Food or edible material: processes – compositions – and products – Packaged or wrapped product – Having consumer oriented diverse utility
Patent
1996-05-08
1999-11-09
Sherrer, Curtis E.
Food or edible material: processes, compositions, and products
Packaged or wrapped product
Having consumer oriented diverse utility
426115, 426118, 426124, 206222, 53420, 220501, B65B 3100, B65B 1700, B65B 2500
Patent
active
059809590
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for enhancing the foam based on a glass of beverage.
This invention particularly relates to beverages that are dispensed into drinking vessels and which in this process are provided with foam heads formed by release of gases contained in solution in the beverage prior to dispensing. The beverage may contain alcohol such as is found in dark or light beers and lagers or may be wholly or substantially alcohol free such as in carbonate soft drinks like ginger or other root beers, lemonade and the like or the so-called low alcohol beers.
The beverage may be dispensed by drawing from a bulk store such as a barrel or may be dispensed by emptying from individual containers such as a can or bottle containing a measured quantity of the beverage.
It is highly desirable, particularly for beers, to provide a dense foam head to the dispensed beverage in the drinking vessel, which head will be retained for long periods even during consumption of the liquid portion of the beverage, because the consumer relates foam or head retention and head density or quality to a high quality beverage.
The present invention is concerned with new and improved methods of and apparatus for enhancing foam heads on beverages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of enhancing the foam head on a volume of dispensed beverage containing a gas in solution, which method comprises injecting a liquid stream into the dispensed beverage, the liquid stream comprising a liquid containing a suitable gas in super-saturated solution therein.
The liquid stream may be introduced to the dispensed beverage above the surface level of the dispensed beverage or below that surface and within the body of the dispensed beverage.
The gas is preferably contained in saturated solution in a suitable liquid and at elevated pressure prior to the liquid stream being formed, so that the liquid stream will become at least temporarily super-saturated as it is injected into the dispensed beverage, and it co-operates with the gas content of the dispensed beverage in a form of seeding effect to achieve an enhanced foam head without major depletion of the gas content of the dispensed beverage which therefore remains gasified.
The liquid stream may be added in a predetermined amount by volume or weight (a metered dose) in relation to the volume of the dispensed beverage but metering is not a critical factor and the gasified liquid stream may be added to the dispensed beverage on more than one occasion in order to achieve a desired level of enhancement to the head. Furthermore, as the beverage is consumed one or more metered doses may be applied to the beverage to rejuvenate the head.
The liquid phase of the liquid stream may for example be Manucol.RTM. adginate, or any food-grade surfactant, or water (e.g. Tap or De-ionised water) and it may contain dissolved gases such as carbon dioxide or nitrogen or a mixture thereof. Other gases as are well known in existing beverages may also be used in the liquid stream. It is however preferred that the dominant dissolved gas is nitrogen since this gives best results. The liquid phase of the gasified liquid stream may also be the same as the liquid phase of the beverage (e.g. bear) but in any event requires to be potable and compatible with the beverage.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a pressurised container containing a liquid having a gas dissolved therein substantially up to its solubility limit in the liquid at elevated pressure and ambient temperature, the container comprising a dispenser head and a valve mechanism which is operable to communicate the contents of the container to the dispenser head, the arrangement being such that the contents can be dispensed, onto or into a dispensed beverage, at ambient temperature and pressure as a liquid stream (as distinct from a spray) containing a saturated or super-saturated solution of dissolved gas t
REFERENCES:
patent: 2073273 (1937-03-01), Wetstein
patent: 2220146 (1940-11-01), Curry
patent: 2631521 (1953-03-01), Atkins, Jr.
patent: 3305368 (1967-02-01), Bourelle
patent: 3480403 (1969-11-01), Hovey
patent: 4333581 (1982-06-01), Flansburg
patent: 5290574 (1994-03-01), Jameson et al.
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