JP6526952B2 - Beverage characteristic adjusting apparatus and method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for adjusting beverage characteristics, which adjust beverage characteristics such as the flavor of an effervescent beverage.

  Extracts, flavors and the like are subsequently added to various beverages to customize beverage characteristics such as flavor, color or texture. As a method of customizing the beverage properties of an effervescent beverage such as beer or carbonated beverage, for example, by passing beer in a container containing an immersion material such as hop, the flavor derived from the components of the immersion material can be made effervescent beverage There is known an apparatus and method of dispensing and dispensing with a dispenser (see Non-Patent Document 1).

“Randall the Enamel Animal”, [online], August 29, 2014, Internet <URL: http://www.dogfish.com/company/tangents/randall-the-enamel-animal.htm>

  Since the apparatus and method of Non-Patent Document 1 introduce beer into a container containing a dip without adjusting its flow rate when flavoring beer, the introduced beer foams excessively in the container. Sometimes. Such excessive bubbling of beer in the container can cause various problems such as difficulty in pouring the beer from the dispenser or reduction in carbon dioxide content in the beer. These problems may occur similarly when imparting the flavor of effervescent beverages other than beer by the apparatus or method of Non-Patent Document 1.

  Therefore, the present invention has an object to provide a beverage property adjusting apparatus and method capable of suppressing excessive foaming of the foamable beverage when adjusting the beverage property of the foamable beverage such as imparting a flavor to the foamable beverage. Do.

  The beverage property adjusting apparatus according to the present invention is the foamable property provided by the dispensing system (1) for pumping the sparkling beverage taken out of the storage container (2) to the spout (11a) through the beverage passage (7) A beverage property adjusting device (10) for adjusting a beverage property of a beverage, the immersion material being connected to the beverage passage in communication with the beverage passage, for adjusting the beverage property of the foamable beverage A beverage property adjusting container (20) capable of containing X) and flow rate adjusting means (21, 22) capable of adjusting the flow rate of the foamable beverage introduced into the beverage property adjusting container is there.

  According to this beverage property adjusting device, when the foamable beverage is introduced into the beverage property adjusting container, the flow rate of the foamable beverage can be adjusted by the flow rate adjusting means. The foaming of the foamable beverage becomes more remarkable as the flow rate when introduced into the beverage property adjusting container increases, in other words, the momentum when the foamable beverage is introduced into the beverage property adjusting container increases. Therefore, since the foamable beverage can be introduced into the beverage property adjusting container at a flow rate suitable for suppressing foaming of the foamable beverage, excessive foaming of the foamable beverage can be suppressed when adjusting the beverage properties of the foamable beverage.

  As long as the flow rate of the foamable beverage introduced into the beverage property adjusting container can be adjusted, the flow rate adjusting means may have any form. For example, the flow control means may be configured by a control valve capable of freely adjusting the flow passage area of the beverage passage leading to the beverage characteristic adjustment container.

  In one aspect of the beverage property adjusting device according to the present invention, the flow rate adjusting means may be an internal pressure adjusting means (22) capable of adjusting the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container, and the beverage property adjusting container from the beverage passage. A switching means (32, 33) capable of switching between the state in which the foamable beverage is introduced and the state in which the introduction thereof is restricted may be provided. According to this aspect, it is possible to adjust the differential pressure between the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container and the pressure at which the foamable beverage is pumped by adjusting the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container by the internal pressure adjusting means. By adjusting this differential pressure, it is possible to adjust the flow rate of the sparkling beverage introduced into the beverage property adjusting container. Further, when the effervescent beverage is introduced into the beverage property adjusting container in a state where the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container is higher than the atmospheric pressure by the internal pressure adjusting means, carbon dioxide gas dissolved in the effervescent beverage is It can suppress that it becomes gas in a drink characteristic adjustment container, ie, foaming of a sparkling beverage. Therefore, in addition to adjusting the flow rate of the effervescent beverage introduced into the beverage property adjusting container, it is possible to suppress foaming of the effervescent beverage due to the pressure in the beverage property adjusting container, so when introducing into the beverage property adjusting container Can be further suppressed.

  In the beverage property adjusting device of the present invention, the beverage property adjusting container may be configured such that the effervescent beverage is introduced from the bottom (20c) thereof. When there is a drop from the introduction position of the foamable beverage to the bottom, the foamable beverage introduced into the beverage property adjusting container collides with the bottom or the liquid surface to cause foaming when it falls. According to this aspect, since there is no drop from the introduction position of the foamable beverage to the bottom, foaming can be suppressed more than when this drop is present.

