SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BUILDING A HIGH DENSITY FERMENTED BEVERAGE

1 . A method for building a high-density fermented beverage, the method comprising:

performing a fermentation process on fermentation ingredients to form a fermented solution in a fermentation vessel; and

removing alcohol, aromatics, and/or water from the fermented solution, wherein the removal comprises:

positioning a membrane intake in a region of lower yeast density the fermentation vessel;

removing a first portion of the fermented solution from the fermentation vessel using the membrane intake; and

removing alcohol, aromatics, and/or water from the first portion of the fermented solution.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the removal further comprises:

separating alcohol, aromatics, and/or water from the first portion of the fermented solution thereby creating a retinate and a permeate;

positioning a retinate return in the fermentation vessel; and

returning at least a portion of the retinate to the fermentation vessel using the retinate return.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the membrane intake is positioned below a top fermentation region for a top fermenting yeast.

4 . The method of claim 3 wherein the membrane intake is positioned above a yeast settling region.

5 . The method of claim 2 wherein the retinate return is positioned below a top fermentation region for a top fermenting yeast.

6 . The method of claim 5 wherein the retinate return is positioned between the membrane intake and the top fermentation region.

7 . The method of claim 5 wherein the retinate return is positioned below the membrane intake and above a yeast settling area.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the removal further comprises:

performing a yeast removal process on the first portion of the fermented solution; and

performing a membrane process on the first portion of the fermented solution after the yeast removal process to separate out alcohol, aromatics, and/or water.

9 . The method of claim 2 wherein positioning the retinate return in the fermentation vessel comprising positioning the retinate return in a position that reduces turbidity in the fermentation vessel.

10 . A system for building a high-density fermented beverage, the system comprising:

a fermentation vessel;

a membrane system connected to the fermentation vessel;

a membrane intake that provides an input to the membrane system from the fermentation vessel, wherein the membrane intake is positioned in a region of lower yeast density; and

a retinate return that provides an input to the fermentation vessel from the membrane system.

11 . The system of claim 10 wherein the membrane intake is positioned below a top fermentation region for a top fermenting yeast.

12 . The system of claim 11 wherein the membrane intake is positioned above a yeast settling region.

13 . The system of claim 11 wherein the retinate return is positioned below the top fermentation region.

14 . The system of claim 13 wherein the retinate return is positioned between the membrane intake and the top fermentation region.

15 - 17 . (canceled)

18 . The system of claim 10 wherein the membrane intake is positioned above a bottom fermentation region for a bottom fermenting yeast.

19 . The system of claim 10 wherein the retinate return is positioned above the membrane intake.

20 . The system of claim 18 wherein the retinate return is positioned between the membrane intake and the bottom fermentation region.

21 . The system of claim 10 wherein the membrane intake is adjustably positionable.

22 . The system of claim 21 wherein the retinate return is adjustably positionable.

23 . The system of claim 10 further comprising a yeast removal system connected between the fermentation vessel and the membrane system.

24 - 50 . (canceled)