Compostable Container for Beermaking

Abstract

A pulp container may contain beer making ingredients during the beer making process. The container may have a bag, filter, or other sieve that may retain the ingredients during the brewing process, and may be compostable and disposable after the brewing process has completed. The container may contain prepared ingredients that may be pre-packaged such that a user may drop the container with the prepared ingredients into a system for brewing beer. In some cases, a container may contain grains and other ingredients that may be used for a mashing step. In other cases, a container may contain one or more hops charges and may have boiling or near boiling water. The brewing system may include recirculating brewing systems, as well as other types of brewing techniques.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A container for mashing grains, said container comprising:
 a base;   a set of walls connected to said base;   a first drain hole in said base;   a first drain filter mounted over said first drain hole;   a lid having a first inlet hole;   an first inlet filter mounted over said first inlet hole;   crushed grains contained within said container.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , said set of walls having a top lip, said lid being attached to said top lip. 
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 2 , said first drain filter being attached to said base by a method comprising at least one of a group composed of:
 gluing;   molding;   sewing;   mechanical interlocking; and   stapling.   
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , said base and said set of walls being molded of a compostable material. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , said base and said set of walls being molded in a single piece. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , said first drain filter comprising a woven material. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 6 , said woven material being linen. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , said first drain filter comprising a nonwoven material. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , said nonwoven material being filter paper. 
     
     
         10 . A container for brewing beer, said container comprising:
 a base;   a set of walls connected to said base;   a first drain hole in said base;   a first drain filter mounted over said first drain hole;   a lid having a first inlet hole;   hops contained within said container.   
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 10  further comprising:
 a first compartment and a second compartment; 
 said first compartment having said first drain hole; 
 said second compartment having a first overflow wall connecting said second compartment to said first compartment. 
 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 11 , said second compartment comprising a second drain hole. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 11 , said set of walls having a top lip, said lid being attached to said top lip. 
     
     
         14 . A device for mashing grains, said device comprising:
 a reservoir tub having a reservoir base and reservoir walls;   said reservoir tub comprising a reservoir outlet;   a liquid recirculating system comprising a recirculating pump;   a heat source within said liquid recirculating system configured to heat liquid in said liquid recirculating system;   a programmable controller having a processor, said programmable controller connected to said heat source, and said liquid recirculating pump;   said reservoir tub being configured to receive an adjunct steeping container, said adjunct steeping container comprising:
 a base; 
 a set of walls connected to said base; 
 a first drain hole in said base; 
 a first drain filter mounted over said first drain hole; 
 a lid having a first inlet hole; 
 a first inlet filter mounted over said first inlet hole; 
 crushed grains contained within said container. 
   
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , said reservoir tub further comprising standoffs configured to support said adjunct steeping container away from said reservoir base. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 14 , said adjunct steeping container comprising standoffs configured to support said adjunct steeping container away from said reservoir base. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 14  further comprising:
 a bypass recirculating path within said liquid recirculating system; 
 a reservoir selecting mechanism having a programmable changing mechanism to switch liquid flow between said bypass recirculating path and said adjunct steeping container, said reservoir selecting mechanism being controlled by said programmable controller. 
 
     
     
         18 . A device for boiling wort, said device comprising:
 a reservoir tub having a reservoir base and reservoir walls;   said reservoir tub comprising a reservoir outlet;   a liquid recirculating system comprising a recirculating pump;   a heat source within said liquid recirculating system configured to heat liquid in said liquid recirculating system;   a programmable controller having a processor, said programmable controller connected to said heat source, and said liquid recirculating pump;   said reservoir tub being configured to receive an adjunct steeping container, said adjunct steeping container comprising:
 a base; 
 a set of walls connected to said base; 
 a first drain hole in said base; 
 a first drain filter mounted over said first drain hole; 
 a lid having a first inlet hole; 
 hops contained within said adjunct steeping container. 
   
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18 , said adjunct steeping container further comprising:
 a first compartment and a second compartment;   said first compartment having said first drain hole;   said second compartment having a first overflow wall connecting said second compartment to said first compartment.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  further comprising:
 a reservoir selecting mechanism having a programmable changing mechanism to switch liquid flow between said first compartment and said second compartment of said adjunct steeping container, said reservoir selecting mechanism being controlled by said programmable controller.