  In one aspect of the beverage property adjusting device according to the present invention, when the immersion material is contained and held, the beverage property adjusting container is configured to be detachably attachable to the inside and the beverage property adjusting container is mounted to the inside The beverage container may further include an inner container (26) configured to allow the infiltration of the foamable beverage in the beverage property adjusting container. According to this aspect, since the immersive material can be attached to and removed from the interior of the beverage property adjusting container in a state in which the immersing material is contained and held in the inner container, the beverage property is adjusted as compared with the case where the immersing material is directly put It is easy to remove the later immersion material. Moreover, the change of the adjustment method of a drink characteristic (modification of an immersion) can be implemented rapidly by preparing in advance several inner containers into which different immersions were thrown in mutually. Accordingly, since it is possible to promptly cope with the replacement or change of the immersion material, the labor required for adjusting the beverage characteristics is reduced, and the working efficiency is improved.

  In one aspect of the beverage property adjusting device of the present invention, the inside of the beverage property adjusting container may be configured to be visible. According to this aspect, since it is possible to observe the state in which the immersing material is immersed in the effervescent beverage in the beverage property adjusting container, it is possible to determine what kind of immersing material is used to adjust the beverage characteristics. It can appeal to consumers who are provided with effervescent beverages. Therefore, it is possible to impress consumers who receive provision of the sparkling beverage whose beverage characteristics are adjusted.

  The method for adjusting beverage characteristics according to the present invention is the effervescent property provided by the dispensing system (1), wherein the effervescent beverage taken out of the storage container (2) is pumped to the spout (11a) through the beverage passage (7). A beverage property adjusting method for adjusting a beverage property of a beverage, comprising: adjusting the beverage property of the foamable beverage to a beverage property adjusting container (20) connected to the beverage passage in communication with the beverage passage. Introducing an immersing material (X) for introducing the foamable beverage into the beverage property adjusting container in a state in which the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container containing the immersed substance is higher than atmospheric pressure And.

  According to the beverage property adjusting method, the foamable beverage is introduced into the beverage property adjusting container in a state in which the internal pressure in the beverage property adjusting container is higher than the atmospheric pressure. Therefore, it is possible to suppress that the foamed beverage to be pumped is decompressed and excessively foamed at the time of introduction into the beverage property adjusting container. Thereby, when adjusting the drink characteristic of the sparkling beverage, excessive foaming of the sparkling beverage can be suppressed.

  In one aspect of the beverage property adjusting method of the present invention, in the step of introducing the foamable beverage into the beverage property adjusting container, the foamable beverage may be introduced from the bottom of the beverage property adjusting container. When there is a drop from the introduction position of the foamable beverage to the bottom, the foamable beverage introduced into the beverage property adjusting container collides with the bottom or the liquid surface to cause foaming when it falls. According to this aspect, since there is no drop from the introduction position of the foamable beverage to the bottom, foaming can be suppressed more than when this drop is present.

  In the present invention, adjusting the beverage characteristics includes adjusting at least one of flavor, color and texture among the beverage characteristics. Further, in the above description, the reference numerals of the attached drawings are appended in parentheses to facilitate understanding of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

  As described above, according to the beverage property adjusting device of the present invention, since the flow rate of the foamable beverage can be adjusted when the foamable beverage is introduced into the beverage property adjusting container, the foaming of the foamable beverage can be suppressed. The effervescent beverage can be introduced into the beverage characterization container at a flow rate suitable for Thereby, when adjusting the drink characteristic of the sparkling beverage, excessive foaming of the sparkling beverage can be suppressed.

  Further, according to the beverage property adjusting method of the present invention, the foamable beverage is introduced into the beverage property adjusting container in a state where the internal pressure in the beverage property adjusting container is higher than the atmospheric pressure, so that the foamability is pumped. It is possible to suppress that the beverage is rapidly depressurized and excessively foamed at the time of introduction into the beverage property adjusting container. Thereby, when adjusting the drink characteristic of the sparkling beverage, excessive foaming of the sparkling beverage can be suppressed.

