IMPROVEMENTS IN BREWING

Abstract

An apparatus for brewing and dispensing a beverage comprising a fermentation container for containing and fermenting a beverage, the fermentation container comprising a first outlet, and a collector for collecting waste from the fermentation container, the collector being attachable to and detachable from the fermentation container at the first outlet.

Claims

1. An apparatus for brewing and dispensing a beverage, such as an alcoholic beverage, comprising: a fermentation container for containing and fermenting a beverage, the fermentation container comprising a first outlet; and a collector for collecting waste from the fermentation container, the collector being attachable to and detachable from the fermentation container at the first outlet, wherein the first outlet is moveable between: a first position in which the first outlet is configured to form a pressure-tight seal to seal the fermentation container when the collector is not attached to the fermentation container; and a second position in which the first outlet is configured to allow fluid communication between the fermentation container and the collector when the collector is attached to the fermentation container so that waste from the fermentation container collects in the collector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first outlet is moveable from its first position to its second position by attaching the collector to the fermentation container.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the first outlet is moveable from its second position to its first position by detaching the collector from the fermentation container.

4. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first outlet comprises a plug that is moveable between a first position in which the first outlet is in its first position and a second position in which the outlet is in its second position.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the plug is moveable inwardly towards or into the fermentation container to move the plug from its first position to its second position.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the plug is configured to slide between its first and second positions.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the collector is configured to abut the plug to move it from its first position to its second position.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the plug comprises a body portion having a first surface that is a planar surface that is configured to sealingly engage a corresponding surface on an interior surface of the fermentation container to seal the fermentation container when the plug is in its first position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the plug further comprises an elongate stem that extends from the planar surface and is in a plane perpendicular to the planar surface of the body portion of the plug, wherein the elongate stem is configured to slide within a corresponding channel in the fermentation container as the plug moves between its first and second positions.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the body portion of the plug comprises a second surface on an opposite side of the body portion to the first surface, wherein the second surface is cone-shaped or substantially cone-shaped.

11. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a tap assembly that is attachable to and detachable from the fermentation container for dispensing a beverage from the fermentation container.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the fermentation container comprises a second outlet and the tap assembly is attachable to the fermentation container at the second outlet to allow fluid communication between the fermentation container and the tap assembly to dispense a beverage from the fermentation container.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the collector is configured to enclose the tap assembly when the collector is attached to the fermentation container and to expose the tap assembly when the collector is not attached to the fermentation container.

14. The apparatus of any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the collector is configured to prevent actuation of the tap assembly when the collector is attached to the fermentation container and to allow activation of the tap assembly when the collector is not attached to the fermentation container.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the tap assembly is attachable to the fermentation container at the first outlet when the collector is not attached to the fermentation container to allow fluid communication between the fermentation container and the tap assembly to dispense a beverage from the fermentation container.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the first outlet is moveable from its first position to its second position by attaching the tap assembly to the fermentation container.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the first outlet is moveable from its second position to its first position by detaching the tap assembly from the fermentation container.

18. The apparatus of any one of claims 11 to 17, wherein the tap assembly is attachable to the fermentation container by a resilient fit, a snap-fit or an interference fit.

19. The apparatus of any one of claims 11 to 18, wherein the tap assembly comprises a handle that is attachable to and detachable from the tap assembly to facilitate actuation of the tap assembly.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the handle is attachable to the tap assembly magnetically.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the tap assembly is actuatable by rotating the handle about a pivot of the tap assembly

22. The apparatus of any one of claims 11 to 21, wherein the tap assembly comprises a hood for preventing sediment from blocking the tap assembly.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the hood comprises a barrier portion that is configured and positioned to protect the tap assembly and an angled or sloped surface that is configured to guide sediment away from the tap assembly.

24. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fermentation container further comprises a safety valve for allowing gas to exit the fermentation container during fermentation.

25. The apparatus of any one of claims 11 to 24, wherein the tap assembly and the safety valve are located at diagonally opposite corners of the fermentation container when the tap assembly is attached to the fermentation container.

26. The apparatus of any one of claims 11 to 25, wherein the fermentation container has a first axis and a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis, wherein the fermentation container is configured to be oriented with the first axis being vertical and the second axis being horizontal during fermentation, and wherein the fermentation container is configured to be oriented with the first axis being horizontal and the second axis being vertical for a fermented beverage to be dispensed via the tap assembly.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the fermentation container is longer along the first axis than along the second axis.

28. The apparatus of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fermentation container further comprises a dosing valve for injecting brewing ingredients into the fermentation container whilst maintaining the pressure within the fermentation container.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the dosing valve is the safety valve of claim 15.

30. The apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the fermentation container is configured to use the CO.sub.2 produced during primary fermentation to carbonate the beverage.

31. A collector for collecting waste from a fermentation container, the collector comprising; a chamber for containing waste; and an inlet for allowing waste to enter the chamber, wherein the inlet is movable between: a first configuration in which the inlet is sealed and waste is prevented from entering the chamber; and a second configuration in which the inlet is unsealed and waste is allowed to enter the chamber.

32. The collector of claim 31, wherein the inlet comprises a stopper that is movable between a first position in which the inlet is in its first configuration and a second position in which the inlet is in its second configuration.

33. The collector of claim 32, wherein the stopper is movable in a direction inwardly towards the centre of the chamber when moving from its first position to its second position and wherein the stopper is movable in a direction outwardly away from the centre of the chamber when moving from its second position to its first position.

34. The collector of claim 32 or claim 33, wherein the stopper comprises a float that is configured to float on waste collected within the chamber.

35. The collector of claim 34, wherein the stopper further comprises a stem extending from the float at least partially through the inlet, wherein the stem is shaped to permit fluid flow therethrough, such as a cross-shaped cross-sectional shape, a Y-shaped cross-sectional shape or a cylindrical shape.

36. An apparatus comprising: the collector of any one of claims 31 to 35; and a fermentation container for containing and fermenting a beverage, the fermentation container comprising an outlet, and the inlet of the collector being attachable to and detachable from the outlet of the fermentation container, wherein the inlet is configured to be in its first configuration when the fermentation container and the collector are not attached and wherein the inlet is configured to be in its second configuration when the fermentation container and the collector are attached.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the outlet is moveable between: a first position in which the outlet is configured to form a pressure-tight seal to seal the fermentation container when the fermentation container and the collector are not attached; and a second position in which the outlet is configured to allow fluid communication between the fermentation container and the collector when the fermentation container and the collector are attached to the fermentation container so that waste from the fermentation container collects in the collector.

38. The apparatus of claim 36 or claim 37, wherein the outlet comprises a plug that is configured to abut the stopper to move the stopper between its first and second positions.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the plug comprises an abutment portion that has a cross-shaped cross-sectional shape and that is configured to abut the stopper.

40. A method comprising: providing an apparatus comprising; a fermentation container for containing and fermenting a beverage; and a collector for collecting waste from the fermentation container, the collector being attachable to and detachable from the fermentation container; fermenting a beverage in the fermentation container and collecting waste in the collector; and carbonating the beverage in the fermentation container.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the apparatus is rotated by approximately 90 degrees between the steps of fermenting the beverage and carbonating the beverage.

42. The method of claim 40 or claim 41, wherein the method further comprises providing a tap assembly in fluid combination with the fermentation container, and dispensing a beverage from the fermentation container via the tap assembly.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the apparatus is rotated by approximately 90 degrees between the steps of fermenting the beverage and dispensing the beverage.

44. The method of claim 42 or claim 43, wherein the apparatus remains in the same orientation during the steps of carbonating the beverage and dispensing the beverage.

45. The method of any one of claims 40 to 44, wherein the apparatus is placed in a refrigerator before the step of carbonating the beverage and/or before the step of dispensing the beverage.

46. The method of any one of claims 40 to 45, wherein the collector is detached from the fermentation container before the step of carbonating the beverage and/or before the step of dispensing the beverage.

47. The method of any one of claims 40 to 46, wherein the collector is detached from the fermentation container before the apparatus is rotated by approximately 90 degrees.

