So what is “Space Beer” anyway?
A lot of people have been asking, “what is Space Beer anyway?” Fair enough. The radio spots we did for 4 Pines let people know that 4 Pines sent the first Aussie beer into space. We haven’t really delved much deeper than that into the concept behind the beer – yet.
But the science behind it is actually pretty cool. In outer space, two things happen that alter the experience of drinking a beer.
First, things taste differently in space than they do on earth. Astronauts since the first Apollo missions have complained that food tastes blander in space than it does on earth. Though scientists are undecided on the cause of this, evidence points to the idea that it may have something to do with taste buds expanding slightly at microgravity.
Second, gasses and liquids separate differently in the stomach than they do on earth. As NASA’s Shuttle and ISS Food Systems Manager, Vickie Kloeris, said:
Not only is carbonation difficult in microgravity, it causes you to burp. On earth, that’s not such a big deal, but in microgravity it’s just gross! Because there is no gravity, the contents of your stomach float and tend to stay at the top of your stomach, under the rib cage and close to the valve at the top of your stomach. Because this valve isn’t a complete closure (just a muscle that works with gravity), if you burp, it becomes a wet burp from the contents in your stomach. I’ve been told this is NOT pleasant!
So… to free future space tourists from space bars filled with floating, regurgitated bubbles of mediocre beer, 4 Pines brewed a stout specially crafted for enjoyment in orbit.
Here’s a video of Jaron Mitchell of 4 Pines Brewery, explaining some of this on ‘Today’ to Karl Stefonovic. Nice work guys!