The figure which showed the external appearance etc. of the principal part of the dispensing system with which the drink characteristic adjustment apparatus which concerns on one form of this invention was integrated. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing details of a piping passage and the like of the dispensing system of FIG. 1; The figure which showed the process of the pre-operation which an operator performs. The figure which showed the process of work, such as beer introduction which a controller performs. The figure which showed the process of the post-work which an operator performs.

  As shown in FIG.1 and FIG.2, the dispensing system 1 is comprised as an apparatus which takes out a beer from the beer keg 2 as a storage container with which the beer as an effervescent drink was filled, and provides it to a consumer. The dispensing system 1 comprises a dispensing head 5 mounted on a beer keg 2, a dispenser 6 for pouring beer, and a beverage passage 7 for guiding the beer taken out through the dispensing head 5 to the dispenser 6. There is. The carbon dioxide gas supplied from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 8 is depressurized and supplied to the dispense head 5 through the gas supply passage 9. The carbon dioxide gas supplied to the dispense head 5 pushes the beer from the beer barrel 2, and the pushed beer is pressure-fed in the beverage passage 7.

  The beverage passage 7 is provided with a beverage property adjusting device 10 for imparting flavor to the beer provided in the dispensing system 1. The beer guided to the dispenser 6 through the beverage characteristic adjustment device 10 is poured out from the spout 11 a of the tap 11 provided on the dispenser 6. The pouring of the beer from the tap 11 is performed by the operation of the lever 11b by the operator. A plurality of drain passages 15, 16 used for stationary cleaning and the like are connected to the beverage passage 7, and drain valves 17, 18 for opening and closing these are provided in the drain passages 15, 16, respectively.

  The beverage characteristic adjustment device 10 is connected to the beverage passage 7 so as to be in communication with the beverage passage 7, and the beverage characteristic adjustment container 20 to which the immersion material X such as hop for imparting flavor to beer can be charged; A beer supply and discharge device 21 for introducing beer into the container 20 and discharging the beer from the beverage property adjusting container 20, introducing carbon dioxide gas into the beverage property adjusting container 20, and discharging the carbon dioxide from the beverage property adjusting container 20 And a gas supply and discharge device 22 for

  As shown in FIG. 1, the beverage property adjusting container 20 is formed in a cylindrical shape as a whole, and its body portion 20 b is made of, for example, a translucent material such as acrylic. Therefore, the inside of the drink characteristic adjustment container 20 can be visually recognized via the trunk | drum 20b. The beverage property adjusting container 20 can endure the internal pressure up to a predetermined allowable pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure in the closed state of the upper lid 25 for opening and closing the upper part 20a and maintain the sealed state. An inner container 26 capable of containing and holding the immersion material X can be attached to and detached from the beverage property adjusting container 20. The inner container 26 has a plurality of openings 26 a formed around its periphery, and the openings 26 a are covered with the mesh 27. Therefore, when the inner container 26 is mounted inside the beverage property adjusting container 20, the beer in the beverage property adjusting container 20 can enter. Thereby, the immersion thing X is immersed in beer in the drink characteristic adjustment container 20, and the flavor derived from the component of the immersion thing X is provided to beer. In addition, in order to accelerate | stimulate provision of a flavor, the stirring tool 28 which can stir the inside of the inner container 26 in the state which closed the upper cover 25 is mounted | worn with the drink characteristic adjustment container 20. As shown in FIG. The stirring tool 28 can move up and down while maintaining an airtight state with the upper lid 25, and a disc portion 28b provided at the lower end of the stem portion 28a and having a diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the inner container 26 , And a spherical grip 28c provided at the upper end of the shaft portion 28a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the beer supply and discharge device 21 is provided in the beverage introduction port 30 and the beverage discharge port 31 formed in the bottom portion 20 c of the beverage characteristic adjustment container 20 and the beverage passage 7 on the upstream side of the beverage introduction port 30. The liquid supply valve 32 and the pouring valve 33 provided in the beverage passage 7 on the downstream side of the beverage discharge port 31 are provided. Each of the liquid supply valve 32 and the discharge valve 33 is configured as a solenoid valve capable of continuous opening adjustment. When the liquid supply valve 32 is opened in a state where the dispensing valve 33 is closed, the beer is introduced from the bottom 20 c into the beverage property adjusting container 20 through the beverage introducing port 30. On the other hand, when the liquid supply valve 32 is closed while the dispensing valve 33 is closed, the introduction of beer into the beverage property adjusting container 20 is restricted. Therefore, the liquid supply valve 32 and the pouring valve 33 function as switching means according to the present invention. When the dispensing valve 33 is opened in a state where the liquid supply valve 32 is closed, the beverage passage 7 from the beverage discharge port 31 of the beverage property adjusting container 20 to the tap 11 of the dispenser 6 is opened. In this state, the inside of the beverage property adjusting container 20 is pressurized by the gas supply / discharge device 22, so that the beer to which the flavor is added in the beverage property adjusting container 20 is poured out from the tap 11 by the opening operation of the lever 11b. .

