AAB 089: The Science of Beer

The podcast explores the science of beer, highlighting its historical impact on technological advancements and its integral role in early civilizations. Jonny Garrett, author of "The Meaning of Beer," discusses how the pursuit of better beer led to inventions like the compressed gas fridge and indirect fire kilning, which revolutionized industries beyond brewing. Zoran Gojkovic from Carlsberg Research Laboratory shares how their research led to the purification of lager yeast, methods for measuring protein and pH, and climate-tolerant barley. Both guests underscore beer's cultural and religious significance, emphasizing its historical importance as a safe, calorific beverage. The conversation also touches on modern scientific advancements, such as DNA sequencing of yeast and the exploration of alternative brewing ingredients, to promote sustainability.