Some Topics on the Physics of Bubble Dynamics in Beer

Abstract

Besides being the favorite beverage of a large percentage of the population, a glass or bottle of beer is a test bench for a myriad of phenomena involving mass transfer, bubble-laden flows, natural convection, and many more topics of interest in Physical Chemistry. This paper summarizes some representative physical problems related to bubbles that occur in beer containers, pointing out their practical importance for the industry of beverage processing, as well as their potential connection to other processes occurring in natural sciences. More specifically, this paper describes the physics behind the sudden foam explosion occurring after a beer bottled is tapped on its mouth, gushing, buoyancy-induced motions in beer glasses, and bubble growth in stout beers.