  The gas supply and discharge device 22 includes a gas introduction port 40 formed in the upper portion 20 a of the beverage characteristic adjustment container 20, a gas supply passage 42 connected to the gas introduction port 40, and a sniff passage 43 branched from the gas supply passage 42. A gas supply valve 44 provided in the gas supply passage 42 and capable of continuously adjusting the opening degree, a sniff valve 45 provided in the sniffing passage 43 and capable of continuously adjusting the opening degree, and a downstream side of the sniff valve 45 And a needle valve 46 provided in the sniff passage 43.

  The carbon dioxide gas supplied from the carbon dioxide gas cylinder 8 as a pressure source shared with the pouring of the beer from the beer barrel 2 is led to the gas supply passage 42. When the gas supply passage 42 is opened by the operation of the gas supply valve 44, carbon dioxide gas is supplied to the beverage property adjusting container 20 so that the internal pressure is higher than the atmospheric pressure. Adjustment of the internal pressure of the beverage characteristic adjustment container 20 is performed by adjusting the opening degree of the sniff valve 45 to release carbon dioxide gas into the sniff passage 43. The lower limit pressure of the internal pressure is set in advance by the setting of the opening degree of the needle valve 46 in order to suppress the rapid pressure reduction of the internal pressure accompanying the opening degree adjustment of the sniff valve 45.

  The beverage property adjusting apparatus 10 adjusts the flow rate of the beer introduced into the beverage property adjusting container 20 by controlling the differential pressure between the internal pressure P2 of the beverage property adjusting container 20 and the pressure P1 at which the beer is pumped. Various controls of the dispensing system 1 including the control of the differential pressure are implemented by a controller 50 configured as a computer. The controller 50 is electrically connected to the above-described valves 17, 18, 32, 33, 44, 45 via an interface (not shown), and performs control of these operations. Further, the controller 50 is electrically connected to an operation unit 51 for receiving various operations of the operator, and a command corresponding to the operation of the operator is input to the controller 50. Further, for the above-mentioned differential pressure control, signals from the first pressure sensor 52A which outputs a signal corresponding to the pressure P1 and the second pressure sensor 52B which outputs a signal corresponding to the pressure P2 are input to the controller 50. Be done. The controller 50 stores various programs for controlling the dispensing system 1, and in response to an instruction from the operation unit 51, a program necessary for control is read and executed.

  Next, the pre-operation performed by the operator when flavoring beer provided by the dispensing system 1, the beer introduction operation performed by the controller 50, and the post-operation performed by the operator will be described with reference to FIGS. Do.

  As shown in FIG. 3, in the pre-operation performed by the operator, first, the immersion material X is put into the inner container 26 in step a1. Next, in step a2, the inner container 26 in a state of containing and holding the immersion material X is placed in the beverage property adjusting container 20 in a state where the upper portion 20a is opened and mounted inside. Next, in step a3, preparing the upper lid 25 with the agitator 28 attached thereto, and inserting the agitator 28 into the inner container 26 attached to the beverage characteristics adjusting container 20 while adjusting the upper lid 25 to the beverage characteristics adjusting container 20, and the beverage property adjusting container 20 is sealed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the beer introduction operation performed by the controller 50, first, in step b1, carbon dioxide gas is introduced through the gas introduction port 40 into the beverage property adjusting container 20 whose pre-work of FIG. Thus, the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container 20 is pressurized to a state higher than the atmospheric pressure. To that end, the controller 50 opens the gas supply valve 44 with the sniff valve 45 of FIG. 2 closed. Then, when the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container 20 reaches a predetermined target value, the controller 50 closes the gas supply valve 44 and completes the process b1.

