A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.

A beverage-making apparatus includes a fermentation tank assembly including a fermentation tank having an opening formed therein and a fermentation tank cover configured to open and close the opening. The beverage-making apparatus also includes a refrigeration cycle apparatus including a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. The refrigeration cycle apparatus is configured to circulate a refrigerant therethrough and to control a temperature of the fermentation tank as the evaporator is disposed at the fermentation tank. The beverage-making apparatus further includes a heat insulating wall surrounding both the fermentation tank and the evaporator.

Apparatus and associated methods relate to a fermentation monitoring apparatus configured to generate a visual indicia in a fluid well in response to pressure inside a vessel exceeding a predetermined pressure. In an illustrative example, the fermentation monitoring apparatus may include a vessel cap that includes a fluid well holding a quantity of fluid, and at least one fluid communication channel. The fluid well, for example, may receive gas released from the channel via the at least one fluid communication channel when the vessel cap is coupled to a first end of a vessel to define a chamber and a gas pressure in the chamber exceeds a predetermined threshold. Various embodiments may advantageously generate a visual indicium of gas bubbles in the quantity of fluid indicating to a user that the gas pressure in the chamber has exceeded the predetermined threshold.

A tank outlet (1) of a tank (100) comprising a tube fitting body (10), with an inlet region (11), which can be mounted on an outlet region (111) of a tank (100), a vortex breaker (20), which is mounted solely on the tube fitting body (10), wherein the vortex breaker (20) extends into the tank (100) through the inlet region (11) and does not touch the tank (100). Moreover, a method for mounting a corresponding vortex breaker (20) on a tank outlet (1) of a tank (100) is claimed.

A tank outlet (1) of a tank (100) comprising a tube fitting body (10), with an inlet region (11), which can be mounted on an outlet region (111) of a tank (100), a vortex breaker (20), which is mounted solely on the tube fitting body (10), wherein the vortex breaker (20) extends into the tank (100) through the inlet region (11) and does not touch the tank (100). Moreover, a method for mounting a corresponding vortex breaker (20) on a tank outlet (1) of a tank (100) is claimed.

The invention comprises an apparatus and method of manufacture thereof for forming a frothing agent, including the steps of: forming a frozen pellet by at least partially immersing a first material in a liquid, the first material including at least one of: (1) a solid particle comprising at least thirty percent nitrous oxide by mass and (2) a liquid drop comprising at least thirty percent nitrous oxide by mass; sealing the frozen pellet in a container comprising an initial pressure exceeding one hundred pounds per square inch; and heating contents of the container, the step of heating resultant in: (1) a phase change of the nitrous oxide; and (2) formation of the frothing agent.

The invention comprises an apparatus and method of manufacture thereof for forming a frothing agent, including the steps of: forming a frozen pellet by at least partially immersing a first material in a liquid, the first material including at least one of: (1) a solid particle comprising at least thirty percent nitrous oxide by mass and (2) a liquid drop comprising at least thirty percent nitrous oxide by mass; sealing the frozen pellet in a container comprising an initial pressure exceeding one hundred pounds per square inch; and heating contents of the container, the step of heating resultant in: (1) a phase change of the nitrous oxide; and (2) formation of the frothing agent.

Provided is a brewing system (10) comprising a brewhouse assembly (12) having a mash tun (14), a kettle (16), a filter (18) and wort chiller (20) arranged in fluid communication for brewing purposes. The brewhouse assembly (12) is configured to operatively produce wort from mash liquor. Wort produced by the brewhouse assembly (12) is generally stored in a transport container (22). The brewing system 10 further includes a plurality of fermentation assemblies (24) each arranged remotely from the brewhouse assembly (12). Each fermentation assembly (24) includes at least one fermenter (26) which is arranged in fluid communication with a plurality of bright beer tanks (28). Each fermenter (26) is operatively suppliable with wort from the transport container (22) and is configured to produce beer from the wort for subsequent storage in a bright beer tank (28). The brewing system (10) also includes a monitoring and control system (30) which comprises a plurality of sensors (32) for sensing brewhouse and fermentation assembly operating characteristics, a plurality of actuators (34) configured to remotely control the brewhouse and fermentation assemblies (12) and (24) to influence these respective operating characteristics, and some manner of remote interface (100) for receiving the sensed operating characteristics and instructing the actuators (34).

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.