'Space beer' will refresh parts others cannot reach

Space might be the final frontier, but those who go there should still be able to enjoy a tipple, according to two Australian engineers who have developed a special brew for the weightless conditions. Commissioned by the 4 Pines microbrewery, it has been designed with an eye on space-tourism.

Vostok 4 Pines Stout is full-bodied and flavoursome, to counter the loss of taste sensation that occurs when tongues swell in space. "Your face puffs out a little bit, your tongue swells up a little bit," one of its creators, Jason Held, from the space engineering firm Saber Astronautics Australia, told Reuters.

"It's going to be the first beer that will be specifically designed to be drunk in zero gravity," said his colleague, Jaron Mitchell.

There's one other problem to address: bubbles and liquid do not separate well in zero-gravity. The only alternative is to produce a flat beer, and "we didn't want to do that to the astronauts", Mr Held said.