An improved method of maturation of an unaged or partially aged distilled spirit, the method comprising: exposing the spirit to at least one catalytic material consisting of a group selected from: iron oxide nanoparticles, alumina-supported Fe(II) complexes, Pd/C, multiwalled carbon nanotubes, carbon xerogels, carbon based solid acid catalysts, SO.sub.4.sup.2−/TiO.sub.2/γ-Al.sub.2O.sub.3, an element selected from the group consisting of: columns 4-12 transition metals except for Fe, column 13 boron group, Si, and mixtures thereof; wherein throughout the exposing, the spirit is not being distilled, and the exposing is allowed until level of at least one maturation congener in the spirit attains predetermined desired congener level/s in the spirit.

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to using containers with a multitude of nucleation sites covering a major portion of the inside wall of the container to enable rapid and nearly complete removal of soluble gases from fluid samples, including carbonated beverages and other carbonated fluid samples. A fluid sample is rapidly poured into the described container initiating a catastrophic release of the soluble gas from the sample.

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to using containers with a multitude of nucleation sites covering a major portion of the inside wall of the container to enable rapid and nearly complete removal of soluble gases from fluid samples, including carbonated beverages and other carbonated fluid samples. A fluid sample is rapidly poured into the described container initiating a catastrophic release of the soluble gas from the sample.

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.

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 preparing a filtered beverage includes filtering a raw beverage using a cross-flow ultrafiltration device to produce a solids fraction and a liquid fraction; heating the solids fraction to a temperature of 60° C. or greater to produce a pasteurized solids fraction; microfiltering the liquid fraction through a microfilter having a size cut-off of 1 μm or smaller to produce a microfiltered liquid fraction; and combining the pasteurized solids fraction and the microfiltered liquid fraction to result in the filtered beverage.

A brewing process of a Chinese yellow rice wine rich in active ingredients of Stachys sieboldii Miq. and Allium cepa L. by preparing Stachys sieboldii Miq. and Allium cepa L. into a juice or a powder respectively; immersing raw glutinous rice in water for water absorption and expansion, steaming, placing in a fermentation tank for pre-fermentation, stirring with a rake regularly when a temperature of fermented materials rises to a certain temperature to obtain a pre-fermented product; post-fermenting with the pre-fermented product, press filtering, allowing a press filtrate to stand still for clarification, filtering, heat sterilizing, adding a juice containing active ingredients of the Stachys sieboldii Miq. and a juice containing active ingredients of the Allium cepa L. into every 1 L of the press filtrate to obtain a Chinese yellow rice wine rich in active ingredients of Stachys sieboldii Miq. and Allium cepa L.

A brewing process of a Chinese yellow rice wine rich in active ingredients of Stachys sieboldii Miq. and Allium cepa L. by preparing Stachys sieboldii Miq. and Allium cepa L. into a juice or a powder respectively; immersing raw glutinous rice in water for water absorption and expansion, steaming, placing in a fermentation tank for pre-fermentation, stirring with a rake regularly when a temperature of fermented materials rises to a certain temperature to obtain a pre-fermented product; post-fermenting with the pre-fermented product, press filtering, allowing a press filtrate to stand still for clarification, filtering, heat sterilizing, adding a juice containing active ingredients of the Stachys sieboldii Miq. and a juice containing active ingredients of the Allium cepa L. into every 1 L of the press filtrate to obtain a Chinese yellow rice wine rich in active ingredients of Stachys sieboldii Miq. and Allium cepa L.

A Cardamine hupingshanensis selenium-enriched Chinese yellow rice wine and a production method are provided. The production method is performed as follows. Fresh C. hupingshanensis is selected, followed by preparing the C. hupingshanensis into a juice containing effective components of C. hupingshanensis, or C. hupingshanensis powder. Glutinous rice raw materials are soaked in clear water, followed by taking out and steaming to obtain steamed glutinous rice. The steamed glutinous rice is cooled and mixed with distillers' yeast for pre-fermentation, after a temperature of fermented material rising to a harrowing temperature, a pre-fermented product is obtained by harrowing regularly. A post-fermentation is performed, followed by performing a pressure filtration. A pressure filtrate is put aside for clarification, followed by filtering and sterilizing, then adding the juice. Alternatively, the C. hupingshanensis powder is added into the pre-fermented product, followed by post-fermenting, then performing pressure filtration and filtering and sterilizing pressure filtrate.

A Cardamine hupingshanensis selenium-enriched Chinese yellow rice wine and a production method are provided. The production method is performed as follows. Fresh C. hupingshanensis is selected, followed by preparing the C. hupingshanensis into a juice containing effective components of C. hupingshanensis, or C. hupingshanensis powder. Glutinous rice raw materials are soaked in clear water, followed by taking out and steaming to obtain steamed glutinous rice. The steamed glutinous rice is cooled and mixed with distillers' yeast for pre-fermentation, after a temperature of fermented material rising to a harrowing temperature, a pre-fermented product is obtained by harrowing regularly. A post-fermentation is performed, followed by performing a pressure filtration. A pressure filtrate is put aside for clarification, followed by filtering and sterilizing, then adding the juice. Alternatively, the C. hupingshanensis powder is added into the pre-fermented product, followed by post-fermenting, then performing pressure filtration and filtering and sterilizing pressure filtrate.