Filling system for still beverages

A filling system (5) for filling a beverage (7) into an open container (1) in an open ambient environment, said filling system comprising:

• (a.) a discharge unit (6) through which the beverage (7) may be discharged, said discharge unit having a lower end spaced upwardly from an opening of the container (1) when the container (1) is being filled with the beverage (7);
• and
• (b.) a nozzle (9) having a lower end disposed above the lower end of the discharge unit (6) and through which sterile gas may be blown in a direction of filling, said nozzle being mounted radially outward from and concentrically with the discharge unit (6) so as to define an annular orifice therebetween;
• and
• wherein the positioning and configuration of the lower end of the nozzle and the lower end of the discharge unit are such that when sterile gas is blown through the annular orifice, the sterile gas forms a cylindrical curtain that extends around the lower end of the discharge unit, around the space between the lower end of the discharge unit (6) and the opening of the container (1) and around a top portion of the container, thereby preventing contaminants from the open ambient environment from entering the container.