Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. 2473395A: Hops Treatment

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Today in 1949, US Patent 2473395 A was issued, an invention of George Segal, for his “Hops Treatment.”

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Hops in Yakima, Washington.

There’s no Abstract, although after a lengthly exposition about hop production prior to 1944, he eventually describes the process he’s patented, which appears to be about temperature and keeping the hops cold:

  1. The method of treating hops which consists’ of freezing the hops while they still retain substantially their fresh aroma, the temperature being depressed through the temperature of about 30 F. at a rate not substantially greater than about 1 F. per hour, then holding the hops in frozen state for a storage period, then thawing the hops, and thereafter drying the hops.
  2. The method of treating hops which consists of freezing the hops while they still retain their fresh aroma, holding the hops in frozen state for a storage period, then thawing the hops, the temperature being raised through the temperature of about 30 F. at a rate not substantially greater than about 1 F. per hour, and thereafter drying the hops.
  3. The subject matter of claim 1, characterized of chilling hops, after picking, to a point somewhat above their freezing point and holding the hops chilled but unfrozen for less than about six weeks, then freezing the hops, the temperature theoretically or actually,
  4. At a rate not substantially greater [?] being depressed through the temperature of about 30 F. at a rate not substantially greater than about 1 F. per hour, then holding the hope I in frozen state for a storage period, then thawing the hops, and thereafter drying the hops.
  5. The subject matter of claim 4, characteri’zed by the fact that in thawing the hops, the temperature is raised through the temperature of about 30 F. at a rate not substantially greater.

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A mountain of hops from the kiln, about to be baled and put into cold storage.

Patent No. 2710818A: Method And Apparatus For Simultaneously Washing Containers And Removing Labels Therefrom

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Today in 1955, US Patent 2710818 A was issued, an invention of Ralph J. Winters, assigned to Ballantine & Sons, for his “Method and Apparatus For Simultaneously Washing Containers and Removing Labels Therefrom.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My present invention relates to the automatic washing of containers carrying labels and more particularly to a method for simultaneously washing such containers, removing and disposing of the labels as well as apparatus for carrying out the same.

In the art of packaging products, particularly products intended for human consumption, highly complex and expensive equipment for substantially automatically handling the containers has been provided. This is especially true in the brewing industry where machinery capable of handling many thousands of bottles per hour has been provided for automatically washing the bottles. In this industry containers such as bottles are used over and over again. Before each use each bottle is scrupulously cleaned. It is conventional for each bottle to have affixed thereto a paper label which washes off or otherwise becomes detached from the bottle during the washing process and settles downward in one or the other of the compartments of the washing machine. While the machines are provided with a dead space at the bottom of such compartments, nevertheless the accumulation of labels is so rapid that in a relatively short time they extend upward sufficiently far to impede the passage of the bottles. To avoid damage which may result therefrom, it has been customary to put the washing machine out of operation to permit manual cleaning and removal of the labels. Manual cleaning is, of course, time consuming and costly. Furthermore, because of the highly caustic washing solutions commonly utilized, care must be exercised in carrying out the removal of the labels to avoid injury to personnel during the operation.

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Patent No. 1863081A: Bottle Cap

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Today in 1932, US Patent 1863081 A was issued, an invention of Earl S. Bellows, assigned to the Huntington Rubber Mills, for his “Bottle Cap.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to closures for glass bottles designed to contain effervescent fluid .producing a pressure in the container; and it is also useful for inert fluids or for use 5 in bottling processes resultant in a partial vacuum in the top of the bottle after the contents have been placed therein.

The particular feature of my new bottle cap is its capability of being re-used many times and the provision made for removing it without the use of tools or implements which will tend to destroy it.

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Patent No. 4838419A: Keg Board

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Today in 1989, US Patent 4838419 A was issued, an invention of Ferdinand Weits, William F. Mekelburg and Marc R. Latour, assigned to the Adolph Coors Company, for their “Keg Board.” Here’s the Abstract:

A keg board for use in stacking beer kegs and the like in an upright orientation during storage and transporation of the kegs comprising: a generally planar surface for engaging and supporting a generally planar end surface of each keg; and pockets operatively associated with the planar surface for limiting relative lateral shifting movement of the kegs such as caused by shocks and vibration associated with transporting of the kegs.

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Beer Birthday: Ashley Routson

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Today is also the 32nd birthday of Ashley Routson, a.k.a. The Beer Wench. In addition to writing her own blog, Drink With the Wench, she also works for Green Flash Brewing. She’s a social media diva and girl about town, beer town that is. She certainly seems to be everywhere at once and if everyone had her energy for promoting good beer we’d be winning the war against bland, tasteless drinks. She also recently published The Beer Wench’s Guide to Beer, though I haven’t gotten my review copy yet (hint, hint). Join me in wishing Ashley a very happy birthday.

Tweetup organizer Ashley, a.k.a. The Beer Wench, with Ron Lindenbusch, from Lagunitas
Ashley with Ron Lindenbusch at a Tweet-Up at Lagunitas a couple of years back.

Me and The Beer Wench
Me and Ashley at the same Tweet-Up.

Stephen Beaumont & Ashley a.k.a. The Beer Wench
Stephen Beaumont and Ashley at Triple Rock in Berkeley.

Justin Crossley & Ashley Routson
With Justin Crossley from the Brewing Network at the Celebrator Anniversary Party at Trumer at the end of SF Beer Week a few years ago.

Patent No. 3325032A: Bottle Cap

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Today in 1967, US Patent 3325032 A was issued, an invention of Louis A. Cormier, for his “Bottle Cap.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

It is common practice in the soft drink and beer industries to provide the bottle with a cap having a tab extending outwardly from the cap to permit its removal without the use of a bottle opener. Such a cap is shown in the patent of Cormier No. 3,200,982 which issued on Aug. 17, 196-5. Although the cap shown in that patent operates satisfactorily, some strength is required to remove the cap with one hand; this, on occasion, has made it difficult for women or children to open the caps. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a bottle cap which may be removed easily without the use of the auxiliary tools.

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Patent No. 499537A: Beer-Faucet

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Today in 1893, US Patent 499537 A was issued, an invention of Christian Guenther, for his “Beer-Faucet.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

As is well known in tapping a keg of beer orale, the cork or plug, which closes the opening in which the faucet is inserted, is forced into the keg by the act of inserting the faucet. In this mode of tapping the end of the faucet is placed against the cork or plug and then a number of blows is given to the faucet by means of a mallet or other instrument, and the cork is thus forced into the keg. This operation requires skill on the part of the person tapping the keg, as there is great liability of leakage taking place and if the faucet is not properly inserted there is great danger of its blowing out and the contents of the keg lost.

My invention is designed to obviate the above and other objections and provide a faucet which can be readily inserted in a keg by the most unskilled person, without any danger of leakage, and without hammering the faucet which has a tendency to injure the same.

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Patent No. 995001A: Agitating Device

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Today in 1911, US Patent 995001 A was issued, an invention of John H. Hathaway, for his “Agitating Device.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The object of my invention is the provision of a device of the character mentioned which will be so designed as to adapt the same to be readily arranged in a paint-keg, upon the removal of one of the heads of the latter, in such a manner as to permit of the ready manual oscillation thereof therein, in effecting the thorough breaking of the lead or oil contained in the keg.

A further object is the provision of an agitating device as mentioned which will be of an adjustable nature adapting the same for arrangement in kegs of various dimensions; and further a device which will be effectual in operation, and which will be of strong, durable and economical construction.

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