A method of packaging a beverage.

摘要

A method of packaging a beverage having gas in solution has an open topped container 1 in which is located a hollow insert 5 having a restricted aperture 12. The container is charged with the beverage such as beer 15 so that the aperture 12 is submerged in the beverage and the container is sealed to form a headspace 19 which is pressurised, preferably by dosing with liquid nitrogen. Following sealing the container is rapidly inverted to locate the aperture 12 in the headspace 19 so that gas pressures in the insert chamber 10 and the headspace 19 come into equilibrium. With the fluid contents in equilibrium, or substantially so, the package is reinverted so that gas under pressure in the insert chamber 10 communicates directly by way of the aperture 12 with beer in the chamber 10. Upon opening of the headspace 19 to atmospheric pressure for dispensing the beer a pressure differential is developed by which gas from the insert chamber 10 is initially ejected through the aperture 12 into the beer 15 to effect in the development of a froth on the beer 15. Beer 30 which may flow into the insert chamber 10 prior to the aperture 12 moving to communication with the headspace 19 is accommodated within a well 13 of the insert chamber 10 remote from the aperture 12 to alleviate the ejection of such beer 30 into the beer 15.