Japanese Brewery Releases Space Beer

[Aaron Summers Effler]

Japanese Brewery Releases Space Beer

12/16/2008 9:37:29 AM

by Rachel Levitt

Tags: Science and technology, discoveries, space, beer, brewing, barley, Japan, research, Sapporo, Boing Boing

Japan seems to have decidedly more fun with their space program than their fellow astronauts. Just two months after heralding their space-launched paper airplanes, Japanese brewer Sapporo has announced the development of beer brewed from “Sapporo Space Barley.” The barley seedlings spent five months aboard the Russian Research Modules of the International Space Station before coming back to Earth for planting, harvesting, and fermentation.

The batch produced 100 liters of beer, most of which will be used for studies on the “Impact of Extreme Environmental Stresses on Barley” (an experiment I wouldn’t mind being a part of) and the possibility of brewing in space. The brewery is doing a small public tasting in January, but alas, the brew apparently tastes just like regular beer.

(Thanks, Boing Boing)

Image courtesy of ronin691, licensed under Creative Commons.

 

[Kolin Hodgson]

OK, so considering the number of ingredients (and processes) that have a big effect on taste, I don't see how exposing the barley seed to weightlessness matters much. Now if they took the yeast up there....

--
Kolin Hodgson
kol...@gmail.com

    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year