing an amount of beverage within a container, providing a supply line to remove 25 beverage from the container and further providing a gas injection means to inject flavouring medium into the beverage.

22. A method according to claim 21 wherein the gas injection means injects a flavouring medium into the beverage within the supply line. 30 19

23. A method according to claim 21 or 22 comprising altering the gas content of the beverage as flavouring medium is injected into the beverage.

24. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 23 comprising injecting CO, and a flavour moiety into the beverage.

25. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 24 comprising injecting a mixture of CO, and nitrogen so that at least some of the 10 beverage comprises substantially a full protohead.

26 A method according to any one of claims 21 to 25 comprising using a membrane in contact with the beverage within at least one supply line and to pass gas through the membrane into or from the beverage contained 15 within the supply line.

27. A method according to claim 26 comprising maintaining the beverage to a beverage side of the membrane and maintaining a gas or gas mixture on the other, gas, side of the membrane. 20

28. A method according to any one of claims 25 to 27 wherein nitrogen or carbon dioxide, or a mixture of nitrogen and carbon dioxide is held on the gas side of the membrane. 25

29. A method according to any one of claims 25 to 28 comprising mixing the flavouring medium with the gases held on the gas side of the membrane.

30. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 25 comprising injecting gas directly into the beverage contained within the supply line or at the dispense tap, before or after the onloff valve of the dispense tap.

31. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 30 comprising increasing the nitrogen content of the beverage in the supply line by an amount that is substantially in the range 1.0mg11 to 70mg11.

32. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 31 comprising 10 increasing the carbon dioxide content of the beverage in the supply line by an amount that is in a range substantially between 0.25 vol.lvol. to 1.75 vol. Nol.

33. A method according to any one of claims 21 to 32 comprising 15 providing more than one gas injecting means within the or each supply line to alter the gas content/properties of the beverage.

34. A method of dispensing a beverage comprising storing a volume of beverage within a container, providing a supply line to remove beverage 20 from the container, and modifying the properties of the beverage at some point in the supply line or dispense tap before the beverage is received in a drinking vessel, the modification of the properties of the beverage being achieved by introducing a gas into the beverage and carrying with the gas another modifier substance which achieves the desired modification of the 25 beverage.

35. A method according to claim 34 comprising modifying at least one of the following properties of the beverage: the smell; the colour, the thickness, the taste, the viscosity.

21

36. A beverage dispensing apparatus substantially as described herein.

37. A method of dispensing a beverage substantially as described herein. 5