GUINNESS

Fans of the Irish stout have long noticed that many of the bubbles in a fresh pint of Guinness actually sink instead of floating toward the top – completely opposite from most other carbonated beverages. There’s been a disturbing amount of scientific research devoted to understanding why. Guinness is among the few beers to which brewmasters add nitrogen gas during the brewing process. The bubbles in most beers are composed of carbon dioxide, which forms relatively large bubbles. The nitrogen results in a less bitter taste, a creamy long-lasting head, and smaller bubbles that sink while the beer is settling.