AU2015264948B2 - Beverage flavouring system - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A beverage dispenser, or attachment for a beverage dispenser, that is capable of imparting flavour to the beverage during dispensing. ---- ----- - - ------- - - 5 Figure 1

Description

1 2015264948 07 Dec 2015

BEVERAGE FLAVOURING SYSTEM

Technical Field [0001 ] The invention relates to the field of commercial beverage dispensing systems. In particular, the invention relates to an improved beer font for modifying the flavour of the beverage as it is dispensed.

Background of the Invention [0002] Consumers of beverages are increasingly looking for variety of flavours in those beverages. This is particularly so of beer, where flavour variety is becoming more important. In addition, consumers are increasingly appreciation and seeking out ‘customisation’ of their foods and beverages, so cost effective and simple ways to achieve this are advantageous for food and beverage suppliers.

[0003] With particular regard to beer, there is a consumer desire to reduce the traditional bitterness with amore ‘sour’ flavours, in order to increase the appeal of beer to different consumer and palates.

[0004] One of the ways that is known to modify or improve the flavour of beverages such as beer is to include fruit juice in it. This includes the practice of placing a lime wedge in a beer bottle before serving. Another method is to include fruit juice in the beer as it is brewed, e.g. the radler type beers that originated in Germany and have become popular as summer drinks in other countries.

[0005] However, it is difficult to apply this concept to tap beer in bars or pubs. To dispense a pre-flavoured beer would require an entire keg of the beer to be present, and at least one keg is required for each different flavour variety.

[0006] The better way to provide a wide variety of flavours is to combine the beer with the flavouring materials at the point of dispensing. This mans a single base beer can be used and the variety of flavours added according to the customer’s request.

[0007] However, this presents problems with how to actually add the juice, how to prepare the juice without causing the bartender a large amount of extra time in preparation, thereby reducing the efficiency of the bar operation. Another issue is how to mix the juice in to the beer without adversely affecting such parameters as head quality, or consistency of flavour. 2 2015264948 22 Sep 2016 [0008] It would also be an advantage to have a way of dispensing a flavoured beer that did not preclude the immediate dispensing of a different flavour, or of a non-flavoured beer.

[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a beverage dispensing system that ameliorates at least some of the problems associated with the prior art.

Summary of the Invention [0010] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a beer dispenser, or attachment therefor, adapted to contain plant material that imparts flavour to beer as the beer is dispensed, wherein said dispenser or said attachment has, in a dispensing configuration, an internal chamber, that contains said plant material, and through which chamber said beer flows during dispensing; wherein said chamber is adapted to prevent movement of said plant material toward a fluid outlet of said chamber during dispensing, wherein the internal chamber is adapted to at least partially crush the plant material when the attachment is assembled.

[0011] Such a device is readily retrofitted to an existing beverage line or dispenser, and can be removed when not desired or required. When installed, the line can still be used to pour the 'usual' beverage, e.g. straight beer. This allows the venue to maintain the beverage brands or varieties available at the venue whilst extending the flavouring offer.

[0012] Preferably, said dispenser or attachment has, in a dispensing configuration, an internal chamber that contains said plant material and through which said beverage flows during dispensing.

[0013] The invention could, for example be used as an amalgamation of a beer tap, coffee filter and a citrus press, allowing fresh fruit flavour to be mixed into beer as it is poured. It is capable of flavouring a beverage, such as beer, with fruits, such as lemon, lime, orange, grapefruit, kiwi etc.

[0014] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the point at which said beverage exits said chamber during dispensing is located at the top of said chamber. In this way, the pressing chamber is designed such that the fruit and its juice is held inside the chamber until the beverage flows past, and does not prematurely flow into the glass or cup.

[0015] Preferably, the beverage enters the chamber at an upper surface of said chamber and is directed on to or through said plant material, in order to maximise the flavour transfer from the plant material to beverage. 3 2015264948 07 Dec 2015 [0016] In an advantageous embodiment, the dispenser or attachment includes an upper part that attaches to a beverage supply line and a lower part that receives the plant material. Preferably the internal chamber is adapted to at least partially crush the plant material when the attachment is assembled.

[0017] In a more preferable embodiment, the upper and lower parts are adapted such that the lower part is attached to the upper part by raising into position and rotating it by no more than 180° in any direction, even more preferably by no more than 110° in any direction. This makes the device relatively simple to use - similar to the action of a coffee filter - so that it is easily incorporated in to the repertoire of bar staff who are required to operate it.

[0018] In this context, the press can be engineered to be attached to an existing beer line in a bar or pub by using beer line standard fittings. This means it can be attached and detached quickly and without any tools, allowing the venue to return the font to straight draught beer at any time.

[0019] According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of modifying the flavour of a beverage during dispensing including the step of attaching a dispenser or attachment, according to any described above, onto a dispensing point or beverage dispenser.

[0020] The invention, when used to infuse fruit juice into beer, seems to impart the flavour and aroma of the fruit into the beer more efficiently and effectively than by e.g. just squeezing the juice into a beer after it is poured or by steeping the fruit in beer.

[0021] Now will be described, by way of a specific, non-limiting example, a preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings [0022] Figure 1 is a disassembled view of a beverage flavouring dispenser according to the invention affixed to a beverage line.

[0023] Figure 2 is a sectional side view of the disassembled attachment of figure 1.

[0024] Figure 3 is a view of the attachment of figure 1 in an assembled state. 4 2015264948 07 Dec 2015 [0025] Figure 4 is a sectional side view of the assembled attachment of figure 3, in a pre-dispensing configuration.

[0026] Figure 5 is a sectional side view of the attachment of figure 4 in a dispensing configuration.

