Hard Seltzer perfectly meets consumer taste being a refreshing drink perceived as healthy, available in an inexhaustible variety of fruity aromas, which lends itself to mixing with other ingredients to obtain ever new drinks. Sparkling (5.5 g/l of carbon dioxide), low in calories (90-100 per 350 ml serving) with low alcohol content (5% by volume), no added sugar, vegan and gluten free.
Steps for a controlled fermentation process
Like beer, Hard Seltzers are also the result of an alcoholic fermentation process.
In this process, in which instead of malt, there is a solution of water (suitably treated) and sugar (usually glucose) at 10 °Bx is used, where the glucose is converted in alcohol and carbon dioxide by a specific yeast strain.
To ensure targeted and controlled fermentation it is necessary to subject the sugar solution to sterilization (at a temperature below 95° C for 30 seconds) to eliminate all existing strains of mold, yeast and bacteria.
The special bioreactors to start the fermentation
Subsequently the solution is cooled down to the fermentation temperature indicated on the yeast technical sheet, which also reports the pitching rate: quantity, times and dosage of the yeast.
The yeast is then inoculated, also under sterile conditions, to start fermentation in special bioreactors with specific characteristics (tank shape, height / diameter ratio, type of agitation, aeration and deflectors).
The fermentation process can be controlled, alternatively, by measuring the pH, the Bx degree or the alcohol percentage.
When the desired alcohol content is reached, cooling and final filtration are carried out.
From the fermenter to the carbonation with EASY.Carbomix carbo blender
Therefore a solution consisting of only water and ethanol is obtained where the carbon dioxide content depends on the fermenter used, in particular on the applied temperature and pressure.
This semi-finished product is transferred to the preparation tanks and integrated with the desired aromas, sweeteners and any pH regulators.
Then the carbonation with A DUE – EASY.Carbomix carbo-blender follows, which involves the dilution (if alcohol content correction is necessary) and incorporation of the carbon dioxide, in addition to the already formed during fermentation.
A DUE, thanks to the in-depth knowledge of the process and the support of its team of technologists, can provide both the whole system including the initial fermenters and pasteurizers or even only the hydroalcoholic mixture receiving section, the minor ingredient dosage (aromas, sweeteners, etc.) and the final carbonation.
