A liquid product distribution network includes a liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus for operation in association with a tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus. The liquid product distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus includes a radio transmitter device and sensing circuitry for sensing and communicating physical properties associating with the keg. A tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus senses flow of a liquid through a tap includes a tap handle radio transmitter device for fitting within and protected by a tap handle and a low-energy consumption tap handle radio/processing module. A mobile communications device with geographic position sensing device and/or said tap handle flow monitoring and reporting apparatus passively and without user interaction within the liquid product distribution network, without using network uplink/gateway circuit devices for sensing and reporting fluid storage, flow, and financial operations relating to the distribution of said liquid product throughout the liquid product distribution network.

Beverage dispensing assembly (1), comprising a dispenser (2) and a beverage container (3), wherein the beverage container (3) has a neck portion (7) and a shoulder portion (8) adjacent the neck portion (7), wherein the neck portion (7) is provided with at least an outflow opening and at least one gas inlet opening (9) and wherein the dispenser (2) comprises a housing (4), wherein the housing (4) is provided with a receptacle (5) for receiving at least part of the container (3), wherein the container (3) is positioned in the dispenser (2) with the neck (7) and shoulder portion (8) facing downward, such that the neck portion (7) and at least part of the shoulder portion (8) are received in the receptacle (5), wherein part of the shoulder portion (8) extends close to and/or is in contact with a wall of the receptacle (5), wherein preferably a lid (12) is provided over the container (3), enclosing a part of the container (3) extending outside the receptacle (5).

Described is an assembly that provides a passageway for a beverage line connected between a beverage vessel contained within a cabinet, and a beverage tap secured to a tabletop accessory located on a top surface of the cabinet. When the accessory is secured to both the cabinet and a tabletop accessory, the accessory provides: (i) a passageway for the beverage line while (ii) stabilizing and maintaining the tabletop accessory in a stationary and fixed position relative to the cabinet. The accessory may include an upper connector (fastened to the tabletop accessory) having a female shaft for engaging a male shaft of a lower connector (fastened to the cabinet).

A beverage dispensing head includes a housing having a front, a rear, and a base that extends between the front and the rear. A mixing nozzle is configured to dispense a flow of beverage via the base. A valve is configured to control the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle, and a switch is movable into and between a closed position in which the valve opens the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle and an open position in which the valve closes the flow of beverage via the mixing nozzle. A lighting module disposed in the housing is configured to illuminate the front of the housing and the base of the housing when the switch is moved into the closed position.

Various apparatus and systems for chilled beverage dispensing are disclosed. The beverage dispenser can be configured such that any surface that the dispensed beverage is in contact with during the dispensing process is refrigerated to the appropriate temperature. In some examples, the beverage dispenser can extend from and retract into a refrigerated source. In some examples, the beverage dispenser can be built into a refrigeration system.

A beverage supply apparatus for supplying multiple types of beverage. The beverage supply apparatus may include a number of nozzles for discharging multiple types of beverages, a touch panel for displaying options for the multiple types of beverages while also receiving a selection operation for one beverage from among the multiple types of beverages, a number of physical buttons that correspond to the number of nozzles and that receive an instruction for discharge of the beverage selected by the selection operation, and a control unit that specifies, from among the physical buttons, the physical button corresponding to the nozzle from which the beverage selected by the selection operation will be discharged, and controls the touch panel in such a way as to provide notification of the physical button specified.

A pouch for use in a beverage dispenser is a soft pouch having a liquid or slurry contents stored in a compartment thereof. The pouch has a front panel, a rear panel, and a base panel. The front and rear panels are joined together by a common seal around their side edges and an upper edge thereof. An upper portion of the pouch has a top edge, upper side edges and rounded shoulders that are connected to the side edges of the front and rear panels. The top edge has a width that is narrower than the pouch width. The pouch is formed of a laminated material.

A liquid product distribution network includes a keg distribution monitoring and reporting apparatus associated with a keg. The apparatus includes a radio transmitter device and sensing circuitry for sensing and communicating physical properties associating with the keg. A top or bottom chime of keg physically protects the sensing circuitry during keg distribution in the keg distribution network. The apparatus also includes a battery power supply unit fitted within and protected by the top or bottom chime. The apparatus further includes a unique identifier associated with the sensing and reporting device. The apparatus further includes a mobile communications device is configured to identify the keg based on the unique identifier associated with the sensing and reporting device embedded therein, and receive and process the radiofrequency signals from the radiofrequency signal transmission circuitry of the identified keg passively and without user interaction, for monitoring the physical properties and location of the keg.

A liquid product dispensing container device for affixes to a liquid product dispensing container, such as a beer keg, for monitoring, controlling and/or optimizing flow of a liquid product delivered to consumers from the liquid product dispensing container. The liquid product dispensing container device includes a casing for attaching it to the liquid product dispensing container. The liquid product dispensing container device includes a power source, a radio transmitter circuit, a radio/processing module processing radio signal transmissions of information relating to the liquid product dispensing container. An antenna associates with the radio/processing module for sending and receiving the radio signal transmissions between the radio/processing module and at least one stationary reader and/or mobile device.

Systems and methods for dispensing chilled wine using a dispensing appliance. The appliance generally comprises a housing or enclosure protecting internal components and providing a chilled chamber for wine storage and an unchilled chamber for electric and other components. An airtight wine “silo” containing a packaged wine is insertable into a cradle in the chilled chamber for attaching to a fluid connector system. The user operates a handle to control wine flow. Identifiers on the silo may be read and transmitted to a server, where learning algorithms can suggest alternative wines the user may like based on user feedback about prior wines used with the appliance.