About 220 braved the cold for a celebration on Frank Zappa's birthday at Shank Hall Thursday nite. Thanks to all the bands and the host, Peter Jest and Shank Hall. John was related to Frank, being a 2nd cousin. On Earth, an inert gas such as carbon dioxide is used to force the brew out of the bottom of the container and up the spout. But in space, the liquid would float around idly inside the barrel, which means that as much gas as beer is likely to come out of the tap.
Normal air is pumped between the barrel wall and the membrane to force the beer out.
All an astronaut would have to do is pressurize the container, open the tap and pour out the amber nectar. They were surprised to find that the beer plopped neatly out of the tap, floating in identical, pingpong ballsized amounts. That could be fine for an astronaut in space, who could use a straw or his lips to snare a refreshing mouthful. Disappointingly, there was no foamy head on the beer. But this is not surprising, given that gas bubbles need gravity in order to rise, otherwise they stay inside the beer.