An artificial aging apparatus for spirits and other alcoholic beverages to decrease the time it takes for alcoholic beverages to mature. The artificial aging apparatus includes an inlet, an outlet, a processing pipe, a pump, a housing, a plurality of electromagnets, a plurality of copper probes, an ultraviolet (UV) radiation source, and a power source. The alcoholic beverage is pumped through the inlet and then into the processing pipe. Subsequently, the alcoholic beverages passes through an electromagnetic field generated to expedite aging, past a plurality of copper probes to smooth the alcoholic beverage, and exposed to the UV radiation source for sanitization. Then, the alcoholic beverage is discharged from the outlet for storage or packaged for consumption.

A container for raising and storing wine, which includes an external metal enclosure having at least one body in the overall shape of a hollow cylinder and a rear wall fixed to the longitudinal rear end of the body in order to close it off, an internal wooden enclosure that is able to contain the wine, including at least one body in the overall shape of a hollow cylinder and a front wall and a rear wall that close off the body in a leaktight manner, the internal enclosure being inserted into the external enclosure with a tight fit until the rear wall of the internal enclosure butts against the rear wall of the external enclosure, and clamping elements that exert a longitudinal force that tends to clamp the internal enclosure against the external enclosure.

A container for raising and storing wine, which includes an external metal enclosure having at least one body in the overall shape of a hollow cylinder and a rear wall fixed to the longitudinal rear end of the body in order to close it off, an internal wooden enclosure that is able to contain the wine, including at least one body in the overall shape of a hollow cylinder and a front wall and a rear wall that close off the body in a leaktight manner, the internal enclosure being inserted into the external enclosure with a tight fit until the rear wall of the internal enclosure butts against the rear wall of the external enclosure, and clamping elements that exert a longitudinal force that tends to clamp the internal enclosure against the external enclosure.

A container assembly (10) for retaining a liquid (16) during aging of the liquid (16) comprises a container (12) and an oxygenator (230). The container (12) includes a container body (14) that defines a chamber (14A) that receives and retains the liquid (16). The oxygenator (230) is positioned substantially within the chamber (14A). The oxygenator (230) includes a fluid source (662), one or more diffusers (672), and a valve (670). The one or more diffusers (672) are in fluid communication with the fluid source (662). The valve (670) selectively controls the introduction of a fluid from the fluid source (662) into the liquid (16) through the one or more diffusers (672). The container assembly (10) further comprises an insert retainer assembly (338) and one or more flavor inserts (440) that are received and retained by the insert retainer assembly (338). The container (12) further includes a container aperture (20) that extends through the container body (14). The container aperture (20) can have a size that is less than approximately twenty-five percent of the total surface area of a top of the container body (14). Additionally, the container aperture (20) can extend outward radially from the center of the top of the container body (14).

A container assembly (10) for retaining a liquid (16) during aging of the liquid (16) comprises a container (12) and an oxygenator (230). The container (12) includes a container body (14) that defines a chamber (14A) that receives and retains the liquid (16). The oxygenator (230) is positioned substantially within the chamber (14A). The oxygenator (230) includes a fluid source (662), one or more diffusers (672), and a valve (670). The one or more diffusers (672) are in fluid communication with the fluid source (662). The valve (670) selectively controls the introduction of a fluid from the fluid source (662) into the liquid (16) through the one or more diffusers (672). The container assembly (10) further comprises an insert retainer assembly (338) and one or more flavor inserts (440) that are received and retained by the insert retainer assembly (338). The container (12) further includes a container aperture (20) that extends through the container body (14). The container aperture (20) can have a size that is less than approximately twenty-five percent of the total surface area of a top of the container body (14). Additionally, the container aperture (20) can extend outward radially from the center of the top of the container body (14).

A method for accelerating aging of beer in order to enhance one or more flavors that are exhibited by the beer; it includes providing in a recipient beer with one or more materials to impart flavor to the beer during an aging process, the recipient joined to one or more ultrasonic transducers; generating ultrasound that travel into the beer using the one or more ultrasonic transducers in order to disrupt the one or more materials contained in the beer, thereby imbuing the beer with one or more flavors corresponding to the one or more materials; and extracting the flavored beer from the recipient for bottling, whereby the bottled beer is carbonized.

Disclosed is a method of producing brewed, matured or fermented food, comprising: exposing the food to sound having a frequency of higher than 1 Hz and less than 400 Hz during brewing, maturation or fermentation. The method enables improved efficiency with respect to the yield of desirable flavors and flavor development control and ideally also prolonged shelf-life. Also disclosed are systems for performing said method and food products produced by said method.

An alcoholic beverage enhancing device includes a transfer liquid tank for holding a transfer liquid and an alcoholic beverage container. The alcoholic beverage container is positioned at least partially in the transfer liquid tank and is configured for holding an alcoholic beverage to be enhanced. The enhancing device additionally includes an ultrasonic energy device positioned for transmitting ultrasonic energy to the alcoholic beverage in the alcoholic beverage container through the transfer liquid in the transfer liquid tank during operation of the alcohol beverage enhancing device.

A method and system for rapidly aging ethanol-based solutions is disclosed wherein the temperature of a mass transfer column containing packing material is controlled while fluid flows there through.

A receptacle for storing, pressurizing, and dispensing packaged beverages. The receptacle includes an airtight chamber with a removable lid, wherein the joint between the lid and the chamber is also airtight. A gas valve allows for the inflow and outflow of gas, and a tap port and tap stem allow the beverage to be dispensed without breaking the seal of the chamber. A pressure relief valve allows for more rapid depressurization. The chamber can be used at high and low pressures, such as a partial vacuum, to prevent oxidation of a number of open beverages, such as beers, wines, and sodas. A pressure gauge port coupled with an optional pressure gauge allows a user to verify the appropriate pressure for the type of beverage being preserved. The gas valve may be disposed on a base of the receptacle, as may the pressure relief and/or the pressure gauge port.