A device for extracting aroma substances from vegetable aroma carriers into a brewing liquid includes a solids separating device for separating the vegetable aroma carriers from the brewing liquid in flow, the solids of the aroma carriers being held back in the solids separating device. The device comprises a heater for heating the suspension of brewing liquid and aroma carriers to an isomerization temperature at which the -acids contained in the aroma carriers are converted into iso--acids.

The present invention relates to hop products, in particular to hop products for flavouring beer and enhancing the aroma of beers, ales and other brewed beverages. More specifically, the present invention relates to such products which are 100% hop-derived and which are readily dispersible in cold wort and beer. As a result of our research, we have determined that polar hop extracts, in particular aqueous extracts of hops, have emulsifying properties for hop oil or hop oil-based hop extract products. This has allowed us to develop hop flavouring and aroma products for beer consisting solely of natural products, without the need for artificial emulsifiers and thickening agents or solvents. Surprisingly and unexpectedly, we have found that our combinations of hop-derived constituents is readily dispersible in cold wort and in beer, even when formulated as a 100% hop-derived paste, and provides excellent hop flavour and aroma to the finished beer. Accordingly, the present invention provides a hop composition comprising a mixture of a polar extract of hops and a hop oil-containing component.

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##

One embodiment of the present invention is a nested fermentation method for making a beverage, such as an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beer, a wine, or the like, the method comprising the steps of: creating a fermented wort solution, wherein creating the fermented wort solution comprises performing a first fermentation process on a first wort; creating a distilled wort, wherein creating the distilled wort comprises removing an initial portion of alcohol and an initial portion of water from the fermented wort solution; and creating a concentrated fermented wort solution, wherein creating the concentrated fermented wort solution comprises adding additional fermentation ingredients to the distilled wort and performing a second fermentation process on the additional fermentation ingredients to the distilled wort.

One embodiment of the present invention is a nested fermentation method for making a beverage, such as an alcoholic or non-alcoholic beer, a wine, or the like, the method comprising the steps of: creating a fermented wort solution, wherein creating the fermented wort solution comprises performing a first fermentation process on a first wort; creating a distilled wort, wherein creating the distilled wort comprises removing an initial portion of alcohol and an initial portion of water from the fermented wort solution; and creating a concentrated fermented wort solution, wherein creating the concentrated fermented wort solution comprises adding additional fermentation ingredients to the distilled wort and performing a second fermentation process on the additional fermentation ingredients to the distilled wort.

The present invention relates to hop products, in particular to hop products for flavouring beer and enhancing the aroma of beers, ales and other brewed beverages. More specifically, the present invention relates to such products which are 100% hop-derived and which are readily dispersible in cold wort and beer. As a result of our research, we have determined that polar hop extracts, in particular aqueous extracts of hops, have emulsifying properties for hop oil or hop oil-based hop extract products. This has allowed us to develop hop flavouring and aroma products for beer consisting solely of natural products, without the need for artificial emulsifiers and thickening agents or solvents. Surprisingly and unexpectedly, we have found that our combinations of hop-derived constituents is readily dispersible in cold wort and in beer, even when formulated as a 100% hop-derived paste, and provides excellent hop flavour and aroma to the finished beer. Accordingly, the present invention provides a hop composition comprising a mixture of a polar extract of hops and a hop oil-containing component.

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.

Many embodiments described herein facilitate continuous biomass extraction and centrifugation. The biomass extraction and centrifugation system may include biomass and solvent feed tanks, a plurality of vessels, and a centrifuge. The biomass and solvent feed tanks may be fluidly coupled to the plurality of vessels, which may in turn be fluidly coupled to the centrifuge. In this manner, the system may be arranged and configured to run in a continuous manner with a substantially constant and repeatable extraction result.

Many embodiments described herein facilitate continuous biomass extraction and centrifugation. The biomass extraction and centrifugation system may include biomass and solvent feed tanks, a plurality of vessels, and a centrifuge. The biomass and solvent feed tanks may be fluidly coupled to the plurality of vessels, which may in turn be fluidly coupled to the centrifuge. In this manner, the system may be arranged and configured to run in a continuous manner with a substantially constant and repeatable extraction result.

Pretreating hops includes soaking hops in whiskey for a period of time until the hops absorb a portion of the whiskey and begin to swell. These pretreated hops are in the form of hop flowers, a hop extract, a concentrated hop resin or liquid, or combinations thereof. In any case, the pretreated hops take on the flavors and aromas of the whiskey. A beer product is described that uses these pretreated hops added during the boil stage of brewing the beer, during fermentation of the beer, and/or after fermentation of the beer. Adding the pretreated hops during the brewing process results in the flavors and aromas from the whiskey imparting to the beer. The process obviates the requirement for finishing the beer in whiskey barrels or adding whiskey to the beer product after manufacturing to obtain a complex flavor profile.