Patent ID: 9145538
Filing Date: 2015-09-29
Classification: B01F,C12G

Abstract:
1. A method of regulating parameters in a cap material and a juice during a primary fermentation of an alcoholic beverage to optimize attributes and mitigate undesirable matter, the method comprising the steps of: providing a mixing apparatus for use during the fermentation, the apparatus comprising: a) a rigid shaft having a first end and a second end; b) an agitation blade affixed to the shaft at a location between the first end and the second end, the agitation blade disposed at an oblique angle relative to the shaft; and c) a plate releasably attached to the blade; wherein the plate has an optimized surface area that includes a metal; positioning the shaft of the apparatus in an substantially vertical orientation above a vessel, the vessel containing the cap material and the juice; extending the apparatus downward to a predetermined depth in the vessel; wherein the blade and plate contact the cap material for a predetermined duration of time to at least partially submerge and horizontally relocate a portion of the cap material under the juice; retracting the apparatus upward so as to cause the blade to rise at least partially above the cap material; repeating a number of the extending and retracting steps, whereby the apparatus produces a reciprocal motion to repeatedly mix the cap material with the juice; repositioning the shaft of the apparatus to another location over the vessel; and repeating the positioning, extending, retracting and repositioning steps according to a predetermined schedule to regulate predetermined parameters during the primary fermentation of the beverage and thereby optimize the attributes and mitigate the undesirable matter.