48. The method of any one of claims 40 to 47, wherein CO.sub.2 produced during primary fermentation of the beverage is the same CO.sub.2 that is used to carbonate the beverage

49. The method of any one of claims 40 to 48, wherein the apparatus is the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 30 or 36 to 39.

50. A package containing ingredients for brewing an alcoholic beverage, wherein the package is shaped and sized so that it can fit through a standard domestic letterbox.

51. The package of claim 50, wherein the package contains ingredients for brewing beer, for example wherein the package contains at least one of or all of yeast, syrup and steriliser.

52. The package of claim 50 or claim 51, wherein the package is substantially cuboidal in shape.

53. The package of any one of claims 50 to 52, wherein a maximum diameter of the package along a first axis is no more than 50 mm and wherein a maximum diameter of the package along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis is no more than 350 mm.

54. The package of any one of claims 50 to 53, wherein a maximum diameter of the package along a first axis is no more than 40 mm and wherein a maximum diameter of the package along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis is no more than 300 mm.

55. The package of any one of claims 50 to 54, wherein a maximum diameter of the package along a first axis is no more than 35 mm and wherein a maximum diameter of the package along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis is no more than 250 mm.

56. The package of any one of claims 50 to 55, wherein a maximum diameter of the package along a first axis is no more than 30 mm and wherein a maximum diameter of the package along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis is no more than 250 mm.

57. The package of any one of claims 50 to 56, wherein a maximum diameter of the package along a first axis is no more than 25 mm and wherein a maximum diameter of the package along a second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis is no more than 250 mm.

58. A kit comprising the apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 30 or 36 to 39 and the package of any one of claims 50 to 57.

59. A tap assembly for a fermentation apparatus comprising: an aperture for allowing passage of a fluid therethrough; a moveable component that is moveable between a first position in which the moveable component completely blocks the aperture to a plurality of second positions in which the moveable component only partially blocks the aperture or does not block the aperture; and an actuator for moving the moveable component.

60. The tap assembly of claim 59, further comprising a channel in which the moveable component is configured to slide when moving between its first position and its second positions.

61. The tap assembly of claim 59 or claim 60, wherein the moveable component is configured to prevent passage of fluid through the aperture when in its first position and to allow passage of fluid through the aperture when in its second position.

62. The tap assembly of any one of claims 59 to 61, wherein the passage of fluid through the aperture is controllable by controlling the portion of the aperture that is blocked by the moveable component.

63. The tap assembly of any one of claims 59 to 62, further comprising a biasing means configured to bias the moveable component towards its first position.

64. The tap assembly of claim 63, wherein the biasing means is a spring.

65. The tap assembly of any one of claims 59 to 64, wherein the actuator is configured to abut the moveable component to move the moveable component between its first and second positions.

66. The tap assembly of any one of claims 59 to 65, further comprising a pivot about which the actuator is configured to rotate.

67. The tap assembly of any one of claims 59 to 66, further comprising a handle that is attachable to the actuator.

68. The tap assembly of claim 67, wherein the handle is attachable to the tap assembly magnetically.

69. The tap assembly of any one of claims 59 to 68, further comprising a hood for preventing sediment from blocking the tap assembly.

70. The tap assembly of claim 69, wherein the hood comprises a barrier portion that is configured and positioned to protect the aperture and an angled or sloped surface connected to the barrier portion that is configured to guide sediment away from the aperture.

71. A tap assembly for a fermentation apparatus comprising: an aperture for allowing passage of a fluid therethrough; and a hood operably connected to the outlet, wherein the hood is configured to prevent sediment from blocking the outlet.

72. The tap assembly of claim 71, wherein the hood comprises a barrier portion that is configured and positioned to protect the aperture and an angled or sloped surface connected to the barrier portion that is configured to guide sediment away from the aperture.

73. A tap assembly for a fermentation apparatus comprising: an outlet for allowing passage of a fluid therethrough; an actuator for permitting or preventing passage of a fluid through the outlet; and a handle configured to be attached to and detached from the actuator, wherein the handle is attachable to the actuator magnetically.

74. The tap assembly of claim 73, wherein the actuator and the handle comprise magnets or magnetic material.

75. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 30 or 36 to 39 comprising the tap assembly of any one of claims 59 to 74.

76. A tap assembly for a fermentation apparatus comprising: a first conduit for allowing passage of a fluid therethrough; a second conduit for allowing passage of a fluid therethrough; and a movable component that is movable between a first position in which passage of fluid is only permitted through the first conduit and at least one second position in which passage of fluid is permitted through the first conduit and the second conduit.

77. The tap assembly of claim 76, wherein the movable component is movable to a plurality of second positions.

78. The tap assembly of claim 76 or claim 77, wherein the first conduit is longer and/or narrower than the second conduit.

79. The tap assembly of any one of claims 76 to 78, wherein the first conduit comprises a tube configured to allow passage of fluid therethrough.

80. The tap assembly of any one of claims 76 to 79, further comprising an actuator for moving the movable component and a handle coupled to the actuator, and wherein the handle is configured to be moved a first distance to permit passage of fluid through the first conduit only and a second distance to allow passage of fluid through the first and second conduits.

81. The tap assembly of any one of claims 76 to 80, wherein the movable component completely blocks the second conduit when the movable component is in its first position, and wherein the movable component allows passage of fluid through the second conduit when the movable component is in one of its second positions.

82. The tap assembly of any one of claims 76 to 81, wherein the passage of fluid through the second conduit is controllable by controlling the portion of the second conduit that is blocked by the moveable component.

83. A tap assembly comprising: a tap holder; and a tap that is removably attachable to the tap holder, wherein the tap is rotatable relative to the tap holder between a locked position in which removal of the tap from the tap holder is prevented and an unlocked position in which removal of the tap from the tap holder is permitted.

84. The tap assembly of claim 83, wherein the tap is rotatable relative to the tap holder in a first direction to move the tap from its unlocked position to its locked position and in a second direction to move the tap from its locked position to its unlocked position, wherein the tap is prevented from moving further in the first direction when the tap is in its locked position.

85. The tap assembly of claim 83 or claim 84, wherein the tap comprises a protrusion extending from the tap and the tap holder comprises a channel, wherein the protrusion is configured to translate within the channel as the tap moves between its locked position and its unlocked position, and wherein the channel is configured to retain the protrusion when the tap is in its locked position.

86. The tap assembly of claim 85, wherein the tap holder comprises a detent that is configured to abut the protrusion when the tap is in its locked position to prevent the tap from moving further in the first direction when the tap is in its locked position.

87. The tap assembly of any one claims 83 to 86, further comprising a secondary retention means configured to retain the tap in its locked position, wherein the secondary retention means is configured to be engaged automatically when the tap is moved to its locked position, and wherein the secondary retention means is configured to be disengaged by moving the tap axially towards the tap holder so that the tap can be moved to its unlocked position.

88. A valve for a fermentation container comprising: an aperture; a stopper configured to at least partially seal the aperture; and an actuator coupled to the stopper, wherein the actuator is configured to apply variable force to the stopper to vary the resistance of the valve.

89. The valve of claim 88, further comprising a spring arranged between the actuator and the stopper, wherein the actuator is configured to apply variable force to the spring to variably compress the spring, and wherein the spring is configured to apply variable force to the stopper to vary the resistance of the valve.

90. The valve of claim 88 or claim 89, wherein the actuator is rotatable, and wherein rotating the actuator varies the force applied to the stopper.

91. The valve of any one of claims 88 to 90, wherein the actuator is movable to vary the force applied to the stopper by means of a screw thread.

92. The valve of claim 91, further comprising a valve body, wherein the actuator comprises a screw thread and the valve body comprises a protrusion about which the screw thread is configured to translate as the actuator is rotated.

93. A fermentation apparatus comprising: a fermentation container; and a cap that is attachable to the fermentation container and is configured to seal the fermentation container when the cap is attached to the fermentation container, wherein the cap comprises a handle, and wherein the handle is movable between a first position in which the handle is graspable by a user and a second position in which the cap is prevented from being removed from the fermentation container when the cap is attached to the fermentation container.

