Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. 4708938A: Alcoholic Fermentation

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Today in 1987, US Patent 4708938 A was issued, an invention of Stephen J. Hickinbotham, for his “Alcoholic Fermentation.” Here’s the Abstract:

Fermentation method and apparatus comprising an outer container with a plastics bag hung from the neck of the container to define a chamber between the bag and the container. Means to pressurize the chamber with a temperature controlled medium to control fermentation of material within the bag. Additional pressurization of the chamber causing the fermented liquid to be expelled from the mouth of the bag.

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Patent No. 331251A: Apparatus For Filling Kegs With Beer

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Today in 1885, US Patent 331251 A was issued, an invention of George L. Kearney, for his “Apparatus For Filling Kegs With Beer.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The object of this invention is to supply beer to kegs and barrels, for filling the same with out the formation of foam in the keg or other receptacle, as is now the case. This I accomplish in the manner and by the means hereinafter described and claimed.

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Patent No. 1161272A: Method Of Preserving Hops

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Today in 1915, US Patent 1161272 A was issued, an invention of Henning Wennersten, for his “Method of Preserving Hops.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention is particularly designed to preserve the fresh or prime hops, or similar flowers or substances, in their best condition, so to prevent the escape of the valuable volatile elements, such as lupulin, and the deterioration of the hops by reason of the air coming more or less in contact therewith. It is also designed to produce a new product, which will add greatly to the convenience of handling and shipping the hops, which will also preserve them an indefinite length of time in any climate, and which in its nature may readily be employed in the manufacture of beer and other products where hops are essential, insuring accuracy in the use of the valuable chemical elements, or the ingredients employed, and dependability upon the grade or quality of such ingredients.

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Patent No. D136684S: Design For A Drinking Glass

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Today in 1943, US Patent D136684 S was issued, an invention of George L. Kearney, for his “Design for a Drinking Glass.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The ornamental design for a drinking glass, and ornamental Design for a Drinking Glass, substantially as shown.

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Patent No. 3219319A: Concentration Control Apparatus For A Continuous Flow System

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Today in 1965, US Patent 3219319 A was issued, an invention of Michael Edward Ash, assigned to Guinness Son & Co. Ltd., for his “Concentration Control Apparatus for a Continuous Flow System.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

This invention relates in general to continuous flow systems of the kind in which liquid suspensions comprising a mechanical dispersion of sedimentable particles in a liquid of relatively lower specific gravity, are caused to flow through a processing vessel or series of vessels.

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Patent No. 20120297512P1: Hop Plant Named ‘HBC 369’ a.k.a. Mosaic

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Today in 2012, US Patent 20120297512 P1 was issued, an invention of Eugene G. Probasco and Jason Perrault, assigned to the Hop Breeding Company, L.L.C., for his “Hop Plant Named ‘HBC 369.'” Here’s the Abstract:

A new hop plant named ‘HBC 369’ is disclosed. The cones of ‘HBC 369’ mature in mid September, and yield a crop of 1600 to 2000 pounds per acre. ‘HBC 369’ is used for its unique aromatic quality, resistance to powdery mildew, high alpha acid content and exceptional yield.

If you don’t recognize that number, they quickly gave 369 a name, and it’s one you probably will know: Mosaic. The Hop Breeding Company has more info about Mosaic at their website, and co-inventor Gene Probasco gave a presentation at an MBAA meeting in 2012. This how Yakima Chief describes it. “Mosaic™ Brand HBC 369 cv is a daughter of the YCR 14 cv hop variety and a Nugget derived male. It has high alpha acids and tropical, blueberry, tangerine, floral, and earthy aromas.” And you can see it’s listing at HopUnion, and although the two merged to become YCH Hops, their hop varieties page is blank. It’s become a fairly popular hop variety in a very short time.

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Patent No. 614465A: Bung And Tube

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Today in 1898, US Patent 614465 A was issued, an invention of George J. Habermann, for his “Bung and Tube.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to improvements in tubes and bungs for barrels and other vessels from which beer, ale, porter, cider, mineral water, and other liquids are drawn under artificially-sustained pressure.

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Patent No. 3353724A: Beer Tapping Device

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Today in 1967, US Patent 3353724 A was issued, an invention of Mack S. Johnston, for his “Beer Tapping Device.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

Disclosed is a tapping device for beer kegs and the like and, more particularly, a probe adapter for installation in a beer keg opening. The adapter is provided with a liquid valve opened when a probe is inserted into the adapter. Also forming a part of the adapter is a positive acting gas valve which has a closure member moved by the probe to permit gas to flow into the keg through the adapter. The gas flow path through the adapter is at all times separated from the liquid flow path.

The present invention relates to a new and improved tapping device for drawing fluid such as beer from containers such as beer kegs or barrels, using a gas to drive the fluid from the container, said tapping device including a sub-unit called a keg adapter which is sealingly installed in the keg and a second sub-unit called a coupler which is attached to the beer dispensing apparatus in a restaurant, tavern or the like and is readily connectible to the keg adapter so that the tapping device is automatically set up in operating condition. More specifically, this invention relates to a new, improved keg adapter which is usable with conventional beer kegs having a. standard three-fourths inch diameter beer removal opening therein and which includes a valve means formed therein that positively prevents gas and/or beer from passing either into or out of the keg whenever the coupler is not assembled with the keg adapter, and in which gas check valve means in addition to the liquid valve means are enclosed completely within the keg adapter body.

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Patent No. 2530594A: Separating Solid Matter From Hot Wort

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Today in 1950, US Patent 2530594 A was issued, an invention of Fremont W. Benedict, for his “Separating Solid Matter From Hot Wort.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The present, invention aims to effect air separation from the hot wort of most of the nitrogenous substances, and hop resins prior to the delivery of the wort to the coolers and starters. The method of the invention involves introducing the hot wortl into a charging zone where the wort is under some turbulence and from whence it flows into an adjacent and substantially larger quiescent zone. The communication between the two zones is well below the liquid level; and substantially clear wort is withdrawn from the quiescent zone near the liquid level and at a point as remote as practical from the charging zone. The apparatus of the invention comprises a tank of any desired configuration having a partition dividing the tank into a charging or feeding compartment and a’ settling compartment of considerably larger volume than the charging compartment. The lower end of the partition is spaced a short distance above the bottom of the tank, and the space between the partition and the tank bottom provides the communication between the two compartments. The hot wort is preferably delivered in a stream above the. liquid level, so that it splashes into the wort in the charging compartment and keeps the wort there in agitation. A float-controlled discharge is provided for withdrawing substantially clear wort from near the liquid level “of the-settling compartment at a point remote from the partition.

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Patent No. 804979A: Brewing Apparatus

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Today in 1905, US Patent 804979 A was issued, an invention of Carl Rach, for his “Brewing Apparatus.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My present invention has reference more particularly to the construction of that part of brewing apparatus which has to do with the mashing portion of the process.

The object of my invention is to so construct the apparatus as to facilitate the mashing, the heating of the mash, its transfer from one vessel to another, and the separating of the thick mash from the thin mash, or, as it is commonly termed, lauter mash.

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