Here’s why beer tastes better when it’s cold

(NEXSTAR) — Sometimes there’s nothing better than cracking open a cold beer. Or, there’s nothing worse than drinking a warm beer.

But why does cold beer taste better? Is it just because of its freshness?

Researchers have found that the temperature of beer and other alcohols can affect flavor.

in study Scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, published in the journal Matter on Wednesday, explained that alcohol, like many other things, behaves differently at certain temperatures. More specifically, the researchers said that alcoholic beverages taste more or less “ethanol-like” at different temperatures.

Ethanol (not the kind you get at the gas pump) can taste bitter and sweet, previous research shows explain.

At a molecular level, as the ethanol concentration in a beverage increases, the ethanol aligns into chain-like structures. At low concentrations, ethanol forms pyramid-like structures. The researchers determined that the ethanol flavor was more pronounced in the chain-like structure.

researchers analyzed baijiu, a popular distilled spirit in China, found that at room temperature, where this drink is commonly served, ethanol forms as clusters. When the researchers warmed it up, the ethanol became more chain-like, intensifying its ethanol-like flavor.

Lei Jiang of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, lead author of the study, said: explained This means that the taste of baijiu can vary significantly due to slight differences in temperature.

The same can be said for cold beer, albeit in reverse.

When beer is cold, ethanol appears in chains at the molecular level, bringing out the flavor typical of ethanol. As the beer warms up, the ethanol will form clumps and the flavor will fade.

“This is why we drink cold beer,” Jiang says. Said.

But experts warn that: “Too cold” When it comes to beer. According to the American Home Brewers Association, cold weather can mask the flavor and aroma of ale by “slowing the volatilization of aromatic compounds.” Without these aromas released, beer can appear “thin and tasteless.”

In most cases, the group suggests serving beer at a temperature of about 40°F to 50°F.

If you’re a beer drinker, you probably didn’t need researchers to tell you that hot and cold beer taste very different. What is another aspect that can affect a beer’s molecular structure and ultimately its taste? How it is stored.

Think about the last time you walked down the beer aisle.you probably Beer is not sold in plastic containers.. This is because if you store beer in a plastic bottle, it may lose its carbon dioxide and deteriorate.

“Plastic simply isn’t the right packaging for beer,” Chuck Skypuck, director of the Brewers Association’s technical brewing project, previously told Nexstar. “The molecular structure of most plastics is not suited to maintain carbonation in packaging or products or to block oxygen to prevent deterioration.”

But Skypuck noted that cost and preference can also be factors when breweries decide how to store their product.

No matter how you drink beer (hot or cold), you should drink it responsibly. Although there is not much truth behind it, The saying “Beer before alcohol”there are several ways avoid a hangoveraccording to health experts.