94. The fermentation apparatus of claim 93, wherein the handle is prevented from moving from its first position to its second position until the cap is attached to the fermentation container.

95. The fermentation apparatus of claim 93 or claim 94, wherein at least one of the cap and the fermentation apparatus comprises an indicator to indicate when the cap has been attached to the fermentation container.

96. The fermentation apparatus of any one of claims 93 to 95, wherein the cap and the fermentation container comprise corresponding screw threads for attaching the cap to the fermentation container and wherein the cap and the fermentation container each comprise corresponding detents that are configured to abut each other when the cap has been attached to the fermentation container.

97. The fermentation apparatus of any one of claims 93 to 96, wherein the handle is movable from its first position to its second position in a first direction but is prevented from moving in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction when the cap has been attached to the fermentation container.

98. The fermentation apparatus of any one of claims 93 to 97, wherein the fermentation container comprises an abutment that is configured to abut the handle if removal of the cap is attempted when the handle is in its second position.

99. The fermentation apparatus of any one of claims 93 to 98, further comprising a collector that is attachable to the fermentation container to collect waste from the fermentation container, wherein the collector comprises a projection that is configured to engage the handle when the handle is in its second position to prevent the handle from moving to its first position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0109] The present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0110] FIG. 1 shows a front view of an apparatus according to the invention;

[0111] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

[0112] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention with a collector attached to a fermentation container;

[0113] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 but with the collector removed and a handle attached to a tap assembly;

[0114] FIG. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIGS. 3 and 4 with the collector present but not attached to the fermentation container;

[0115] FIG. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 5 with the collector attached to the fermentation container;

[0116] FIG. 7 shows an interior view of a fermentation container according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0117] FIG. 8 shows a cross-sectional view of a further embodiment of the invention with the collector attached to the fermentation container;

[0118] FIG. 9 shows a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 7 with the tap assembly attached to the fermentation container;

[0119] FIG. 10 shows a cross-sectional view of part of a tap assembly according to an embodiment of the invention;

[0120] FIG. 11 shows another cross-sectional view of the assembly of FIG. 10 in a different position; and

[0121] FIG. 12 shows a moveable component of the assembly of FIGS. 10 and 11;

[0122] FIG. 13 shows a cross sectional view of another apparatus according to the invention in a first configuration;

[0123] FIG. 14 shows a cross sectional view of the apparatus of FIG. 13 in a second configuration;

[0124] FIGS. 15 and 16 show cross-sectional views of an apparatus having a tap assembly according to the invention;

[0125] FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 show the tap assembly of FIGS. 15 and 16 in different configurations.

[0126] FIG. 20 shows another tap assembly according to the invention prior to installation;

[0127] FIG. 21 shows the tap assembly of FIG. 20 with the tap inserted into the tap holder before moving the tap to its locked position;

[0128] FIG. 22 shows an underneath perspective view of the arrangement of FIG. 21;

[0129] FIG. 23 shows the tap assembly of FIGS. 20 to 22 with the tap in its locked position;

[0130] FIG. 24 shows a portion of the tap holder of the tap assembly of FIGS. 20 to 23;

[0131] FIG. 25 shows a side cross-sectional view of the tap assembly of FIGS. 20 to 24 with the tap in its locked position;

[0132] FIG. 26 shows the arrangement of FIG. 25 during removal of the tap from the tap holder;

[0133] FIG. 27 shows a valve for a fermentation container in assembled form;

[0134] FIG. 28 shows an exploded view of the valve of FIG. 27;

[0135] FIG. 29 shows the valve of FIG. 27 and FIG. 28 at different pressure settings;

[0136] FIG. 30 shows another fermentation apparatus according to the invention with the handle in a first position;

[0137] FIG. 31 shows a partial view of the fermentation apparatus of FIG. 30;

[0138] FIG. 32 shows the fermentation apparatus of FIGS. 30 and 31 with the handle in a second position;

[0139] FIG. 33 shows a cut away view of the arrangement of FIG. 32;

[0140] FIG. 34 shows a cut away view of the arrangement of FIGS. 32 and 33 during the process of attaching a collector; and

[0141] FIG. 35 shows the fermentation container of FIGS. 30 to 34 with the cap removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0142] FIGS. 1 and 2 show front and side views, respectively, of an apparatus 100 for fermenting and dispensing a beverage, such as an alcoholic beverage (e.g. beer, cider), that will be described in further detail below with reference to the subsequent figures.

[0143] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of an apparatus 200 according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 200 comprises a fermentation container 202 for containing and fermenting a beverage (e.g. beer or cider), a tap assembly 204 in fluid communication with the fermentation container 202 for dispensing a beverage from the fermentation container 202, a collector 206 (or “yeast dump”) for collecting waste (e.g. yeast) from the fermentation container 202.

[0144] Before use, the fermentation container 202 is sterilised. During fermentation, the fermentation ingredients (e.g. yeast, a syrup containing pre-hopped malt extract and water) are poured into the fermentation container 202 and the fermentation container 202 is sealed. The mixture is left to ferment in the fermentation container 202 with the fermentation container vertically upright (i.e. in the orientation shown in FIG. 3) for a suitable amount of time, typically 48 hours. The skilled person will understand how long the fermentation process should be.

[0145] In FIG. 3, the collector 206 is shown attached to the fermentation container 202. As will be described in further detail below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6, the collector 206 is attachable to and detachable from (i.e. removably attached to) the fermentation container 202. As shown in FIG. 3, when the collector 206 is attached to the fermentation container 202, the fermentation container 202 and the collector 206 are in fluid communication via a first outlet 208 so that yeast that settles in the fermentation container 202 during fermentation falls down into the collector 206 as a result of gravity and collects in the collector 206. The fermentation container 202 comprises angled or sloping interior walls that encourage waste, such as yeast, to move or slide down the walls of the fermentation container towards the first outlet where it can drop into the collector. The tap assembly 204 is in fluid communication with the fermentation container 202 via a second outlet 209. The fermentation container also comprises one or more safety valves 210 for expelling excess gas from the fermentation container 202 if the pressure is too high. FIG. 3 shows two safety valves 210 but any suitable number can be used. The safety valves 210 can also be used to inject fresh hops, finings, flavourings (e.g. natural flavourings) or other ingredients into the fermentation container 202 before or during fermentation whilst still maintaining the pressure within the fermentation container 202. Alternatively or additionally, there may be multiple safety valves and/or additional dosing valves for injecting hops, finings, flavourings (e.g. natural flavourings) or other ingredients into the fermentation container 202 before or during fermentation whilst still maintaining the pressure within the fermentation container 202.

[0146] Once fermentation is complete, the collector 206 is removed from the fermentation container 202. During fermentation, all of the waste yeast has settled in the collector 206 and therefore the beverage in the fermentation container 202 is free of sediment.

[0147] FIG. 4 shows the same apparatus 200 as FIG. 3 but with after the connector 206 has been removed. A handle 212 has been attached to the tap assembly to allow a user to actuate the tap assembly 204. When the collector 206 is removed from the fermentation container 202, the first outlet 208 forms a pressure-tight seal 214. Again, it will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 5 and 6 how this works. This means that once the fermentation process has been completed, the collector 206 can be removed from the fermentation container 202 whilst maintaining the pressure within the fermentation container 202. Maintaining the pressure within the fermentation container 202 means that the beverage in the fermentation container 202 will last longer before going flat.

