IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HOPS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Julius Boult, of 323 High Holborn in the County
of Middlesex, Engineer. for an Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
TREATMENT OF HOPS AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR" a communication from
Friedrich Theodor Ulrich Deinhardt of Wickerstedt near Apolda, German
Empire
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Julius Boult at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th May 1883.
"
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Engineer IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HOPS AND IN APPARATUS.
THEREFOR [a communication from Friedrich Theodor, Ulrich Deinhardt of
Wickerstedt near Apolda, German Empire]
"
>
This invention relates to an improved method of boiling hops enabling the same
to, be more thoroughly utilized in brewing than could heretofore be done and to
apparatus therefor.
"
When hops are over boiled a part of the volatile oils contained therein is lost,
whilst some of the principles it contains will be present in the product in a greater
proportion than is desirable. If the boilings is insufficient the beer that is produced
from the wort so obtained tastes flat, whilst moderately boiled hops, though it
imparts a pleasant taste to beer is not fully utilized.
.
According to this Invention however the hops are treated as follows: In a
suitable boiler or pan, or in several boilers, hops are boiled, in one part of the boiler
(if only one is used) fresh hops, in another part hops that have once before been
boiled, in a third part hops that have been boiled more than once before.
The various parts of the boiler or the several boilers may communicate, so that
the resulting worts comingle. In some cases, say when they are light, the hops
will be boiled only twice, whilst with heavy hops and for low grade beer the
second or third decoction may be used without the first.
A suitable apparatus for carrying this method into practice consists of a boiler
which by wire-screens is separated into compartments. These wire screens are not
fixed but held in suitable guides and have a hinged door or opening to accom-
modate a shaft passing through the boiler. This shaft carries screw-blades which
stir the hops during boiling. The shaft works in suitable bearings and is pro-
tected (over the furnace) by a shell of fire clay or by similar means. It is driveni
by a pulley or other gearing.
The boiler being (according to requirements) divided into two or more compart-
ments the freshest hops are placed furthest from the fire.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Alfred Julius Boult in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th November 1883.
ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE TREATMENT OF HOPS AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR a communication from Friedrich Theodor Ullrich Deinhardt of
Wickerstedt, near Apolda, German Empire.
"
This invention relates to an improved method of boiling hops, enabling the same
to be more thoroughly utilized in brewing than has heretofore been done.
When hops are boiled for a long time a great part of the volatile oils contained
therein is lost, while some of the principles will be extracted and be present in the
product in a greater proportion than is desirable, imparting to the beer a certain
rank bitter taste, which with the diminution of the finer flavour becomes more
apparent. If on the other hand, hops are only boiled for a short time, a considerable
part of the volatile constituents is secured and a pleasant taste imparted to the
beer while those constituents which are only slowly soluble, but not less useful, are
left in the hops which then are not fully utilized.
According to this method repeated boiling of the hops takes place the quantities
of hops being kept separate according to the number of times they may have
been boiled but several such quantities are simultaneously boiled as hereinafter
described.
The advantages of this method consist in extracting the slowly soluble con-
stituents to a greater extent together with the volatile aromatic constituents of
fresh hops.
<t
For carrying this invention into practice a boiler or copper" of suitable shape,
say oblong, is used. This is divided into two or more compartments say by frames
covered with netting of wire or other material, two or more compartments being
produced according as to whether two or more qualities of hop are to be used
simultaneously. Existing boilers or coppers may be adapted for use with this
method.
"
"
If the hops are "light" they need only be boiled twice, whilst "heavy" hops
will if boiled three times give a better flavour to the beer and also be more fully
utilized. For the lower grades of beer twice boiled hops may be used alone, as
these qualities require a but slight addition of hop.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 shows a boiler or "copper," adapted for this invention, in. longitudinal
section.
Figure 2 a frame or partition of wire or other netting.
Figure 3 a transverse section of the boiler on lines n. o and p q.
Figure 4 a horizontal section showing the pulley placed in front, the smoke-flue
being straight.
Figure 5 a plan on a reduced scale the pulley being placed at the rear and the
smoke-flue lateral.
The remaining Figures will be hereinafter referred to.
As soon as the boiler A is ready for boiling the wort one or two wire
partitions a bare inserted according as to whether light or heavy hops are to be
used, guides being for this purpose formed by angle-irons c c c c.