  Next, in step b2, a beer is introduced into the pressurized beverage property adjusting container 20 via the beverage introduction port 30. The flow rate at the time of beer introduction is kept constant by controlling the above-mentioned differential pressure (FIG. 2). Specifically, the controller 50 opens the liquid supply valve 32 in a state where the dispensing valve 33 is closed, and the target value of the differential pressure and the measured value measured based on each of the pressure sensors 52A and 52B. The differential pressure is kept constant while releasing carbon dioxide gas from the beverage property adjustment container 20 by feedback control of the opening degree of the sniff valve 45 so that the deviation is eliminated. The target value of the differential pressure is appropriately set to a value that gives a flow rate that can prevent the beer from bubbling out of the allowable range when introducing the beer.

  When the amount of beer introduced into the beverage property adjusting container 20 reaches the target amount, the controller 50 closes the liquid supply valve 32 and the sniff valve 45 respectively in order to end the introduction of beer and the adjustment of the internal pressure in step b3. From the start of step b2 to the end of step b3, the flow rate of beer is suppressed so that the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container 20 is higher than atmospheric pressure and the foaming of beer is suppressed. Introduction is implemented. Therefore, excessive bubbling of beer in the beverage property adjusting container 20 is suppressed. In addition, an operator may operate the stirring tool 28 at the stage which the process b3 complete | finished, and may promote the flavor provision to beer.

  After the end of step b3, when a predetermined immersion time has elapsed, carbon dioxide gas in the beverage property adjusting container 20 is exhausted in step b4 to lower the internal pressure to a predetermined value. In this case, the controller 50 operates the opening degree of the sniff valve 45 to the open side to reduce the internal pressure. In step b5, the controller 50 appropriately operates the gas supply valve 44 to supply carbon dioxide gas to the beverage property adjusting container 20 in order to secure the internal pressure necessary for pouring the beer from the tap 11. Then, the controller 50 opens the pouring valve 33 so that the flavored beer can be poured out from the tap 11. Step b5 is continued until the beer in the beverage property adjusting container 20 is empty.

  As shown in FIG. 5, in the post-work performed by the operator, first, the upper lid 25 of the beverage property adjusting container 20 is removed in step c1. Then, in step c2, the inner container 26 holding the used immersion material X ′ is removed from the beverage property adjusting container 20. Finally, in step c3, the used immersion material X 'is removed from the inner container 26. Thereafter, washing of the inner container 26 and the like taken out from the beverage property adjusting container 20 is appropriately performed, and the post-operation is completed.

  Step a2 of the pre-work performed by the operator shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the “step of putting the immersion material” in the beverage property adjusting method of the present invention, and step b2 of the beer introduction work performed by the controller 50 shown in FIG. It corresponds to "the step of introducing into the beverage property adjusting container" in the beverage property adjusting method of the present invention.

  According to the beverage property adjusting device 10 described above, when the beer is introduced into the beverage property adjusting container 20, the beer supply and discharge device 21 and the gas supply and discharge device 22 cooperate to avoid foaming at the time of introduction of the beer. The beer flow rate is adjusted to obtain. Therefore, since beer can be introduced into the beverage property adjusting container 20 at a flow rate suitable for suppressing the foaming of beer, excessive foaming of the beer can be suppressed when flavoring the beer.

  Further, according to the beverage property adjusting apparatus 10, as in the step b1 and the step b2 of FIG. 4, the beer is a beverage in a state where the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container 20 is higher than the atmospheric pressure by the gas supply / discharge device 22. Since the beer is introduced into the characteristic adjustment container 20, it is possible to suppress the beer from foaming in the beverage characteristic adjustment container 20. Therefore, the bubbling of the beer at the time of introduction into the beverage property adjusting container 20 can be further suppressed. Moreover, since the introduction of the beer is performed from the bottom portion 20c of the beverage property adjusting container 20, it is possible to suppress the bubbling compared to the case where there is a drop from the introduction position of the beer to the bottom portion.

  Furthermore, the beverage property adjusting apparatus 10 has an inner container 26 which can be attached to and detached from the beverage property adjusting container 20 and can be charged and held with the immersion material X. Therefore, as compared with the case where the immersion material X is directly put into the beverage property adjusting container 20, removal of the immersion material X ′ after applying the flavor is easy (see step c2 in FIG. 5). In addition, by preparing in advance a plurality of inner containers into which different kinds of different immersion materials are charged, it is possible to promptly carry out a change of flavor to be imparted to beer (a change of immersion materials). Therefore, according to the beverage property adjusting apparatus 10, since it is possible to promptly cope with the replacement or change of the immersion substance, the labor required for imparting the flavor is reduced, and the working efficiency is improved.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the beverage property adjusting apparatus 10 is configured so that the inside of the beverage property adjusting container 20 can be visually recognized. Can be observed. Therefore, it is possible to appeal to the consumer who is provided with the beer, what kind of immersion material X is used and in which way the flavoring is performed. Therefore, it is possible to impress consumers who receive the provision of beer with a flavor.