[0148] Once fermentation is complete, the collector 206 has been removed and the handle 212 has been attached, the apparatus 200 is rotated 90 degrees onto its side (i.e. in the orientation shown in FIG. 4) for carbonation and then dispensing of the beverage. It is possible to position the apparatus 200 vertically during fermentation (i.e. with the safety valves 210 at the top expelling gas upwards and the collector 206 at the bottom collecting downward waste) and horizontally during carbonation and dispensing (i.e. with the tap assembly 204 dispensing beverage downwards) because of the location and orientation of the collector 206, the tap assembly 204 and the safety valves 210. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a tap assembly 204 that is configured to dispense beverage in a direction that is perpendicular to the movement of the collector 206 and the direction that gas is expelled by the safety valves 210 means that the apparatus 200 is well-configured to be positioned vertically during fermentation and horizontally during carbonation and dispensing. This is advantageous because it means that the apparatus 200 is more manoeuvrable into a range of locations for carbonation and dispensing. For example, the apparatus 200 can be positioned upright for fermentation, then the collector 206 can be removed and the apparatus 200 can be placed on a normal domestic refrigerator shelf for carbonation and dispensing, which is desirable because carbonation occurs more quickly in a refrigerator and the beverage is more enjoyable when cold. It would be more difficult to place the apparatus 200 on a refrigerator shelf if it remained vertical at all times. It is a significant advantage of the invention that fermentation, carbonation and dispensing can all be done using the same fermentation container 202. Maintaining the pressure in the fermentation container even when the collector has been removed (and whilst it is being removed) has further benefits. Firstly, it prevents the beverage being spilled whilst the collector is being removed. Secondly, it means that the same vessel can be used for fermentation and carbonation. CO.sub.2 is released during the fermentation process and, because a pressure-tight seal is maintained even when the collector is removed, enough CO.sub.2 is released, captured and retained within the fermentation container (even after the collector has been removed) that the CO.sub.2 that is released during primary fermentation is the same CO.sub.2 that then carbonates the beverage. This single-vessel fermentation/carbonation is a significant improvement on past apparatuses and avoids the need to inject extra CO.sub.2 for carbonation (e.g. through a valve or by using CO.sub.2 cartridges) which could risk depressurising the fermentation container or allowing O.sub.2 or other contaminants into the container which could spoil the beverage or cause it to go off.

[0149] The tap assembly 204 and the safety valve 210 are located at diagonally opposite corners of the fermentation container 202 when the tap assembly 204 is attached to the fermentation container. In other words, the tap assembly 204 and the safety valve 210 are located on opposite sides of the fermentation container in two dimensions. For example, if the tap assembly 204 is located at the front bottom corner of the fermentation container 202 then the safety valve 210 is located at the rear top corner of the fermentation container 202. Equally, if the tap assembly 204 is located at the rear bottom corner of the fermentation container 202 then the safety valve 210 is located at the front top corner of the fermentation container 202. The skilled person will understand other similar opposing combinations. This has the advantage that no matter whether the apparatus is upright or lying on its side, beverage can be dispensed through the tap assembly and degassing can occur through the safety valve because the tap assembly is located at the bottom and the safety valve is located at the top regardless of whether the apparatus is upright or on its side. This offers significant benefits in terms of flexibility of storage and use.

[0150] In the horizontal position shown in FIG. 4, the beverage is carbonated in a refrigerator for a suitable amount of time, typically 24 hours. The skilled person will understand how long the carbonation process should be. Once carbonation is complete, the fermented and carbonated beverage can be tapped using the tap assembly 204 by pulling the handle 212. It will be explained in further detail with reference to FIGS. 7 to 9 how this occurs.

[0151] FIGS. 5 and 6 show in detail how the collector 206 is attached to and detached from the fermentation container 202, with FIG. 5 showing the collector 206 detached from the fermentation container 202 and FIG. 6 showing the collector 206 attached to the fermentation container 202. The same labels are used in FIGS. 5 and 6 as in FIGS. 3 and 4 for corresponding features.

[0152] As shown in FIG. 5, the first outlet 208 of the fermentation container 202 forms a pressure-tight seal 214 when the collector 206 is detached from the fermentation container 202. To form the pressure-tight seal 214, the first outlet 208 is moveable from a first position (shown in FIG. 5) to a second position (shown in FIG. 6) by attaching the collector 206 to the fermentation container 202. Conversely, the first outlet 208 is moveable from its second position to its first position by detaching the collector 206 from the fermentation container 202. In other words, attaching the collector 206 to the fermentation container 202 automatically establishes the fluid communication between the fermentation container 202 and the collector 206 via the outlet 208 (FIG. 6). Similarly, removing the collector 206 from the fermentation container 202 automatically actuates the pressure-tight seal 214 (FIG. 5) meaning that the pressure is automatically maintained within the fermentation container 202. This results in a very convenient and user-friendly arrangement that ensures that the beverage does not go flat quickly.

[0153] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the first outlet 208 comprises a plug 216 that is moveable from a first position in which the first outlet 208 is in its first position (FIG. 5) and a second position in which the first outlet 208 is in its second position (FIG. 6). In the second position, the fermentation container 202 and the collector 206 are in fluid communication via the first outlet 208. In the first position, the pressure-tight seal 214 is established thereby sealing the fermentation container 202.

[0154] The plug 216 moves inwardly by sliding into the fermentation container 202 when the plug 216 is moved from its first position to its second position. In particular, when the collector 206 is pushed onto the fermentation container 202, it abuts the plug 216 to move it from its first position to its second position to open the first outlet 208 and establish fluid communication between the fermentation container 202 and the collector 206. The plug is biased towards its first position by pressure within the fermentation container.

[0155] The plug 216 comprises a body portion 217 having a first surface 218 that is a planar surface that is configured to sealingly engage a corresponding surface 220 on an interior surface of the fermentation container 202 to seal the fermentation container 202 when the plug 216 is in its first position. The body portion 217 of the plug also comprises a second surface 219 that opposes (i.e. is on the opposite face of) the first surface 218. The second surface 219 is cone-shaped (or substantially cone-shaped) with a central tip and a sloped surface extending from the central tip to the edge of the body portion 217. This cone shape means that sediment (e.g. yeast) will slide off the top of the body portion 217 of the plug 216 to the bottom of the fermentation container 202 from where it can drop into the collector 206 through the first outlet 208. The planar surface 218 (i.e. the first surface) of the body portion 217 is the proximal surface of the body portion 217 i.e. the surface that faces away from the centre of the fermentation container 202. The cone-shaped surface 219 (i.e. the second surface) is the distal surface of the body portion 217 i.e. the surface that faces towards the centre of the fermentation container 202. The body portion 217 of the plug 218 is circular or substantially circular in cross-section. The plug 216 also comprises an elongate stem 222 that extends from the planar surface 218 and is in a plane perpendicular to the planar surface 218 of the body portion 217. The elongate stem 222 is configured to slide within a corresponding channel in the fermentation container 202 as the plug 216 moves between its first and second positions. This plug arrangement provides a user-friendly and reliable means for attaching and detaching the collector 206 whilst maintaining the pressure within the fermentation container. There are minimal moving parts meaning that maintenance is simple and the mechanism does not wear, and the combination of the surfaces on the plug and the interior of the fermentation container provides a reliable seal. In the embodiment shown in the Figures, with the combination of the elongate stem 222 and the cone-shaped body portion 217, the plug 216 can take the form of an “umbrella” shape, although this is not essential.

[0156] FIG. 7 shows an interior view of the fermentation container 202 with the first outlet 208 and the plug 216 in their second position. It can be seen that there is a gap 221 to allow the passage of fluid through the first outlet 208 when the first outlet 208 and the plug 216 are in their second position. This gap 221 would be closed when the first outlet 208 and the plug 216 are in their first position to establish a pressure-tight seal. The “umbrella” shape of the plug 216 can be seen clearly in FIG. 7

[0157] As shown in FIG. 6, when the collector 206 is attached to the fermentation container 202, the collector 206 encloses the tap assembly 204. In this way, the collector 206 prevents actuation of the tap assembly 204 when the collector 206 is attached to the fermentation container 202. The collector 206 may be configured to abut the tap assembly 204 when the collector is in its first position, although this is not essential. By enclosing the tap assembly 204 or otherwise restricting access to the tap assembly 204, the collector 206 prevents accidental actuation of the tap assembly 204 during the fermentation process.

[0158] The tap assembly 204 is attachable to the fermentation container 202 by a resilient fit, a snap-fit or an interference fit. The handle 212 is attachable to the tap assembly magnetically, meaning that it can be easily but securely attached and detached.

