# US 2021/0230522 A1 · Methods and Devices for the Capture and Retention of Grain Aroma in a Spirit Distillate or a Rejoined Spirit Distillate

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- Number: US 2021/0230522 A1
- Document ID: US20210230522A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/774,919
- Filed: 2020-01-28
- Published: 2021-07-29
- Earliest claimed: 2020-01-28
- Inventors: Matt Sweeney; Douglas J. Boyle, III; Jason Somerby
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210230522A1

## CPC

- C12G 3/021: of botanical family Poaceae, e.g. wheat, millet, sorghum, barley, rye, or corn
- C12G 3/022: of botanical genus Oryza, e.g. rice
- C12G: WINE; PREPARATION THEREOF; ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES (beer C12C); PREPARATION OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES NOT PROVIDED FOR IN SUBCLASSES C12C OR C12H

## Abstract

Disclosed are devices and methods that allow for the capture and retention of grain aroma that would otherwise be lost or reduced in distilled spirits production processes. Devices and methods are disclosed that allow for the capture and retention of aromas released during grain heating. Devices and methods are disclosed that allow for the capture and retention of grain aromas prior to the loss of these aromas in subsequent mashing, fermentation, and distillation processes. In one embodiment, captured and retained aromas from a particular grain are added back to the spirit distillate produced from that same grain. In one embodiment, the grain from which aroma is extracted is subsequently mashed, fermented, distilled and rejoined with the aromatized spirit to produce a rejoined spirit. Devices and methods are disclosed which utilize the grain aroma extraction process as a source of heat for the cooking of grain in subsequent or parallel mashes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A heating and vapor recovery device for beverage production, comprising:
a heat source;
a vessel; and
a condenser configured to be coupled to the vessel.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the vessel contains grain and water.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the vessel contains fermented mash.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein the vessel contains grain in an alcohol-water solution.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a vapor permeable container configured to be supported within the vessel and above the liquid level in the vessel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the vessel contains water.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The device of claim 5, wherein the vessel contains an alcohol-water solution.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, further comprising a vapor-grain interaction chamber between the vessel and the condenser, configured to cause vapor rising from the vessel to pass through grain prior to reaching the condenser.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein the vapor-grain interaction chamber comprises of a vapor permeable container of grain supported above the inlet, configured such that vapor passes upward and through the grain prior to moving to the condenser.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the vessel contains an alcohol-water solution.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the vessel contains water.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the vessel contains fermented mash.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, further comprising:
a reflux column; and
a reflux condenser.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein the vessel comprises of a continuous distillation column.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, further comprising:
a temperature sensor; and
a heat source controller configured to be in communication with the temperature sensor.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The device of claim 13, further comprising:
a temperature sensor; and
a reflux condenser control device configured to be in communication with the temperature sensor.

### Claim 17 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, wherein the vapor-grain interaction chamber comprises of a tube that emits vapor beneath the surface of grain contained within the vapor-grain interaction chamber, configured such that vapor passes through the grain prior to moving to the condenser.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the vessel contains an alcohol-water solution.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the vessel contains water.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the vessel contains fermented mash.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, further comprising:
a reflux column; and
a reflux condenser.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The device of claim 17, wherein the vessel comprises of a continuous still stripping column.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The device of claim 21, further comprising:
a temperature sensor; and
a heat source controller configured to be in communication with the temperature sensor.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The device of claim 21, further comprising:
a temperature sensor; and
a reflux condenser control device configured to be in communication with the temperature sensor.

### Claim 25

A method for the capture of volatile compounds released from grain, comprising:
placing grain in a vessel;
placing liquid in a vessel;
extracting volatile compounds from the grain into the liquid;
heating the liquid and vessel to drive the extracted volatile compounds into the vapor phase;
capturing and condensing the extracted and vaporized volatile grain compounds; and
use of the extract condensate containing grain volatile compounds to enhance the flavor of a beverage.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the liquid is water.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the liquid is an alcohol-water solution.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the liquid is an alcohol containing fermented mash.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 further comprising:
recovery of the grain after volatile compound extraction and heating;
mashing and fermentation of the recovered grain; and
distillation of alcohol from the mashed and fermented grain.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The method of claim 29 further comprising the mixture of the condensate containing extracted grain volatile compounds with the alcoholic distillate from the mashed and fermented grain.

### Claim 31

A method for the capture of volatile compounds released from grain, comprising:
placing liquid in a vessel;
placing and supporting grain in a chamber connected to the vessel, configured such that the grain is not in contact with the liquid;
heating the vessel and liquid causing the formation of a vapor that passes from the vessel into the chamber and supported grain;
extracting volatile compounds from the grain into the vapor;
capturing and condensing the extracted and vaporized volatile grain compounds; and
use of the extract condensate containing grain volatile compounds to enhance the flavor of a beverage.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31 wherein the liquid is water.

### Claim 33 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31 wherein the liquid is an alcohol-water solution.

### Claim 34 (depends on 31)

The method of claim 31 further comprising:
recovery of the grain after volatile compound extraction and heating;
mashing and fermentation of the recovered grain; and
distillation of alcohol from the mashed and fermented grain.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The method of claim 34 further comprising the mixture of the condensate containing extracted grain volatile compounds with the alcoholic distillate from the mashed and fermented grain.

### Claim 36 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 further comprising the use of a reflux column and reflux condenser to control the temperature and composition of the alcohol-water vapor prior to vapor interaction with the grain.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The method of claim 36 wherein temperature of the enriched vapor is maintained below the gel point of the starch in the grain.

### Claim 38 (depends on 33)

The method of claim 33 further comprising the use of a continuous distillation column to control the temperature and composition of the alcohol-water vapor prior to vapor interaction with the grain.

### Claim 39 (depends on 38)

The method of claim 38 wherein temperature of the enriched vapor is maintained below the gel point of the starch in the grain.