Brookston Beer Bulletin

Jay R. Brooks on Beer

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Patent No. PP20200P3: Hop Plant Named ‘Apollo’

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Today in 2009, US Patent PP20200 P3 was issued, an invention of Roger D. Jeske and Joe Brulotte, assigned to S.S. Steiner, Inc., for their “Hop plant named ‘Apollo.'” Here’s the Abstract:

A new and distinct variety of hop, Humulus lupulus L., named “APOLLO” is characterized by its exceptional high percentage of alpha acids, excellent storage stability of alpha acids, low CoH value for an alpha variety, and resistance to hop powdery mildew strains found in Washington. The new variety was cultivated as a result of a cross in 2000 at Golden Gate Roza Hop Ranches in Prosser, Wash., United States and has been asexually reproduced in Prosser, Wash., United States.

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Patent No. 2647521A: Hop Picking Machine

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Today in 1953, US Patent 2647521 A was issued, an invention of George E. Miller, for his “Hop Picking Machine.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to mechanism for use in removing hops from hop vines. Numerous machines have been developed from time to time, many of them patented by me, for the purpose of removing hops from vines mechanically. One of the difficulties is that hops are quite delicate and must be handled with great care and another factor is that substantially all of the hops ‘must be removed from the vine for economic can be brought for picking, and also adaptable for use in a portable machine movable through a field of growing hops to remove the hops from the vine.

Another object of my invention is to provide a hop picking machine effective to remove substantially all of the growing hops from the vines, but capable of operating with sufficient delicacy so that the hops are not injured by the mechanical picking and handling.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for removing the hops from the vines without removing a large quantity of leaves and stems; that is, a device for selectively removing the hops while leaving, as far as possible, the leaves and stems undisturbed.

A further object of the invention is to provide I a hop picking machine having flexibly mounted hop picker elements effective to rove throughout 7 portions of the hop vine being picked, so that the hops are engaged from various different directions and in various different attitudes to promote their removal in the most expeditious fashion.

A still further object or the invention is to provide a hop picking machine in which the action of the picker elements is so gentle as not to injure or cut or tear the hops themselves.

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Patent No. 6209567B1: Foam Trap For Beer Or Other Gas Propelled Liquid Dispensing Systems

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Today in 2001, US Patent 6209567 B1 was issued, an invention of Robert C. Gustafson, for his “Foam Trap For Beer or Other Gas Propelled Liquid Dispensing Systems.” Here’s the Abstract:

A foam trap or FOB for a gas propelled or mechanically pumped liquid dispensing system, having an upper ball stopper valve seat and gas vent port at the top and a lower ball stopper valve seat and liquid outlet port at the bottom, with two floating ball stoppers that are raised and lowered by the level of liquid unless locked into a seated position on a valve seat by pressure. Ball stoppers can be independently mechanically dislodged and constrained from reseating on either valve seat by externally accessible means. The interior geometry inhibits the ball stoppers from competing or blocking access to respective valve seats when liquid is falling or rising. The trap automatically shuts off outflow when liquid is depleted, permitting a container change, opening of the vent port, and purging of gas or air in the trap by refilling the trap with liquid before closing the vent port and reopening the outflow. The trap may be integrated into an automated container switching system for liquid dispensing systems.

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Patent No. 3596810A: Keg-Tapping System

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Today in 1971, US Patent 3596810 A was issued, an invention of Roy A. Taubenheim, for his “Keg-Tapping System.” Here’s the Abstract:

A beer keg-tapping device which consists of a keg unit that is permanently attached to the keg and a coupler unit detachably connected to the keg unit. Both units have liquid and gas passages which communicate when the units are coupled; a single valve element automatically closes both passages of the keg unit when units are not coupled. During coupling the passages of the two units are connected before the valve element is unseated, so that coupling is accomplished without spraying of beer.