[0159] The tap assembly comprises a hood 213 for preventing sediment (e.g. yeast) from blocking the tap assembly 213. It can be seen that the hood 213 comprises a barrier portion 211 configured to block sediment from dropping into the tap assembly 213 and an angled or sloped surface 215 extending from the barrier portion 211 that is configured to guide sediment (e.g. yeast) away from the tap assembly 204 (i.e. the sediment slides away towards the bottom of the fermentation container 202 and the collector 206 under the force of gravity). In this way, the hood 213 prevents the beverage from being spoilt and prevents the tap assembly 204 from becoming blocked, thereby ensuring reliable dispensing of the beverage.

[0160] FIGS. 8 and 9 show an alternative embodiment wherein the collector 306 and the tap assembly 304 are both attachable to the fermentation container 302 via the first outlet 308. The tap assembly 304 is attachable to the fermentation container 302 at the first outlet 308 when the collector 306 is not attached to the fermentation container 302 to allow fluid communication between the fermentation container 302 and the tap assembly 304 via the first outlet 308. The first outlet 308 again comprises a plug 316 and the first outlet 308 and the plug 316 behave in the same way as the first outlet 208 and plug 216 described above with reference to FIGS. 3 to 6, but the first outlet 308 and the plug 316 an be moved between their first and second positions by either the collector 306 or the tap assembly 304. What this means is that the tap assembly and the collector can be interchangeably attached to and detached from the fermentation container, and the fact that the pressure-tight seal is automatically maintained when neither the tap assembly nor the collector is attached to the fermentation container means that pressure can be maintained within the fermentation container and contamination can be prevented.

[0161] FIGS. 10 and 11 show in more detail part of the tap assembly 204 of the apparatus 200 described above and shown in FIGS. 3 to 6. Equally, FIGS. 10 and 11 show a tap assembly configuration that is used in the tap assembly 304 described above and shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the tap assembly 204 comprises an aperture 224 for allowing passage of the beverage therethrough and a moveable component 226 which takes the form of a plug. The moveable component 226 is shown in more detail in FIG. 12. The moveable component 226 is moveable between a first position (FIG. 10) in which the moveable component blocks the aperture 224 to a plurality of second positions in which the moveable component 226 only partially blocks the aperture 224 or does not block the aperture 224 (FIG. 11). As described previously, it is challenging maintaining a high pressure for well-carbonated beer whilst ensuring a predictable and desirable flow rate. The moveable component 226 of the tap assembly 204 can be moved to a plurality of positions covering the aperture 226 to differing degrees (preferably continuously to allow an infinite number of positions, although discreet positions could alternatively be provided e.g. using a ratchet mechanism) to control the flow rate through the aperture 226. The provision of a tap assembly 204 having a moveable component 226 that allows a user to control the proportion of the aperture 224 that is left open for beverage to pass therethrough means that the user can easily control the flow rate depending on how high the pressure is within the fermentation container 202. If the pressure is high (e.g. when few tappings have taken place), a small aperture size can be chosen so that the flow rate is restrained. If the pressure is lower (e.g. after more tappings), a larger aperture can be chosen to provide a sufficient flow. This means that the pressure within the fermentation container 202 can be kept high to begin with, resulting in well-carbonated beverage for longer.

[0162] There is also an actuator 228, which takes the form of a rotatable arm, for moving the moveable component 226. The actuator 228 is configured to abut the moveable component 226 to move the moveable component 226. There is also a pivot 230 about which the actuator 228 is configured to rotate. The tap assembly 204 also has a channel 232 in which the moveable component 226 slides when moving to alter the proportion of the aperture 224 that is blocked. The tap assembly 204 may further comprise a biasing means (not shown), such as a spring, configured to bias the moveable component 226 towards its first position (i.e. where the aperture 224 is completely blocked). Biasing the moveable component 226 in this way ensures that beverage does not leak accidentally. The moveable component 226 is configured to slide (i.e. translate, or move in a linear direction e.g. within a channel) between its first and second positions. In other words, rotational movement of the actuator 228 is converted into linear movement of the moveable component 226.

[0163] The tap assembly further comprises a handle (as described previously but not shown in FIGS. 10 and 11) that is removably attachable to the actuator 228 e.g. using magnets. Such a rotational handle is compact and easy to use.

[0164] The components of the apparatuses and tap assemblies described herein according to the invention are generally made out of plastic, and can therefore be cleaned and sterilised easily. This also means that parts can be machined precisely e.g. by injection moulding. However, the skilled person will appreciate that some or all parts can equally be made from other suitable materials. For example, the handle of the tap assembly is generally constructed from metal and, as described, can be attachable to the tap assembly using magnets. Equally, springs in the apparatus (e.g. the biasing means in the tap assembly or springs in one or more of the valves described herein) may be constructed from metal. Certain decorative elements may also be constructed from metal.

[0165] In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is also provided a package containing ingredients for brewing an alcoholic beverage. Significantly and advantageously, the package is shaped and sized so that it can fit through a standard domestic letterbox.

[0166] The package contains ingredients for brewing beer in the apparatus 200 of the invention (including in the alternative arrangement shown in FIGS. 8 and 9), such as yeast and syrup, as well as a steriliser for sterilising the apparatus. The package is substantially cuboidal in shape. A maximum diameter of the package along a first axis may be no more than 50 mm (or approximately 50 mm) and a maximum diameter of the package along a second axis that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first axis may be no more than 350 mm (or approximately 350 mm). A maximum diameter of the package along a first axis may be no more than 50 mm (or approximately 50 mm) and a maximum diameter of the package along a second axis that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first axis may be no more than 350 mm (or approximately 350 mm). A maximum diameter of the package along a first axis may be no more than 40 mm (or approximately 40 mm) and a maximum diameter of the package along a second axis that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first axis may be no more than 300 mm (or approximately 300 mm). A maximum diameter of the package along a first axis may be no more than 35 mm (or approximately 35 mm) and a maximum diameter of the package along a second axis that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first axis may be no more than 250 mm (or approximately 250 mm). A maximum diameter of the package along a first axis may be no more than 30 mm (or approximately 30 mm) and a maximum diameter of the package along a second axis that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first axis may be no more than 250 mm (or approximately 250 mm). A maximum diameter of the package along a first axis may be no more than 25 mm (or approximately 25 mm) and a maximum diameter of the package along a second axis that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to the first axis may be no more than 250 mm (or approximately 250 mm). In real terms, thinking about the height and width of a standard letterbox, “height” may be the maximum diameter along the first axis and “width” may be the maximum diameter along the second axis that is perpendicular to the first axis. It will be understood that the package will also have a “length” i.e. a diameter along a third axis that is perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to both the first and second axes. However, the skilled person will understand that as long as at least two of these three maximum diameters are sufficiently small (height and width in the definitions above, and when envisaging a real-life letterbox), then the package will fit through a standard letterbox. The diameter along the third axis (i.e. the length) may be greater than the maximum diameters along the first and second axes (i.e. the height and width), although clearly this does not necessarily have to be the case.

[0167] In this way, the package can fit through a standard letterbox.

[0168] The package of the invention is intended to contain refill ingredients for the apparatus of the invention, as well as a steriliser. The package is compact and intended for delivery through a standard domestic letterbox. This means that the consumer does not need to transport the beverage home from a shop and also does not need to be present to accept a home delivery, which would conventionally have been too large to fit through a letterbox. The package of the invention also has additional benefits for the consumer because duty would not need to be paid on the package, reducing cost. The package of the invention also has significant environmental benefits because it reduces the packaging needed for enjoyment of beverages, such as beer, at home. For example, a considerable amount of plastic is conventionally used in packaging for beverages (e.g. plastic holding cans together).

[0169] The package and apparatus of the invention can be provided as a kit.

[0170] FIGS. 13 and 14 show another apparatus 400 according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 400 may have any or all of the features and modes of operation of any of the apparatuses (e.g. apparatuses 200, 300) described previously and the skilled person will understand that any of the features of the various embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner.

