Multiple Flow Path Recirculating Brewing System with Removable Reservoirs

Abstract

A beer making device may have removable reservoirs through which brewing ingredients may be added. The removable reservoir may include a grain steeping reservoir and one or more adjunct or hops steeping reservoirs. A removable tub may contain the various reservoirs, and some or all of the various ingredient reservoirs may be removable from the reservoir tub. For example, a set of hops reservoirs may be manufactured as a single joined unit, and may be removable from the reservoir tub. The removable reservoirs may include a check valve which may shut off flow when the reservoir may be removed or dislodged, thereby minimizing leakage, and a beer making device may further sense such a situation and cause operations to cease.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A brewing system comprising:
 a removable grain steeping compartment;   a first removable adjunct steeping compartment;   a recirculating pump connected to a liquid sump;   a heating mechanism;   a flow path selecting mechanism connected to said recirculating pump and adapted to change between at least three liquid flow paths, said liquid flow paths comprising:
 a bypass flow path, said bypass flow path causing a liquid to be recirculated through said heating mechanism; 
 a steeping flow path, said steeping flow path causing said liquid to be recirculated through said removable grain steeping compartment; 
 an adjunct flow path, said adjunct flow path causing said liquid to be recirculated through said first removable adjunct steeping compartment; 
   a processor adapted to:
 receive a brewing sequence, said brewing sequence defining a sequence for operating said flow path selecting mechanism, said heat source, and said recirculating pump; and 
 cause said flow path selecting mechanism, said heat source, and said recirculating pump according to said brewing sequence. 
   
     
     
         2 . The brewing system of  claim 1 , said removable grain steeping compartment and said removable adjunct compartment being joined together to be removable as a single unit. 
     
     
         3 . The brewing system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second removable adjunct steeping compartment;   said flow path selecting mechanism further adapted to change between at least four liquid flow paths, said liquid flow paths further comprising:
 a second adjunct flow path, said second adjunct flow path causing said liquid to be recirculated through said second removable adjunct steeping compartment. 
   
     
     
         4 . The brewing system of  claim 3 , said second adjunct flow path further causing said liquid to pass through said first adjunct steeping compartment. 
     
     
         5 . The brewing system of  claim 4 , said second adjunct flow path comprising a fluid connection between said second removable adjunct steeping compartment and said first removable adjunct steeping compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The brewing system of  claim 5 , said first adjunct steeping compartment and said second adjunct steeping compartment being joined in a single removable unit. 
     
     
         7 . The brewing system of  claim 6 , said single removable unit being separately removable from said removable grain steeping compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The brewing system of  claim 6 , said single removable unit being housed in a removable tub. 
     
     
         9 . The brewing system of  claim 1 , said removable grain steeping compartment and said first adjunct steeping compartment having a common drain. 
     
     
         10 . The brewing system of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a second recirculating pump connected to said common drain and said liquid sump. 
 
     
     
         11 . The brewing system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a check valve positioned at an exit to said removable grain compartment. 
 
     
     
         12 . The brewing system of  claim 11 , said processor further adapted to:
 sense that said removable grain compartment is removed and cause said recirculating pump to cease pumping.