Beverage dispensing apparatus and method

This invention is directed towards a method of controlling a beverage dispensing system (600), which is particularly suitable for alcoholic beverages. The system (600) comprises a base unit (20) comprising at least one visual indicator (29) controlled by a control unit (303) and at least one module (500) mounted in or on the base unit (20). The at least one module (500) comprises a dispensing arrangement for dispensing beverage from a beverage reservoir (111), the dispensing of beverage being controlled by a manually openable dispensing valve (103). The at least one module (500) further comprises storage means storing module (500) data including a predetermined flowrate of beverage from the module (500). The method comprises the steps of communicating the module (500) data from the storage means of the at least one module (500) to the control unit (303) and calculating a time period for the dispensing of beverage from the at least one module (500) based upon the predetermined flowrate and a desired amount of beverage to be dispensed. The method further comprises indicating the at least one module (500) with the at least one visual indicator (29) for the calculated time period. The at least one module may further comprise valve sensing means operable to determine whether the dispensing valve is open and the base unit may further comprise load sensing means in communication with the control unit and arranged to determine the total weight of the at least one module mounted in or on the base unit.