[0171] The apparatus 400 comprises a fermentation container 402 (shown in part) for containing and fermenting a beverage (e.g. beer or cider) and a collector 406 (or “yeast dump”) for collecting waste (e.g. yeast) from the fermentation container 402. Of course, the apparatus may also comprise any of the tap assemblies described herein (not shown).

[0172] As described previously, before use, the fermentation container 402 is sterilised. During fermentation, the fermentation ingredients (e.g. yeast, a syrup containing pre-hopped malt extract and water) are poured into the fermentation container 402 and the fermentation container 402 is sealed. The mixture is left to ferment in the fermentation container 402 with the fermentation container vertically upright (i.e. in the orientation shown in FIGS. 13 and 14) for a suitable amount of time, typically 48 hours. The skilled person will understand how long the fermentation process should be.

[0173] In FIG. 14, the collector 406 is shown attached to the fermentation container 402. As will be described in further detail below, the collector 406 is attachable to and detachable from (i.e. removably attached to) the fermentation container 402. As shown in FIG. 14, when the collector 406 is attached to the fermentation container 402, the fermentation container 402 and the collector 406 are in fluid communication via an outlet 408 of the fermentation container 402 and an inlet 409 of the collector so that yeast that settles in the fermentation container 402 during fermentation falls down into the collector 406 as a result of gravity and collects in the collector 406. The fermentation container 402 comprises angled or sloping interior walls that encourage waste, such as yeast, to move or slide down the walls of the fermentation container towards the first outlet where it can drop into the collector. The fermentation container 402 also comprises one or more safety valves (not shown) for expelling excess gas from the fermentation container 402 if the pressure is too high. Any suitable number of safety valves can be used. The safety valves can also be used to inject fresh hops, finings, flavourings (e.g. natural flavourings) or other ingredients into the fermentation container 402 before or during fermentation whilst still maintaining the pressure within the fermentation container 402. Alternatively, additional valves can be provided for injecting these or other ingredients.

[0174] Once fermentation is complete, the collector 406 is removed from the fermentation container 402. During fermentation, all of the waste yeast has settled in the collector 406 and therefore the beverage in the fermentation container 402 is free of sediment.

[0175] FIGS. 13 and 14 show in detail how the collector 406 is attached to and detached from the fermentation container 402, with FIG. 13 showing the collector 406 detached from the fermentation container 402 and FIG. 14 showing the collector 406 attached to the fermentation container 402.

[0176] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the outlet 408 of the fermentation container 402 is movable between first and second configurations in the same way as described previously for outlets 208 and 308. The outlet 408 comprises a plug 416 that is movable between a first (FIG. 13) position and a second (FIG. 14) position in the same way as plugs 216 and 316 described previously. The plug 416 has a body portion 417 and first and second surfaces 418, 419 like plugs 216 and 316 described previously. Like plugs 216 and 316, plug 416 is “umbrella” shaped by virtue of a sloped second surface 419, although this is not essential.

[0177] The collector 406 comprises an inlet 409 that can be moved between a first configuration (FIG. 13) in which the inlet 409 is sealed and waste is prevented from entering a chamber 434 of the collector 406, and a second configuration (FIG. 14) in which the inlet 409 is unsealed and waste is allowed to enter the chamber 434. In this way, once the waste has been gathered in the collector 406 during the fermentation process, the collector 406 can be sealed off to prevent any waste (e.g. waste liquid and/or sediment) from spilling from the collector 406.

[0178] The inlet 409 comprises a stopper 436 that is movable between a first position (FIG. 13) in which the inlet 409 is in its first configuration and a second position (FIG. 14) in which the inlet 409 is in its second configuration. The stopper 436 is movable in a direction inwardly towards the centre of the chamber 434 when moving from its first position to its second position and the stopper 436 is movable in a direction outwardly away from the centre of the chamber 434 when moving from its second position to its first position. This provides a simple and convenient arrangement for sealing and unsealing the collector 406 at the inlet 409.

[0179] The stopper 436 is biased towards its first position by pressure within the collector 406. The stopper 436 also comprises a float 438 that is configured to float on waste collected within the chamber 434. This is advantageous because it allows the stopper 436 to float on the waste (e.g. waste liquid and/or sediment) that has gathered in the collector 406 during the fermentation process and rise to seal the inlet 409 automatically. The float 438 may be hollow or substantially hollow or at least as hollow as necessary to allow the stopper 436 to float. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the float is spherical but the skilled person will understand that any suitable shape could be used.

[0180] The stopper may be configured to gradually release pressure from the collector when the inlet is in its first position to prevent the collector from becoming overpressurised if carbonated beverage remains in the collector. This can be achieved by shaping the stopper to gradually release pressure or by using the surface properties (e.g. materials) of the stopper, for example.

[0181] The stopper 436 further comprises a stem 440 extending from the float 438 at least partially through the inlet 409. The stem 440 is shaped to permit fluid flow therethrough. In the figures, the stem 440 has a cross-shaped cross-sectional shape. The skilled person will understand that other shapes (e.g. Y-shaped, cylindrical) could equally be used. These shapes mean that the stopper 436 can permit fluid flow through the inlet 409 when the float 438 is not sealing the inlet 409 (i.e. when the stopper 436 is not in its first (sealed) position.

[0182] As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the inlet 409 is configured to be in its first configuration when the fermentation container 402 and the collector 406 are not attached (FIG. 13) and the inlet 409 is configured to be in its second configuration when the fermentation container 402 and the collector 406 are attached (FIG. 14).

[0183] This provides an advantageous arrangement in which attaching the fermentation container 402 and the collector 406 automatically results in the collector inlet 409 moving from its first configuration to its second configuration to permit waste from the fermentation container 402 to enter the collector chamber 434. Similarly, detaching the fermentation container 402 and the collector 406 automatically results in the collector inlet 409 moving from its second configuration to its first configuration to seal the collector chamber 434 and prevent spillage of waste from the collector 406.

[0184] The plug 416 of the fermentation container outlet 408 is configured to abut the stopper 436 of the collector inlet 409 to move the stopper between its first and second positions. This abutment also moves the plug 416 between its first and second positions. In other words, when the fermentation container 402 and the collector 406 are attached, the plug 416 of the fermentation container 402 and the stopper 436 of the collector 406 abut each other meaning that both the plug 416 and the stopper 436 automatically move to their second positions to permit waste from the fermentation container 402 to pass through the fermentation container outlet 408 and the collector inlet 409 to gather in the collector 402. Similarly, when the fermentation container 402 and the collector 406 are not attached (i.e. detached), the plug 416 of the fermentation container 402 and the stopper 436 of the collector 406 no longer abut each other meaning that both the plug 416 and the stopper 436 automatically move to their first positions to seal the fermentation container 402 (to maintain pressure) and seal the collector 406 (to prevent spillage of waste). This automatic movement of the plug 416 and stopper 436 is highly advantageous and reduced the amount of user input required. The plug 416 is biased towards its first position by pressure within the fermentation container 402.

[0185] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the plug 416 comprise an abutment portion 422 (which is analogous to the stem 222, 322) that is shaped to permit fluid flow therethrough. In the figures, the abutment portion 422 has a cross-shaped cross-sectional shape and is configured to abut the stopper 436. Having an abutment portion 422 of the plug 416 and a stem 440 of the stopper 436 that are the same shape (e.g. cross-shaped) improves the engagement or abutment between the plug 416 and the stopper 436. The skilled person will understand that other shapes (e.g. Y-shaped, cylindrical) could equally be used. These shapes of plug 416 and stopper 436 permit fluid flow through the fermentation container outlet 408 and the collector inlet 409 when the outlet and inlet are not sealed (i.e. in their second configurations).

[0186] FIGS. 15 and 16 show a further tap assembly 504 according to an embodiment of the invention. The tap assembly may comprise any or all of the features of tap assemblies 204 and 304 described previously.

[0187] In particular, as will be described below, the tap assembly 504 comprises a movable component 526 that is the same as or substantially the same as movable component 226 shown in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.