  In the beverage property adjusting device 10 described above, the beer supply and discharge device 21 and the gas supply and discharge device 22 function as flow rate adjusting means according to the present invention by coordinating them. Further, since the gas supply and discharge device 22 can adjust the internal pressure of the beverage characteristic adjustment container 20, it functions as an internal pressure adjustment means. However, the device for adjusting beverage characteristics and the method for adjusting beverage characteristics according to the present invention can be implemented in various forms within the scope of the present invention.

  In the above-described embodiment, the flavor is provided to the beer as the foamable beverage. For example, carbonated beverages such as soft drinks containing carbonated gas and low-malt beer can be targeted for flavoring as the foamable beverage. Also, the beverage property adjusting device of the present invention can be implemented in a form incorporated into a dispensing system for providing such carbonated beverages.

  In the above embodiment, hops suitable for beer are exemplified as the immersion material used for imparting flavor, but may be appropriately selected according to the target of imparting flavor, and for example, plants such as fruits may be used as the immersion material. Further, the immersion material is not limited to a solid such as a granular material or a powder, and may be a high viscosity liquid such as honey. Furthermore, it is also possible to use, as an immersion material, capsules in which various liquids are enclosed in a capsule that can be dissolved and destroyed in an effervescent beverage or can be destroyed by an external force during immersion in a beer-based beverage is there.

  In the above embodiment, the foamable beverage is introduced while adjusting the flow rate in a state where the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container is higher than the atmospheric pressure, but the adjustment of the internal pressure is not essential. For example, a control valve capable of freely adjusting the flow passage area of the beverage passage leading to the beverage characteristic control container is provided as a flow control means, and the control valve is operated to adjust the flow to avoid foaming of the sparkling beverage It is also possible to introduce the sparkling beverage as a state of atmospheric pressure without pressurizing the property-adjusting container. Moreover, the introduction position of the foamable beverage may not be at the bottom of the beverage property adjusting container. In the above embodiment, the valves 32, 33, 44, 45 are capable of adjusting the degree of opening continuously, but instead of these valves, electromagnetic valves operating in two positions, an open position and a closed position, are provided. It is also possible to control the solenoid valve by the controller 50.

  The container for adjusting the characteristics of beverage is not limited to the above embodiment, for example, one having a cooling function, one having a built-in stirring unit such as a screw that can be automatically stirred, and the container may be inclined according to the introduction state of the foamable beverage. It is good also as a drink characteristic adjustment container which has various functions, such as what gave a possible inclination function and what gave an attachment-and-detachment function which realizes easy attachment and detachment of an upper lid. Moreover, although the said form is equipped with an inner container which can be attached or detached to a drink characteristic adjustment container, an inner container is not essential. For example, the present invention can also be practiced in the form of direct immersion in a beverage characterization container.

  Although the beer keg was used as a storage container in the said form, this invention is not limited to this. For example, the present invention may be practiced in the form of using a PET bottle as a storage container. Moreover, although the tap opened and closed with a lever is used as an apparatus provided with a pouring outlet in the said form, this invention is not limited to this. The present invention can also be practiced in the form of a device having a spout, for example, a device configured to open the spout in response to depression of the spout button.

  The above description relates to a mode for imparting a flavor to beer as a foamable beverage and its modification. However, the present invention can be implemented not only in imparting a flavor to a foamable beverage, but also as a form of adjusting beverage characteristics such as flavor, color or texture by immersing an immersion material in the foamable beverage.

  For example, by selecting raspberry as an immersion material, the color which is one of the beverage characteristics can be adjusted to red by transferring the component derived from raspberry to a beer-based beverage. In this case, addition of the flavor derived from raspberry is also performed simultaneously with the adjustment of the color. Moreover, it is also possible to change only the color while maintaining the original flavor of the sparkling beverage by using a coloring agent which does not change the taste or smell as the immersion material.

