The invention relates to a light-stable hop extract comprising at least 1 g per kg of dry matter of one or more hop derived substances represented by formula (I), wherein RCH(CH.sub.3).sub.2, CH(CH.sub.3)CH.sub.2CH.sub.3 or CH.sub.2CH(CH.sub.3).sub.2. The invention further relates to the use of the light-stable hop extract in beer and to a method of preparing such a hop extract. ##STR00001##

An improved system and process for rapidly producing distilled spirits having characteristics associated with a much longer maturation process is provided. The method involves contacting wood with an unmatured distilled spirit under heated conditions and contacting the resulting heat-treated spirit with actinic light. The disclosure provides embodiments where a spirit is sequentially processed through heat and actinic light treatment. The disclosure also provides embodiments where a heat-treated spirit is mixed with a spirit that has been separately treated with light to give characteristics of a mature spirit. Air may also be percolated through a mature spirit in a container with a headspace at a gauge pressure between about 25 inHg and about 30 inHg, until the alcohol concentration of the mature spirit is reduced by between about 1% to about 2% by volume, and until the total volume of the mature spirit is reduced by about 10% or less.

The present invention relates to a device 1 for refining the taste of beverages 7 with an irradiation chamber 2, wherein the irradiation chamber 2 is configured to receive a beverage vessel 6, in particular a beverage glass or a beverage bottle, and at least one radiation source 9, the at least one radiation source 9 being arranged within the irradiation chamber 2 and is configured to emit a first radiation 10 with a wavelength out of a wavelength range between 270 nm and 450 nm, wherein the beverage vessel 6 is providable in the irradiation chamber 2 to be irradiated with the first radiation 10.

The present disclosure provides a device for applying a high frequency, high voltage field to a substance, such as wine or liquor. The high voltage, high frequency field causes electrochemical reactions that change the chemical make-up of said substance. This is done by running the high voltage, high frequency field to two separately insulated electrodes that are placed parallel to each other within the device.

Provided is a system and method for rapid aging of distilled ethyl alcohol. The system includes a vessel with at least one aperture for introducing RF energy at a preselected frequency to be absorbed by opaque material in a target area; at least one liquid circulating system; and a platform to substantially contain a plurality of units of wood as the opaque material. Each unit of wood has a plurality of capillaries containing at least wood sugar and resin. The system has a wood agitation system to move the wood through the target area. An RF generator provides constant RF energy at the predetermined frequency to induce oscillation of molecules within the wood. The system has an oxygenator to provide oxygen into the liquid mixture and outgas congeners from the liquid, the vessel further providing at least one vent structured and arranged to vent the outgassed congeners.

Time-reducing and flavor-enhancing techniques for alcoholic spirits may be provided as an alternative to conventional barrel-aging. Numerous controllable variables may be accessible for control at one process control panel or unit for a spirit-aging system. Variations in pressure, day/night cycle time, % O.sub.2, ratio of exposed wood surface to gallons of spirit, variations in spirit liquid temperature, and the amount of rough and ultrasonic mixing variables may be made to decrease the aging time. The aging process may be monitored for the changing spirit characteristics by drawing periodic samples to compare to spirit-quality target goals. Combinations of the variables may be optimized for these goals. Changes also may be made to the variables to address issues arising for quality control. All or most of the vapor naturally emitted by the spirit may be avoided or captured in a container or vessel with no or substantially reduced volume loss.

A method for accelerating an oxidation rate of food comprises the following steps: providing a food; sensing an oxidation state of the food by a sensing unit; generating a sensing signal by the sensing unit; retrieving a digital signal of a spectrum waveform from a database according to the sensing signal; and transmitting a millimeter-wave analog signal to the food according to the digital signal of the spectrum waveform, where the millimeter-wave analog signal comprises first frequency signals and second frequency signals, and the first frequency signals and the second frequency signals are alternately arranged, and the first and second frequency signals comprise sinusoidal waveforms.

Systems and methods for dispensing items utilizing a housing having a compartment configured to store a quantity of items, a dispensing device configured to dispense at least one of the items from the housing to an individual, an activation device configured to activate the dispensing device to dispense the at least one item from the housing in response to an interaction with the individual, an outlet in the housing through which the items may be individually dispensed from the housing by the dispensing device, and one or more light sources that emit UV-C radiation within the housing and irradiate exterior surfaces of the items or packaging of the items with the UV-C radiation. Methods utilizing the system may be used to dispense items, such as sacramental elements for Communion.

This invention relates to compositions and applications for a bioceramic composition that includes from about 45 to about 55% by weight of kaolinite (Al.sub.2Si.sub.2O.sub.5(OH).sub.4); from about 5 to about 15% by weight of tourmaline; from about 3 to about 13% by weight of aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3); from about 11 to about 19% by weight of silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2); and from about 3 wt % to about 13 wt % zirconium oxide (ZrO.sub.2).

Ultraviolet irradiation of fluids for the purposes of disinfection, sterilization and modification of a target organic compound found within the fluids. The target compound in the fluids can have an absorption spectra with an ultraviolet wavelength ranging from 230 nm to 360 nm. The absorption spectra includes a first and second set of wavelengths corresponding to absorption peaks and absorption valleys in the absorption spectra, respectively. A-set of ultraviolet radiation sources irradiate the fluids. The set of ultraviolet radiation sources operate at a set of peak wavelengths ranging from 230 nm to 360 nm with a peak full width at half maximum that is less than 20 nm. The set of peak wavelengths are proximate to at least one wavelength in the second set of wavelengths corresponding to the absorption valleys in the absorption spectra with a variation of a full width half maximum of the absorption valley.