page_text: The hops already boiled once or twice are then introduced into one compartment,.
formed by the wire partitions and the wort is admitted into the boiler. Çare is
taken to place the hops to be boiled a second or third time there where the wort
most strongly boils, namely, hops to be boiled a third time are placed into the
foremost compartment III directly over the fireplace, whilst the hops for second
boiling are placed into the middle compartment II The fresh hops are introduced.
into the rearmost compartment I but only after the other hops have already. been
boiled for some time.
If for instance the wort is to be boiled for over two hours, it will be well
to introduce the fresh hops only after the wort has been boiling for half an
hour, so that the volatile oils shall not be lost to the wort. When the wort has
been sufficiently boiled, been drawn off and put into the cooling vat, the variously
boiled hops remain in the corresponding compartments and can readily be removed
therefrom. The completely exhausted hops are entirely removed whilst the less
spent hops are suitably stored in readiness for another brewing. For the purpose
of causing a more energetic movement of the materials. during the process of
brewing and consequently a most complete exhaustion of the hops, a stirring
apparatus may be provided in the centre of the boiler. This consists in a shaft ď
with two screws e and ƒ (or wings) and the pulley g fixed in front or rear of the
boiler. The pulley imparts a moderate rotary motion to the stirrer whilst the
brewing proceeds.
The shaft d has its bearings in i and h and at k passes through a stuffing-box.
To protect the latter and the shaft against injury from the gases of combustion, a
stout pipe say of clay is inserted into the brickwork of the boiler and carefully
Juted and made tight at m.
The sieves or partitions a and b are preferably furnished with small doors x
(Figure 2) to allow the same easily to pass over the shaft. If heavy hops are
employed both partitions are used if light ones only one, placed at the centre of
the boiler, is used, so as to afford as much room as may be to the hops.
The partitions may as stated be frames covered with netting or perforated plates,
or they may be otherwise suitably constructed.
The stirring device may, without affecting the nature of this invention, be
dispensed with if preferred.,
>>
Instead of using a boiler divided into compartments as set forth, several
coppers may be used for the treatment of the hops which in that case are
transferred from one boiler to the other substantially in the manner above
described, the proceeding in other respects being as already explained.
A modification of the boiler or "copper" shown in Figures 1-5 is represented
in Figures 6-11. The object of this modification is to avoid the trouble of moving
the hops from one division of the boiler to the other after the wort is drawn off
and to this end each compartment is, at the bottom, fitted with an exhaust pipe
and cock, which all communicate with a strainer having a corresponding number
of compartments, said strainer being mounted over a collecting vessel from which
the wort is led away as desired.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of the boiler with its exhaust pipes and of the
strainer.
Figure 7 is a cross section of the boiler with the strainer Replaced by its side
and the collecting vessel C
Figure 8 plan of the strainer B and of the collecting vessel C.
Figure 9 is a transverse section of the strainer, shown open, and of the collecting
vessel below the same.
•
Figure 10 pian of the strainer shown open.
Figure 11 transverse section of a boiler with double walls or sides for boiling
the wort by means of steam the strainer being placed below the same.
The exhaust cocks a b c d may be operated by means of a corresponding number
of levers.al blc d'and of lever e all placed upon the shaft f and by means of the

page_text: connecting rod g of the short shaft h-and hand lever i and they may all be
opened simultaneously when the wort is to be drawn off through the pipes a² b² c³ d
together with the hops to pass to the strainer B and the collecting vessel C. The
wort then flows to the strainer and passes on through the collecting vessel whilst
the hops are kept back in the several divisions of the strainer B. The sides of the
latter are capable of being opened so that the several qualities of hops may be
spread out and dried in the separate divisions I II III IV without intermingling.
When this takes place the sides of the strainer B lay against the sides of the
collecting vessel C.
As a protection against the fire the exhaust pipes a* b c d³ are surrounded by
fire clay and then pass through the brickwork to the corresponding divisions of
the strainer B.
The construction of the boiler may be considerably varied without affecting the
principle of this invention, and it may be partitioned by any convenient means.
The number and configuration of the compartments may likewise vary whilst the
partitions need not necessarily be attached to the boiler but may be conveniently
suspended from above. The latter construction will be advantageous when it is
desired quickly to lift the hops out of the "copper" when the boiling is finished.
For this purpose instead of dividing the boiler, the hops are placed into suitable
receptacles suspended from above which can be raised out of the copper and
lowered into the same and these receptacles will thus also serve as a kind of
"hop-back." It is obvious that such receptacles must be so made as to give free
access to the liquid in the "copper" and it is also desirable to make the receptacles
as large as can be done so as not to impede the expansion of the hops therein
contained.
It will be understood from what has been said that the fresh hops may be
separated from those boiled once or more times, and these latter from one another,
either by partitioning the boiler or by placing the several qualities of hops into
separate recipients and that the partitions or receptacles dividing the boiler (where
a single boiler is used) may consist of frames covered with net work of wire, cords
or the like, or of perforated plates or they may be made of wood or otherwise.
In figures 12 and 13 are illustrated round boilers. That shown in figure 12 is
divided vertically that shown in figure 13 horizontally, and these illustrate further
modifications of the means for separating several classes or qualities of hops.
Having now described the nature of the said invention and the manner of
performing the same as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent I claim.
The method of boiling hops chiefly characterized by the following features.
First The repeated boiling of the hops (two or more times) in a boiler divided
by partitions separating the various qualities or classes of hops, fresh hops being
used together with hops that have previously been boiled, substantially as and for
the purposes set forth.
Second-The dividing of the boiler by network or the like the most exhausted
hops being introduced into the compartment most exposed to the fire, the other
qualities being removed from the fire in proportion to their freshness, substantially
as specified and for the purpose set forth.
Third: The repeated boiling of the same hops. (twice or more times) either in
one boiler divided as described, or in several boilers in succession so as to exhaust
the hops, as far as may prove advantageous substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
:
Fourth The employment in this method of movable frames covered with
netting of wire or other suitable material and provided with. doors to allow their
ready introduction whilst ensuring complete separation of the several qualities of
hops, substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
=
Fifth The employment of the boiler or "copper" shown in figures 1-5 of the
drawing in combination with the stirring device consisting of the shaft d fitted
with screws or wings e and f and with a pulley 9 all substantially as specified and
for the purposes set forth.
g

page_text: Sixth-The employment in combination with a divided boiler of a strainer B
having sides which can be opened or closed, and placed over a collecting vessel C
the said strainer serving to receive and dry the several qualities or classes of hops
and being further combined with the exhaust pipes a² b² ç² d¹ and cocks a¹ b¹ c¹ d'
the said cocks being capable of being simultaneously operated, all substantially as
and for the purposes set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In witness whereof I the said Alfred Julius Boult have hereunto set my hand
and seal this fifth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.
°
ALFRED J. BOULT (L.S.)