Bar.on, a Belgian beverage start-up, has made headlines with its ground-breaking invention: the world’s first molecular beer printer, aptly named OneTap. This innovative device promises to revolutionize how we experience beer by creating a wide array of beer styles in seconds from just tap water.
In traditional beer brewing, malt, hops and water are combined with yeast, which ferments the sugars into alcohol over several weeks. This fermentation process significantly influences the beer's flavour.
Bar.on’s molecular mixing technology, however, eliminates the need for fermentation. Instead, flavour and aroma compounds are captured and stored in small cartridges. These compounds are then mixed with water and ethanol to recreate beer at a molecular level.
Bar.on’s technology also addresses the challenges of producing alcohol-free beer. Traditional methods either remove alcohol from brewed beer or halt fermentation prematurely, often sacrificing aroma quality.
Bar.on’s approach allows for the separate addition of alcohol and aroma compounds, preserving the beer’s taste and aroma more effectively.
Customized brews
The OneTap machine utilizes cutting-edge molecular recipes and dispensing technology to mix flavour compounds at a molecular level. This allows it to produce various types of beer, including blond, brown, IPA, and triple, as well as high-quality non-alcoholic options.
Users can customize their beer according to taste preferences, adjusting elements such as alcohol content, bitterness, fruitiness, sweetness, and spiciness.
One of the key benefits of the OneTap system is its sustainability. Traditional beer production involves a lengthy fermentation process and results in significant shipping of heavy finished products.
In contrast, Bar.on’s technology eliminates the need for fermentation and reduces transportation costs and ecological footprint.
The OneTap machine requires only locally sourced tap water, further cutting down on environmental impact. Additionally, it minimizes packaging waste and promotes efficient water use.
Bar.on’s flavour compounds are derived from natural sources, many of which are already used in traditional brewing. However, by bypassing the fermentation stage, the OneTap printer can offer a more sustainable and cost-effective alternative.
Initial blind taste tests have shown that the molecular beer recipes deliver impressive results, paving the way for a new era of personalized and environmentally friendly beer consumption.
Sensory research
The concept behind the molecular beer printer stems from over a decade of specialized research into the chemical and sensory properties of beer. The OneTap machine represents a novel application of this research, demonstrating the potential of molecular beer mixing in various market segments.
Professor Kevin Verstrepen and his team at KU University in Leuven have been researching Belgian beer, its fermentation process and aroma compounds for over a decade. This has resulted in an elaborate chemical and sensorial dataset of no less than 250 different beers.
Currently, the company is developing a version of the machine for pubs and bars, known as the OneTap Pro. This model is expected to undergo field testing later this year. The company is also in discussions with hardware manufacturers to expand the reach of their beer printers to new markets.
Although the official launch date and price for the OneTap have not yet been announced, Bar.on is enthusiastic about bringing this revolutionary technology to a global audience. The company is engaging with beverage brands of all sizes to explore potential collaborations that could offer more sustainable solutions and reduce production costs, particularly for non-alcoholic beers.
As consumer demand for better-tasting low and non-alcoholic beers continues to grow, the technology stands out by preserving taste and quality without the drawbacks of traditional brewing.
With Bar.on’s technology, consumers can instantly create any beer they desire, from adjusting flavours of existing recipes to experimenting with new combinations.
This level of customization extends to home use, the hospitality industry, and even professional brewers, offering endless possibilities for beer enthusiasts and creators alike. For more information, visit www.baron.bar.