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Patent No. WO2010043235A8: Post Fermenting Optimizer (PFO) For The Preparation Of Beer

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Today in 2010, US Patent WO 2010043235 A8 was issued, an invention of Patrick Accristo, Michel Aubanel, Cyril Denis, Dave Mawby, Matthew Servini, Nilabh Singh, and John Terry, assigned to Cargill Incorporated, for their “Post Fermenting Optimizer (PFO) for the Preparation of Beer.” Here’s the Abstract:

The present application relates to a method of preparing a beer or beer-like beverage by adding a Post Fermenting Optimizer (PFO) in form of an infusion of roasted malt or a distillate thereof after fermentation. This addition of PFO provides the beer or beer-like beverage with additional body, base flavour and/or top notes. The present invention relates also to the PFO infusion itself, its distillate, the methods for preparing them and their use for reducing staling during beer or beer-type product shelf-life.

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Patent No. 5334400A: Beverage Package

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Today in 1994, US Patent 5334400 A was issued, an invention of Robert Purdham, assigned to Guinness Brewing Worldwide Limited, for his “Beverage Package.” Here’s the Abstract:

A sealed beverage package has a bottle 1, a neck 4 of which provides a narrow mouth 5. A hollow insert 7 is submerged in beverage 13 in the bottle. A headspace 14 in the bottle is at a pressure greater than atmospheric and when the package is opened to de-pressurise the headspace 14, gas and/or liquid under pressure in the insert 7 is ejected through an aperture 8 into the beverage to cause a head of froth to develop on the beverage 13. The insert 7 is retained in position by an open framework 9 of struts 10 which extend between the insert and a retaining ring 11 that frictionally engages in a bore 6 adjacent to the mouth 5 of the bottle. The insert 7 can be attached to the framework 9 or formed integral therewith.

It’s also described thusly:

The present invention relates to a beverage package and a method of forming such a package. More particularly it concerns a sealed package of the kind containing beverage having gas in solution and within which beverage is located a hollow insert containing gas under pressure which, upon opening of the package, causes a gas and/or liquid to be ejected from the insert by way of a restricted orifice to cause, or assist in, the formation of a head of froth on the beverage by the evolution of gas dissolved therein. The ejection of the gas and/or liquid from the hollow insert results from the opening of the package when a headspace of the beverage which, in the sealed package, is at a pressure greater than atmospheric rapidly reduces to atmospheric pressure so that a pressure differential is created which permits the gas and/or liquid under pressure greater than atmospheric in the insert to be ejected into the beverage in the container.

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Patent No. 2756917A: Valve For Counter Pressure Filling Apparatus

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Today in 1956, US Patent 2756917 A was issued, an invention of John T. Kline, for his “Valve For Counter Pressure Filling Apparatus.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

Briefly outlined they are as follows: The charged liquid is supplied to a reservoir by piping connected to a continuous source of supply forming a closed circuit; air or gas under pressure, such as carbon dioxide, is also supplied to the reservoir by suitable piping leading from a continuous source forming a closed circuit, thereby providing a head above the liquid in the reservoir; and a plurality of filling heads, each one of which contains a rotary fiat valve and means to temporarily seal the containers, is joined to the bottom of the reservoir and connected with the interior thereof by suitable piping to permit removal of the liquid and/ or the air or gas confined therein. By positioning the valve in each filling head in a predetermined pattern, a filling sequence is accomplished which permits the filling of the containers without excessively foaming or effervescing the liquid. This sequence consists of temporarily sealing the container to the filling head; then positioning the valve to permit the air or gas under pressure in the reservoir, commonly called counter pressure, to enter into the container to equalize the pressure between them; then positioning the valve to permit the liquid in the reservoir to enter into the container under its normal hydrostatic pressure and to return the air or gas (counter pressure) in the container back to the reservoir as it is being displaced by the liquid; then positioning the valve to out off the flow of the liquid and the air or gas (counter pressure) to and from the container; then exhausting any air or gas remaining in the container and finally permanently sealing the container.

My invention, while relating generally to apparatus for transferring gaseous liquids from a source of supply to containers, specifically relates to the rotary fiat valve employed by such apparatus and is specifically directed to the method employed in conveying the liquid and air or gas from the reservoir to the container.

