How Does Temperature Affect Dissolved Gas in Beer?

AI Thread Summary
Temperature significantly affects the behavior of dissolved gases in beer, particularly when transitioning from colder environments like a freezer to room temperature. When beer is taken from the freezer and opened, the rapid release of dissolved gas can create a fountain effect, which may be attributed to the increased pressure from the colder liquid and potential nucleation sites. The phenomenon occurs even without freezing, as the expansion of cold liquid can pressurize the gas, leading to a more vigorous release. Additionally, supercooled liquids can freeze instantly upon disturbance, highlighting the complex interactions between temperature and gas solubility. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for beer enthusiasts and brewers alike.
mtc1973
Messages
112
Reaction score
1
So if I take a beer from the fridge and open it at RT, the dissolved gas comes out of solution because of the pressure drop.
A colleague asked me - why is it then that if he takes a beer from the freezer, that is colder than the beer from the fridge (not frozen though) and opens it at RT - the rate at which dissolved gas comes out of solution is often faster - and results in a continuous fountain of beer.
How is it that the rate of dissolved gas exiting the solution is affected - presumably the pressure drop should be the same in both cases. So how is it that the temperature gradient has this effect?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
It might not be the gas but the liquid. Water expands in volume when cooled, reaching a maximum at 4C and raising the gas pressure due to the greater volume being contained in the same sized container. (It explains why you risk rupture/explosion when freezing liquids in a sealed can or bottle...)
 
No rupture. The liquid had not gone solid. I have noticed a bunch of times this happening. OF course there may be explanationes due to nucleation sites being concentrated in one place? or some weird effect other than the pressure drop or the temperature difference?
I have seen it myself a few times but never paused to wonder why.
 
mtc1973 said:
So if I take a beer from the fridge and open it at RT, the dissolved gas comes out of solution because of the pressure drop.
A colleague asked me - why is it then that if he takes a beer from the freezer, that is colder than the beer from the fridge (not frozen though) and opens it at RT - the rate at which dissolved gas comes out of solution is often faster - and results in a continuous fountain of beer.
How is it that the rate of dissolved gas exiting the solution is affected - presumably the pressure drop should be the same in both cases. So how is it that the temperature gradient has this effect?

I've experienced the same thing(continuous fountain) and another... the entire beer turned into frozen slush after opening from being in my freezer.
When I moved the can gently around it seemed to be liquid, but when i opened it it fountained AND turned to icy slush.
 
mtc1973 said:
No rupture. The liquid had not gone solid.
It doesn't have to freeze. Cold water is less dense than water at room temperature. The act of expanding as it gets cold will pressurize the gas.
 
what gas do you mean - the dissolved gas in solution or the gas at the gap at the top of the bottle.
 
Both.
 
Hi!I'm quite new,but...I've just watched on tv:
If a liquid is near its freezing point(meaning: supercooled) and I take out of the bridge and I just hit it, it's going to freeze immediatelly.Does anyone know the reason?
Thanks!
I should be glad to see a text/reference to browse.
 
Back
Top