Appliances (100) for preparing and dispensing beverages, such as beers, featuring a transparent window (110) that allows a user of the appliance to view the beverage in a chamber of the appliance as that beverage is being prepared are disclosed. The chamber in which the beverage is prepared can be either an integral part of the appliance or a disposable chamber that can be removed and replaced with a new disposable chamber after one or more servings of a beverage has been prepared in the disposable chamber. The appliances can have methods for cleaning the chamber, or the chamber can be self-cleaning. If the chamber for preparing the beverage is a disposable container, it may come with a concentrated beverage already prepackaged in the container, and the casing of the container can prevent oxygen and light from penetrating the container and affecting the concentrated beverage contained within.

Described herein is a beverage system that is configured to produce beverages having different characteristics, such as different levels of carbonation including producing substantially non-carbonated beverages and carbonated beverages with a single machine. The beverage system includes a beverage appliance and a beverage container. The beverage container includes a beverage material, which can include a flavoring ingredient for a target beverage. The beverage appliance is used to access the beverage material from the beverage container and produce the target beverage. The beverage appliance and beverage container are adaptable to produce the target beverage having any of a range of carbonation levels or other characteristics.

A product container can include an insert and a collar coupled to a flexible bag. The product container can be assembled by sliding the insert at least partially into a neck of the bag, sliding the collar over the insert and the neck, and coupling the insert and the collar to one another and to the bag.

An apparatus for the storage and aging of wine that comprises of a disposable flexible bladder contained within a rigid support container. The flexible bladder has a fill/drain port connected to an internal dip tube that allows the bladder to be filled and emptied repeatedly without any contact with air. This allows the wine to remain fresh and unoxidized during storage and aging. The apparatus can be used in multiple support containers, such as barrels, IBCs, and tanks. The apparatus has no moving parts and uses disposable contact materials that eliminate washing and water usage. Single-use components ensure sanitary operation and this combined with the elimination of oxygen in contact with the wine produces consistently higher quality product.

A wine dispenser that includes a wine refrigerator unit having at least two independent temperature-controlled compartments, each one of the two compartments having a plurality of supports to support a wine container, and a wine dispenser unit residing atop the wine refrigeration unit, the wine dispenser unit including a plurality of fountain heads, each one of the plurality of fountain heads being connected to a respective fluid-tight wine supply line that extends from the fountain head to an interior of a respective one of the two independent temperature-controlled compartments.

A beverage dispensing system comprises a container, an attachment mechanism, and a cartridge. The container may hold a mixing solution or liquid, such as water, to be mixed with the contents of the cartridge. The attachment mechanism is generally located within the container. The attachment mechanism may comprise an engagement assembly, a piercing portion, and a valve assembly. The engagement assembly may generally receive the cartridge within the attachment mechanism. The piercing portion may generally pierce the cartridge, thereby releasing the contents of the cartridge into the container. The valve assembly may generally open upon engagement of the cartridge with the attachment mechanism. The cartridge generally engages with the attachment mechanism to open the cartridge to be dispensed into the container, thereby combining the contents of the cartridge with the liquid within the container to create a drinkable beverage.

A beer keg assembly includes a liner or bottle having a body portion and a neck portion. A valve assembly is in the neck portion of the liner. The valve assembly includes an inner retainer portion having an inner annular surface formed on a portion of reduced diameter. A cap is secured to the inner retainer portion. At least one spring imparting force between the cap and the inner annular surface. The at least one spring may include an inner spring biasing a piston and a port against one another. The at least one spring may further include an outer spring, wherein the inner spring and the outer spring are both captured between the inner annular surface and the cap. A pressure relief valve may be disposed in a fluid path leading through a wall of the inner retainer portion.

A plastic beer keg includes an outer container and a liner having a neck portion and a body portion. A removable lid is secured over an opening of the container to enclose the liner. A locking ring secures the neck portion to the lid. The neck optionally includes a neck ring which interlocks with the opening through the lid to prevent relative rotation therebetween. The locking ring optionally includes ratcheting teeth engaging ratchet teeth on the lid to prevent inadvertent loosening of the locking ring. The liner may be suspended from the lid by the neck when empty.

A closure for a keg comprises a housing and at least one valve element that is movable with respect to the housing, inwardly into an open state and outwardly into a closed state. The closure also comprises a lock mechanism having a locking element that is movable with respect to the housing and is capable of holding the valve element in the open state. The lock mechanism includes first and second couplings at which the locking element and the valve element are mutually engageable. The lock mechanism is arranged such that when the locking element and the valve element are engaged at the first coupling, the locking element moves with the valve element as the valve element moves from the open state into the closed state. This movement of the locking element enables engagement between the locking element and the valve element at the second coupling, which engagement at the second coupling occurring on subsequent movement of the valve element into the open state to prevent the valve element returning to the closed state.

An apparatus for the storage and aging of wine that comprises of a disposable flexible bladder contained within a rigid support container. The flexible bladder has a fill/drain port connected to an internal dip tube that allows the bladder to be filled and emptied repeatedly without any contact with air. This allows the wine to remain fresh and unoxidized during storage and aging. The apparatus can be used in multiple support containers, such as barrels, IBCs, and tanks. The apparatus has no moving parts and uses disposable contact materials that eliminate washing and water usage. Single-use components ensure sanitary operation and this combined with the elimination of oxygen in contact with the wine produces consistently higher quality product.