Assembly for regulating flow of hops into a fermentation vessel includes a hollow cross-shaped connector including a first cylindrical housing intersecting a second cylindrical housing at an approximate right angle. A rotary shaft coaxially mounted within the first cylindrical housing supports a hub and uniformly spaced vanes at a proximal end with outer ends of each vane adapted to sweep in close engagement with an inner wall of the first cylindrical housing. An actuator coupled to a distal end of the shaft is configured to control rotation of the shaft to control flow of hops from a hopper configured for holding hops into a hatch of a fermentation vessel configured for holding fermenting fluid. An outlet of the second cylindrical housing sealably connects to the hatch of the fermentation vessel, and an inlet of the second cylindrical housing sealably connects to an aperture of the hopper.

The invention comprises a method for packaging a dispensable substance, such as a food product, whipped cream, a hydrocarbon, or an air freshener, the method comprising the steps of: placing a first product component into a container, the container comprising a valve dispensing port; adding a second product component into the container, the second product component comprising at least one of: (1) a solid form of the second product component and (2) a liquid form of the second product component; sealing the container; and warming, after the step of sealing, the second product component in the container at least ten degrees Celsius, where the step of warming results in a phase change of all of the second product component into a gas phase, at least a portion of the gas phase of the second product component dissolving into the first product component to form the dispensable substance.

Disclosed is a system and method for extraction of soluble flavoring components from a solid flavor carrier material into a brewing liquid. The system comprises a process vessel and a filtration device. The process vessel comprises an inlet for solid flavor carrier material, a circulation inlet for material comprising brewing liquid and a circulation outlet for material comprising brewing liquid. The filtration device is arranged for separation of solid components from material comprising brewing liquid and is a cross-flow filtration device comprising at least one cross-flow filter, a circulation inlet for material comprising brewing liquid, a circulation outlet for unfiltered material comprising brewing liquid and a closable outlet for filtered material comprising brewing liquid. The process vessel and the filtration device are comprised in a recirculation loop. Furthermore, the system comprises a recirculation pump and a closable feed inlet for introduction of material comprising brewing liquid into the recirculation loop.

Disclosed is a system and method for extraction of soluble flavoring components from a solid flavor carrier material into a brewing liquid. The system comprises a process vessel and a filtration device. The process vessel comprises an inlet for solid flavor carrier material, a circulation inlet for material comprising brewing liquid and a circulation outlet for material comprising brewing liquid. The filtration device is arranged for separation of solid components from material comprising brewing liquid and is a cross-flow filtration device comprising at least one cross-flow filter, a circulation inlet for material comprising brewing liquid, a circulation outlet for unfiltered material comprising brewing liquid and a closable outlet for filtered material comprising brewing liquid. The process vessel and the filtration device are comprised in a recirculation loop. Furthermore, the system comprises a recirculation pump and a closable feed inlet for introduction of material comprising brewing liquid into the recirculation loop.

The present invention concerns a process for producing a solid product and a liquid product, comprising the steps of a. heating by direct steam injection a finely divided starting material, b. separating the heated starting material in the solid product and an aqueous liquid, c. heating and pressurizing the aqueous liquid, and d. reducing the pressure of the aqueous liquid thereby generating steam and the liquid product, wherein the steam generated in step d is returned to step a for injection into the finely divided starting material. The process suggests a solution for extracting the additional water appearing in the aqueous liquid due to condensed steam.

The present invention concerns a process for producing a solid product and a liquid product, comprising the steps of a. heating by direct steam injection a finely divided starting material, b. separating the heated starting material in the solid product and an aqueous liquid, c. heating and pressurizing the aqueous liquid, and d. reducing the pressure of the aqueous liquid thereby generating steam and the liquid product, wherein the steam generated in step d is returned to step a for injection into the finely divided starting material. The process suggests a solution for extracting the additional water appearing in the aqueous liquid due to condensed steam.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a container including a container body that includes heat-insulating material and has an opening that provides access to an interior of the container body. The container further includes: a container cover configured to open and close the opening of the container body, and at least three channels connected to the container and that are communicative with the interior of the container body. The at least three channels include at least one first channel and a second channel that are communicative with a beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior of the container body, the beverage ingredient pack configured to hold first beverage-making ingredients. The container further includes a third channel that is communicative with a space formed in the interior of the container body between a wall of the container body and the beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior the container body.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a container including a container body that includes heat-insulating material and has an opening that provides access to an interior of the container body. The container further includes: a container cover configured to open and close the opening of the container body, and at least three channels connected to the container and that are communicative with the interior of the container body. The at least three channels include at least one first channel and a second channel that are communicative with a beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior of the container body, the beverage ingredient pack configured to hold first beverage-making ingredients. The container further includes a third channel that is communicative with a space formed in the interior of the container body between a wall of the container body and the beverage ingredient pack mounted in the interior the container body.

A beer brewing device comprises: a mashing module, a boil and fermentation module, and a temperature control module. The boil and fermentation module is assembled with the mashing module in a swappable manner. The temperature control module controls the temperature of the beer brewing process. The boil and fermentation module can be detached from the mashing module during the fermentation process or after the beer brewing process is completed, such that another boil and fermentation module can be connected with the mashing module to perform another beer brewing process. In addition, the beer brewing device also has the advantages of automatic high-temperature cleaning and sterilization functions, two fermentation processes in one tank, and integrated and automatic brewing process.

A method for producing a beer or a beer-like beverage with a pure and mild hop aroma having a slight raw hop odor, which includes maintaining a hop-mixed liquid in a tank, which liquid contains a hop and a solvent, at a temperature less than the boiling point of the solvent, wherein at least a part of the hop-mixed liquid is withdrawn from the tank, and the liquid is supplied to an empty portion of the tank, again, to circulate the hop-mixed liquid through the tank. Also disclosed is an apparatus for producing the beer or beer-like beverage.