Brewing

For most of us, the home-brewing of beer is something that we leave to other people, because it just looks too complicated. Seattle-based company iGulu is out to change that, with its iGulu S1 automated beer-brewing machine.

Ever dropped a peanut in a glass of beer? If not, researchers say you're missing out, as it triggers an unusual interaction that temporarily defies the principle of buoyancy. We believe the hypothesis was rigorously tested with repeat experiments.

The longer it takes to brew a batch of beer, the greater the chances of microorganisms getting in and ruining the whole thing. In order to speed up and simplify the process, scientists have developed tiny BeerBots.

The brewing of beer produces great quantities of leftover grain, which often ends up being processed into cattle feed. Scientists have developed a new method of extracting the protein and fiber from that waste, however, for use by humans.

Doctors are reporting a bizarre case of a woman who urinates alcohol. The woman showed none of the other regular signs of excessive alcohol consumption, leading them to conclude that yeast in her bladder was brewing the booze.

Nothing ruins a session like stale beer, but it’s a common problem. Now researchers from Jiangnan University have found a way to keep beer fresher for longer, by genetically engineering lager yeast to produce certain compounds that slow staleness.

According to Queen's University Belfast, EU breweries dispose of about 3.4 million tons of spent grain every year. That could be about to change, though, as scientists at the university have created a method of converting that waste into charcoal.

​PicoBrew has continued to build out its lineup of brewing machines, with the newly launched Pico MultiBrew the latest to join the family. The device makes brewing up a cup of Joe its priority, but will apparently be perfectly capable of serving up beer, tea, kombucha and other beverages, too.

​Countertop craft beer systems are not new, Seattle's PicoBrew has been offering devices of all shapes and sizes for a number of years. Now LG has decided to join the party with an automated machine called the HomeBrew, which will make its debut at CES 2019 in Las Vegas next month.​

The Ocean Cleanup barge is currently on its way to tackle the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but it never hurts to find ways to reduce plastic before it gets into the sea. In that vein, Danish beermaker Carlsberg has announced the Snap Pack, a simple alternative to plastic six-pack rings.

​​The product lineup from Seattle’s PicroBrew has recently come to included a venture into drinks of the harder variety. It is now bringing even more beverages into the fold with the Pico U, a universal brewing appliance that can produce what could be described as healthier options.​

Home craft beer brewing appliances have made an expensive hobby a whole lot more accessible and PicoBrew is taking aim at all corners of the market. Billed as a first-of-its-kind, PicoStill promises a safe and easy way to distill other kinds of alcohol in the home.