[0027] Figure 6 is a partly disassembled view of a beverage flavouring dispenser according to the invention affixed to a beverage line.

Detailed Description of the invention [0028] The invention is embodied by a beverage dispenser attached to a beverage dispensing line, through which the beverage is dispensed, containing e.g. fruit or other flavoursome plant material, such that the flow of the beverage through the plant material imparts its flavour and aroma to the beverage.

[0029] As an illustrative example, the invention can be embodied by an attachment that can be fitted to a beer dispensing line in a pub or a bar etc. The attachment incorporates an internal chamber that contains fruit, through which the beer flows as it is dispensed. The attachment also incorporates a valve mechanism, so it can wholly replace the usual beer tap. Also, a ‘normal’ beer may be dispensed if the fruit is not placed in the chamber of the dispenser.

[0030] Turning to figure 1, there is shown a beer tap riser 5 with the flavouring dispenser according to the invention attached. The dispenser includes an upper valve section 10, a lower chamber section 15 and a juicer 20 (not visible) that protrudes from the underside of said valve section 10. The valve section 10 and the lower chamber section 15 define an internal chamber 25 that contains the juicer 20 and a piece of fruit 30, here illustrated as a slice of a citrus fruit, such as lemon.

[0031] Attached to the upper valve section 10 is a valve operation lever 35. Attached to the lower chamber section is a handle 40.

[0032] Turning to figure 2, the features mentioned above are shown in cross-section. The valve mechanism 50 is shown in a closed position. The valve is in fluid connection with a beverage line 55. The chamber 25 defined by the upper surface of the chamber section 15 and the lower surface of the valve piece 10 can be seen. The juicer 20 sits on the underside of the valve section 10. The upper surface 60 of the chamber section 15 defines the floor of the chamber 25. 5 2015264948 07 Dec 2015 [0033] Turning to figure 3, it can be seen that assembling and locking the attachment for use is similar to the action performed by baristas when operating a typical espresso machine: the fruit 30 is loaded on to the chamber section 15, then the bartender grasps the handle 40, lifts the chamber section 15 into place, then turns the chamber section 15 through about 105-110° into the position shown, in the direction of the arrow 65.

[0034] Turning to figure 4, it can be seen that notches 70 on the outer surface of the valve piece 10 mate with slots 75 on the inner surface of the chamber section 15 to hold said section in place. It can also be seen that the lower surface 60 of the chamber 25, and the juicer 20 located on the upper side of the chamber 25, cause the juice of the fruit 30 to be extracted through crushing therebetween.

[0035] The lower and side surfaces of the chamber 25 defines a circular pool 90 where extracted juice is held. The opening 80 of the lower dispensing channel 85 is higher than said pool, so the juice is retained in the chamber 25 until the beer is dispensed.

[0036] Turning to figure 5, the dispensing configuration of the flavouring attachment can be seen. The bartender tilts the upper handle 35 which forces the valve mechanism 50 to move in to the beer line 95, breaking the seal. The beer then flows down the channel 100 and onto the fruit 30. At this point the beer mixes with the juice in the fruit and any pre-extracted juice in the pool 90, before flowing out through the lower channel 85 and into the glass.

[0037] The inventors have found that using this mechanism provides a fuller flavour uptake of the juice by the beer. It has been observed that both the flavour and aroma of the flavoured beer is superior to that of beer that is manually flavoured with juice, such as by squeezing the juice into the beer post-dispensing.

[0038] This configuration has also been found to minimise agitation during dispensing, avoiding the creation of too much ‘head’ in the beer, and also tends to avoid blockage of the beer path by the fruit.

[0039] As illustrated in figure 6, this embodiment also features a reservoir 110 for e.g. ice in the upper part of the valve section, which can be covered by the cap 105.

[0040] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the above described embodiment is merely one example of how the inventive concept can be implemented. It will be understood that other embodiments may be conceived that, while differing in their 2015264948 07 Dec 2015 6 detail, nevertheless fall within the same inventive concept and represent the same invention.

Claims (10)

1. Claims

   1. A beer dispenser, or attachment therefor, adapted to contain plant material that imparts flavour to beer as the beer is dispensed, wherein said dispenser or said attachment has, in a dispensing configuration, an internal chamber, that contains said plant material, and through which chamber said beer flows during dispensing; wherein said chamber is adapted to prevent movement of said plant material toward a fluid outlet of said chamber during dispensing, wherein the internal chamber is adapted to at least partially crush the plant material when the attachment is assembled.
2. 2. A beer dispenser or attachment of claim 1, wherein said attachment is adapted to be fitted on to an existing beer dispenser or beer dispensing point.
3. 3. The beer dispenser or attachment of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the point at which said beer exits said chamber during dispensing is higher than the lowest surface of said chamber.
4. 4. The beer dispenser or attachment of claim 3, wherein the beer exits the chamber during dispensing at the top of said chamber.
5. 5. The beer dispenser or attachment of any one of the preceding claims, wherein said beer enters said chamber at an upper surface of said chamber and is directed on to or through said plant material.
6. 6. The beer dispenser or attachment of any one of the preceding claims, including an upper part that attaches to a beer supply line and a lower part that receives said plant material.
7. 7. The beer dispenser or attachment of claim 6, wherein the upper and lower parts are adapted such that the lower part is attached to the upper part by raising into position and rotating it.
8. 8. The beer dispenser or attachment of claim 7, wherein the rotation is no more than 180° in any direction.
9. 9. The beer dispenser or attachment of claim 7, wherein the rotation is no more than 110° in any direction.
10. 10. A method of modifying the flavouring for a beer during dispensing including the step of attaching a beer dispenser or attachment according to any one of the preceding claims onto a dispensing point or beer dispenser.