Beer Has a Gravity Problem

Beer has an ingredient we almost never talk about. Gravity.

On Earth, carbonation behaves predictably. Gas rises through liquid. Bubbles move toward the top of the glass. Inside your stomach, gas and liquid also separate reasonably well.

Remove gravity and everything changes. In microgravity, gas and liquid do not separate in the same way. That can create the unpleasant problem astronauts sometimes describe as a wet burp, where liquid can come back up with the gas.

That means drinking a normal carbonated beer in space isn't as simple as opening a bottle. Researchers and brewers have experimented with carbonation levels, containers and drinking systems designed for microgravity.

And that reveals something fascinating. Beer isn't just water, malt, hops and yeast. Its entire drinking experience depends on physics. Take gravity away and even the pint has to be redesigned.

That's Tally's Take.