[0188] The tap assembly comprises a first conduit 542 for allowing passage of a fluid therethrough and a second conduit 544 for allowing passage of a fluid therethrough. The second conduit 544 is analogous to the aperture 224 of the tap assembly 204 described previously. The movable component 526 is movable between a first position in which passage of fluid is only permitted through the first conduit 542 and at least one second position in which passage of fluid is permitted through both the first conduit 542 and the second conduit 544.

[0189] It can be seen that the first conduit 542 comprises a tube 546 (e.g. a flexible tube) that extends into the fermentation apparatus from an anchor 548 within the tap assembly 504. The tube 546 is long and narrow, meaning that the resistance to fluid flow passing through the tube 546 is relatively large which, in turn, restricts the flow rate through the tube 546.

[0190] The tap assembly 504 advantageously allows a fermentation container to be tapped selectively via two conduits (the first 542 and second 544 conduits), for example two conduits that resist fluid flow therethrough of the fluid being tapped (e.g. beer). The different resistances may arise from one conduit being longer and/or narrower than the other, in other words the aspect ratio of one conduit may be greater than the other. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, the first conduit 542 is longer than the second conduit 544 meaning that the flow rate through the first conduit 542 would be restricted more than through the second conduit 544. In some embodiments, the shapes or materials of the first and second conduits may result in the first and second conduits applying different resistances to fluid flow. Such control of resistances is advantageous because it allows for improved control of frothing and fluid flow, resulting in a better beverage (e.g. beer).

[0191] Like tap assembly 204, tap assembly 504 further comprises an actuator (not shown) for moving the movable component 526 and a handle (not shown) coupled to the actuator. The handle is configured to be moved a first distance to, in turn, move the movable component 526 a first distance to permit passage of fluid through the first conduit 542 only and a second distance (i.e. further than the first distance) to allow passage of fluid through the first 542 and second 544 conduits. This arrangement, along with the fact that the first 542 and second conduits 544 resist fluid flow to different degrees, allows for optimal frothing and fluid flow throughout the entire tapping procedure, even as the pressure within the fermentation container decreases. For example, where the first conduit 542 applies a greater resistance than the second conduit 544, the handle can be moved a first distance whilst fluid passes through the first conduit 542 only to ensure that the fluid flow is not too fast at high pressure and that the beverage (e.g. beer) is not too frothy. Once the pressure within the fermentation container has reduced by a certain amount, the handle can be moved a second distance and fluid flows through both the first 542 and second 544 conduits. This ensures sufficient fluid flow even at low pressures within the fermentation container because the second conduit 544 applies a lower resistance to the fluid being tapped than the first conduit 542.

[0192] FIGS. 17, 18 and 19 show the tap assembly 504 in various positions.

[0193] In the first position shown in FIG. 17, the movable component 526 completely blocks the second conduit 544. This position occurs when the handle has not been moved very far (i.e. early in the tapping) when the pressure inside the fermentation container will be high and because it results in fluid flow through the first conduit 542 only, the flow rate can be controlled and frothing of the beverage can be prevented, and the movable component may allow passage of fluid through the second conduit when the movable component is in one of its second positions. The passage of fluid through the second conduit may be controllable by controlling the portion of the second conduit that is blocked by the moveable component.

[0194] FIG. 18 shows the movable component 526 in an intermediate position in which it has advanced towards the fermentation container a certain distance but the second conduit 544 remains closed.

[0195] FIG. 19 shows the movable component 526 in a second position in which the second conduit 544 is now open. Once the second conduit 544 is open, the handle can be pulled further to advance the movable component 526 further to progressively increase the size of the second conduit 544 (as described previously with respect to the movable component 226 and the aperture 224). As described previously, it is challenging maintaining a high pressure for well-carbonated beer whilst ensuring a predictable and desirable flow rate. The moveable component 526 of the tap assembly 504 can be moved to a plurality of positions covering the second conduit to differing degrees (preferably continuously to allow an infinite number of positions, although discreet positions could alternatively be provided e.g. using a ratchet mechanism) to control the flow rate through the second conduit 544. The provision of a tap assembly 504 having a moveable component 526 that allows a user to control the portion of the second conduit 544 that is left open for fluid to pass therethrough means that the user can easily control the flow rate depending on how high the pressure is within the fermentation container. If the pressure is high (e.g. when few tappings have taken place), a small second conduit size can be chosen so that the flow rate is restrained. If the pressure is lower (e.g. after more tappings), a larger second conduit can be chosen to provide a sufficient flow. This means that the pressure within the fermentation container can be kept high to begin with, resulting in well-carbonated beverage for longer.

[0196] Of course, even when the second conduit 544 is open (i.e. the movable component 526 is in a second position), some fluid may flow through the first conduit 542 and this is not problematic. However, since flow through the second conduit 544 is easier than through the first conduit 542, minimal flow will occur through the first conduit 542 when the second conduit 544 is open.

[0197] As described previously, the handle may be attachable to the tap assembly magnetically.

[0198] FIG. 20 shows a further tap assembly 604 according to an embodiment of the invention. The tap assembly may comprise any or all of the features of tap assemblies 204, 304 and 504 described previously.

[0199] The tap assembly 604 comprises a tap holder 650 and a tap 652 that is removably attachable to the tap holder. As will be described herein, the tap 652 is rotatable relative to the tap holder 650 between a locked position in which removal of the tap 652 from the tap holder 650 is prevented and an unlocked position in which removal of the tap 652 from the tap holder 650 is permitted.

[0200] The tap assembly 604 of the invention serves two key purposes. Firstly, it ensures that the user properly attaches the tap 652 to the tap holder 650 before tapping takes place. Secondly, it ensures that the tap 652 is not accidentally detached from the tap holder 650 once the tap 652 has been attached. Both of these results are important in ensuring proper tapping and preventing spillage or danger from the tap becoming detached accidentally.

[0201] As shown in FIG. 20, the tap 652 comprises a protrusion 654 extending from an upper portion of the tap 652. The tap holder 650 comprises a channel 656 that is shaped to receive and retain the protrusion 654. The channel has an open end 658 into which the protrusion 654 can be inserted and then rotated to pass through the channel 656. In this way, the tap 652 is rotatable relative to the tap holder 650 in a first direction to move the tap 652 from its unlocked position to its locked position and in a second direction to move the tap 652 from its locked position to its unlocked position. In the figures, the first direction is anti-clockwise and the second direction is clockwise but the skilled person will understand that the converse situation could equally be used.

[0202] FIGS. 21 and 22 show the arrangement of FIG. 20 with the tap 652 positioned ready to be rotated anti-clockwise from its unlocked position to its locked position so that the protrusion 654 enters the channel 656, translates within the channel 656 and is retained by the channel 656.

[0203] Whilst the figures show that the tap 652 comprises the protrusion 654 and the tap holder 650 comprises the channel 656, the skilled person will understand that in an alternative embodiment the tap 652 may comprise a channel and the tap holder 650 may comprise a protrusion.

[0204] FIG. 23 shows the tap assembly of FIGS. 20 to 22 with the tap 652 in its locked position (i.e. installed within the tap holder 650). Once the tap 652 is in its locked position, the channel 656 of the tap holder 650 then serves the additional purpose of preventing detachment of the tap 652 from the tap holder 650 by retaining the protrusion 654 within the channel 656. This prevents the tap from shooting from the tap holder at pressure even if the user incorrectly installs the tap.

[0205] FIG. 24 show a portion of the tap holder 650 of FIGS. 20 to 23. FIG. 24 shows a ridge 658 that defines the channel 656 in which the protrusion 654 of the tap (not shown in FIG. 24) is retained. The tap 652 is also prevented from moving further in the first direction (anti-clockwise in the figures) when the tap 652 is already in its locked position. This prevents damage that could result from a user attempting to attach the tap to the tap holder using excessive force and also indicates to the user when the tap have been attached properly. To achieve this, the tap holder 650 comprises a detent 660 that is configured to abut the protrusion 654 when the tap 652 is in its locked position to prevent the tap 652 from moving further in the first direction when the tap 652 is already in its locked position.