  Furthermore, the texture, which is another one of the beverage characteristics, can be adjusted by selecting the flesh of various fruits as the immersion material. When the flesh of various fruits is selected as the immersion material and the texture of the beer-based beverage is adjusted using the inner container of the above-mentioned form, the change in the texture of the foamable beverage as the number of mesh of the inner container However, it is preferable to adopt one which can pass the flesh of a size distinguishable to the consumer.

  The adjustment of the above-mentioned beverage properties is realized by transferring the component of the immersing material or the immersing material itself to the foamable beverage, but one that incorporates the components of the foamable beverage, for example, an adsorbent is selected as the immersing material It can also be done. By selecting such an adsorbent or the like as the immersion material, it is also possible to remove at least a part of the components such as the flavor of the sparkling beverage by the immersion material to adjust the beverage characteristics of the sparkling beverage. The beverage characteristic to be adjusted may be at least one of flavor, color and texture.

1 Dispensing system 2 Beer keg (storage container)
11a Injection port 7 Beverage passage 10 Beverage characteristic adjustment device 20 Beverage characteristic adjustment container 20c Bottom part 21 Beer supply / discharge device (flow rate adjustment means)
22 Gas supply and discharge device (flow control means, internal pressure control means)
26 inner container 32 valve for supplying liquid (switching means)
33 Dispensing valve (switching means)
X Immersion

Claims (6)

A beverage property adjusting device for adjusting the beverage property of the foamable beverage, provided by a dispensing system for pumping the foamable beverage taken out of the storage container to a pouring outlet through a beverage passage,
A beverage property adjusting container connected to the beverage path in communication with the beverage path and capable of containing a dip for adjusting the beverage property of the sparkling beverage;
A flow rate adjusting means capable of adjusting the flow rate of the foamable beverage introduced into the beverage property adjusting container;
A controller for controlling the flow rate adjusting means;
Equipped with
As the flow rate adjusting means,
Internal pressure adjusting means capable of adjusting the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container;
Switching means capable of switching between a state where the foamable beverage is introduced from the beverage passage to the beverage property adjusting container and a state where the introduction thereof is restricted;
Is provided,
As the internal pressure adjusting means, a valve capable of adjusting the gas pressure supplied to the beverage property adjusting container and capable of continuously adjusting the opening degree is provided.
The controller switches the switching means to a state where the foamable beverage is introduced, and a difference between the internal pressure of the beverage property adjustment container and the pressure of the foamable beverage introduced into the beverage property adjustment container A device for adjusting beverage characteristics, characterized in that the valve is controlled so that the pressure is maintained at a constant target value . The beverage property adjusting device according to claim 1 , wherein the beverage property adjusting container is configured to introduce the foamable beverage from the bottom thereof. The effervescent beverage in the beverage property adjusting container is configured to be detachably attachable to the inside of the beverage property adjusting container in a state of containing and holding the immersed product and mounted on the inside of the beverage property adjusting container. further comprising a penetration capable constructed inner container, beverage characteristic adjustment device according to claim 1 or 2. The beverage property adjusting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , wherein the inside of the beverage property adjusting container is configured to be visible. A beverage property adjusting method for adjusting the beverage properties of the foamable beverage provided by a dispensing system for pumping the foamable beverage taken out of the storage container to a pouring outlet through a beverage passage,
Placing a dip for adjusting the beverage properties of the sparkling beverage in a beverage property adjusting container connected to the beverage channel in communication with the beverage channel;
Introducing the effervescent beverage into the beverage property adjusting container in a state where the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container containing the immersed material is higher than atmospheric pressure;
Equipped with
Internal pressure adjusting means capable of adjusting internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container, and switchable between a state where the foamable beverage is introduced from the beverage passage to the beverage property adjusting container and a state where the introduction thereof is restricted A switching means is provided in the dispensing system, and as the internal pressure adjusting means, a valve capable of adjusting the gas pressure supplied to the beverage property adjusting container and capable of continuously adjusting the opening degree is provided.
In the introducing step, the switching means is switched to a state where the foamable beverage is introduced, and the internal pressure of the beverage property adjusting container and the pressure of the foamable beverage introduced into the beverage property adjusting container Controlling the valve so as to keep the differential pressure of the target at a constant target value . The beverage property adjusting method according to claim 5 , wherein, in the step of introducing the foamable beverage into the beverage property adjusting container, the foamable beverage is introduced from the bottom of the beverage property adjusting container.