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Patent No. 1235231A: Apparatus For Cooling And Rousing Beer-Wort And For Precipitating Sludge From Same

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Today in 1917, US Patent 1235231 A was issued, an invention of Leopold Nathan, for his “Apparatus for Cooling and Rousing Beer-Wort and for Precipitating Sludge from Same.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

In the brewing of beer, especially in breweries in which special stress is laid on the production of high-class beers, the cooler is still in almost general use for cooling down the worts. The cooler, however, constitutes the primary and worst source of infection in the preparation of beer. Owing to the very rapid cooling of. the wort in the cooler, germs which have settled down on the cooler before it is charged with wort are not all killed. Moreover, fresh germs make their appearance during the cooling process, and these are not killed, especially at temperatures from 60 downward.

In spite of these defects of the cooler, it has been impossible hitherto, owing to its valuable properties for certain special types of beer, to dispense with this appliance. In addition to the cooling effect produced in the cooler, vapors are eliminated which carry off with them unpleasant odors formed in consequence of the inevitable access of air. Through the access of air and simultaneous cooling, considerable quantities of protein substances and hop resins are precipitated, and the only way in which these can be separated from the liquid is by allowing them to settle down, for which purpose the extensive surface of the cooler is highly advantageous.

The method employed by me in connection with the apparatus of the present invention consists in the first place in freeing the wort from the said aromatic and flavoring substances by the passage of a current of air or carbon dioxid, or both. If, as was hitherto the case, in this treatment the gas be forced or drawn into the wort from below, a very strong frothing is produced, which prevents the complete removal of the vapors.

The operation is directed, in the first place, to preventing this frothing or to nullifying its ill effects. With this object, the gas is carried, in a powerful current, along the wort in a finely-divided state so as to carry off the vapors from the surface of the liquid. At the same time a cooling effect is also produced; nevertheless the essential portion of the elimination effect can only be accomplished fully by treating the hot wort with a current of gas. The complete deposition of the cooler sludge, occurring as cooling progresses, is facilitated in a special manner, and the possibility of carrying it out in a closed, sterile vessel is afforded, by setting up in said vessel a frame containing a large number of superimposed stages having a total superficial area corresponding to that of the cooler. In order to remove the sludge this staged frame must be taken out of the vessel. The resulting infection is neutralized by allowing the next charge of wort to run into the vessel in a sufficiently hot condition.

This operation can be carried out in two vessels: one for the elimination treatment and one for the deposition of the sludge; or one and the same vessel may be used for both purposes.

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Patent No. 533747A: Beer-Cooling Device

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Today in 1895, US Patent 533747 A was issued, an invention of Otto Ritter, for his “Beer-Cooling Device.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

My invention relates to a beer cooling apparatus, the object of my invention being to so construct an apparatus as that when the wort or beer is passed through said apparatus it will operate a fan, which fan by its rotation sprays and cools the beer.

A further Object of my invention is to so gear the fan upon the central shaft as that said fan will rotate with greater rapidity than does the shaft.

My improved beer cooling apparatus is adapted to be located in an inclosure which is generally located in the top of brew houses, the beer being forced to said inclosure by a pump, or other suitable means, there to be passed through the apparatus and into the vats or pans adapted to receive it.

My invention consists in a suitable hollow casting adapted to besnpported in a position above the beer cooling receptacle, a shaft mounted vertically in said casting, a series of discharge nozzles or apertures located in said casting, a motor or turbine-wheel mounted to receive the beer that is discharged from said nozzles or apertures and to be revolved by the pressure of the beer, anda fan driven by and located below the said motor or turbine wheel in position to receive the beer sprayed above said fan by the movement ot’ said parts.

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Patent No. 3749004A: Apparatus For Crushing And/Or Compacting

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Today in 1973, US Patent 3749004 A was issued, an invention of William G. Pagdin and Charles F. Constable, assigned to the Schlitz Brewing Co., for their “Apparatus for Crushing and/or Compacting.” There’s no Abstract, although in the description it includes this summary:

The invention relates to that type of crushing and/or compacting machine or apparatus wherein a plurality of sets or pairs of opposing crushing rollers are arranged in series. Broadly according to the invention, a frame rotatably supports one roller from each set of rollers. The other roller from each set of rollers is rotatably supported by a member movable relative to the frame and the frame supported rollers. The rollers supported by the movable member move with that member relative to the frame supported rollers to provide for relief from shock loading between the sets of opposing rollers. Relative movement between the opposing rollers to relieve shock loading there between is resisted by resilient means.

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