[0206] FIG. 25 shows a side cross-sectional view of the tap assembly 604 with the tap 652 in its locked position. As shown in FIG. 25, the tap assembly 605 further comprises a secondary retention means configured to retain the tap 652 in its locked position. In FIG. 25, the secondary retention means comprises a pair of resilient clips 662 on the tap 652 that are received in a pair of corresponding recesses 664 in the tap holder 650. The skilled person will understand that other suitable secondary retention means could be used. The secondary retention means is configured to be engaged automatically when the tap 652 is moved to its locked position.

[0207] FIG. 26 shows the arrangement of FIG. 25 with the secondary retention means disengaged ready to detach the tap 652 from the tap holder 650. As can be seen from FIG. 26, the clips 662 are disengaged from their corresponding recesses 664 by moving the tap 652 axially towards the tap holder 650. Once this has been done, the tap 652 can be rotated clockwise from its locked position to its unlocked position by translating the protrusion 654 within the channel 656 until the protrusion 654 is no longer retained by the channel 656. Once this has been done, the tap 652 can be removed from the tap holder 650. The requirement to move the tap 652 first axially and then rotationally to detach the tap 652 from the tap holder 650 further enhances the safety of the arrangement because this is a deliberate motion that would not occur accidentally.

[0208] FIG. 27 shows a valve 770 for a fermentation container and FIG. 28 shows an exploded view of the valve 770. The valve 770 can be used with any of the fermentation containers described herein, for example fermentation containers 202, 302, 402. For example, the valve 770 can be used in place of or in addition to valve 210 described previously.

[0209] The valve 770 comprises an aperture (not shown in FIGS. 27 and 28), a stopper 772 configured to at least partially seal the aperture, and an actuator 774 which takes the form of a twist cap. The twist cap 774 comprises a grip 775 that is shaped to make it easy and convenient for a user to grasp and rotate. The valve 770 also comprises a spring 776 arranged between the actuator 774 and the stopper 772. The valve 770 also comprises a non-rotating plunger 782 that is configured to couple the actuator 774 to the spring 776 and the stopper 772, a valve body 784 that is configured to receive and house the stopper and the spring, and a screw 786 to attach the various components together. The stopper 772 comprises an elongate spindle 777 that is configured to receive the spring 776 and prevent the spring 776 from becoming twisted.

[0210] The actuator 774 is configured to apply variable force to the stopper 772 to vary the resistance of the valve. The provision of a valve where the resistance of the valve can be varied is highly advantageous as this allows for the pressure within the fermentation container to be controlled and varied. This is important as it means that a wide variety of beverages (e.g. lagers, ciders, bitters, stouts, ales) can be fermented at their optimal pressure, resulting in the optimal carbonation. For example, a lager would be brewed at high pressure for a greater degree of carbonation whereas a stout would be brewed at low pressure for little or no carbonation.

[0211] The actuator 774 is configured to apply variable force to the spring 776 to variably compress the spring 776, and the spring 776 in turn is configured to apply variable force to the stopper 772 to vary the resistance of the valve. In other words, the resistance of the valve (and therefore the pressure within the fermentation container) can be controlled and varied by varying the compression of the spring by applying different forces to the spring 776 via the actuator 774. The figures show a helical compression spring, but the skilled person will understand that a leaf spring or any other suitable spring or biasing means or resilient member could equally be used.

[0212] The actuator 774 is rotatable vary the force applied to the stopper 772. Rotation of the actuator is a convenient and compact way for a user to vary the pressure within the fermentation container. In particular, the actuator comprises a screw thread 778 extending around its circumference that is configured to engage and translate about a protrusion 780 on the valve body 784. The screw thread 778 is shown extending fully through the wall of the actuator 774 but the skilled person will understand that a partial recess could be used. Additionally, the skilled person will understand that the actuator could comprise a protrusion and the valve body could comprise a screw thread.

[0213] When the actuator 774 is rotated, it screws upwards or downwards on the valve 770 which varies the force applied to the spring 776 and consequently the force applied to the stopper, meaning that the resistance of the valve 770 is adjusted. This provides a predictable and reliable movement of the actuator and, consequently, a predictable and reliable variation of the resistance of the valve and therefore the pressure within the fermentation container.

[0214] As examples, FIG. 29A shows the valve 770 at a pressure of 2.5 Bar, FIG. 29B shows the valve 770 at a pressure of 0.2 Bar and FIG. 29C shows the valve 770 open. The different positions of the actuator 774 at different pressures can clearly be seen in these figures. The varying aperture 771 can also be seen.

[0215] FIGS. 30 to 34 show another apparatus 800 according to an embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 800 may have any or all of the features and modes of operation of any of the apparatuses (e.g. apparatuses 200, 300, 400) described previously and the skilled person will understand that any of the features of the various embodiments may be combined in any suitable manner.

[0216] The apparatus comprises a fermentation container 802 for containing and fermenting a beverage (e.g. beer or cider) and a cap 882 that is attachable to the fermentation container 802 and is configured to seal the fermentation container 802 when the cap 882 is attached to the fermentation container 802. The cap 882 is attachable to and detachable from the fermentation container 802 via corresponding screw threads (not shown) on the cap 882 and the fermentation container 802.

[0217] The cap 882 comprises a handle 884 that is rotatable about pivots 886 (e.g. screws or nuts)) between a first position in which the handle 884 is graspable by a user (i.e. where the handle 884 extends perpendicularly to the surface of the cap 882, as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31) and a second position in which the handle 884 lies coplanar with the cap 882 (as shown in FIG. 32). The handle 884 is shaped to enclose the cap 882 when the handle is in its second position (FIG. 32).

[0218] The attachment of the cap 882 to the fermentation container 802 will now be described. To aid this discussion, FIG. 35 shows the fermentation container 802 of FIGS. 30 to 34 with the cap removed. It can be seen that the portion of the fermentation container 802 that receives the cap comprises a detent 890 and two opposing abutments 892 positioned at 90 degrees in either direction from the detent 890.

[0219] The present invention advantageously provides a convenient and elegant way of preventing the cap from being detached from the fermentation container accidentally during fermentation by using the handle as a part of the locking mechanism. This removes the need for additional locking features which simplifies the design.

[0220] FIG. 30 shows the cap 882 screwed onto the fermentation container 802. As shown in FIG. 31, the cap 882 is screwed onto the fermentation container 802 until a detent 892 on the cap aligns with the corresponding detent 890 on the fermentation container 802. This is a convenient and effective way of indicating to the user that the cap has been properly attached to the fermentation container.

[0221] Once the cap 882 has been screwed onto the fermentation container 802, the handle 884 can be rotated to the position shown in FIG. 32, as described previously. The handle 884 is only movable from its first position to its second position in a first direction and not in a second direction that is opposed to the first direction because it is prevented from moving in the second direction by the abutments 892.

[0222] As shown in FIG. 33, when the handle 884 is in its second position, the handle lies behind the abutments 892 and therefore the abutments 892 prevent rotation (and removal) of the cap because they restrict the movement of the handle 884.

[0223] The present invention therefore provides a neat and effective way of preventing accidental removal of the cap using the existing handle of the cap.

[0224] As in other embodiment, the fermentation apparatus 800 may further comprise a collector 806 (i.e. a yeast dump as described previously) that is attachable to the fermentation container 802 to collect waste from the fermentation container 802. The collector 806 may have any or all of the features of other collectors (e.g. collectors 202, 302, 402).

[0225] As shown in FIG. 34, the collector 806 comprises a projection 894 that is configured to engage the handle 884 when the handle 884 is in its second position to prevent the handle 884 from moving to its first position. In other words, the collector 806 is shaped (via the projection 894) to retain the handle 884 in its second position whilst the collector 806 is being attached to or detached from the fermentation container 802 so that accidental removal of the cap is prevented whilst this process is taking place. This adds an extra degree of security to the apparatus 800.

[0226] The present invention has been described above in exemplary form with reference to the accompanying drawings which represent a single embodiment of the invention. It will be understood that many different embodiments of the invention exist, and that these embodiments all fall within the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.