The Science Of Steins And Cold Beer

Pop into any pub where people take beer seriously, and you’ll learn that many brews are meant to be consumed a just the right temperature. But if you’ve ever nursed a beer while holding the can, bottle or glass, you’ll have experienced how the fluid temperature can change rather quickly through energy transfer. Ever enjoy a warm beer when it’s supposed to be cold? Yeah, I thought not.

Enter Funranium Labs and the Steins of Science–uber-containers to keep beer (or some other liquid) at exactly the right temperature for much longer than you’d actually need. Add is the geek-cred of being made from top quality materials normally found in a lab and you have the perfect mug to draw attention and appreciation from all the highly-educated attendees at next year’s Oktoberfest.

If you’re familiar with the consumer-friendly Thermos, then you have some knowledge of its scientific progenitor the dewar (or cryostat). The maker of the Steins of Science (being in the know since he’s a cryotechnician) explains the value of lab-quality dewars on the Funranium website: you see, if liquid nitrogen falls on the ground in the lab (or in your home, but I wouldn’t recommend it) the nitrogen will boil off in seconds, but if put into a dewar, the liquid nitrogen can keep for days. It’s all because a dewar:

1. is made of two layers of material that are very good insulators (don’t conduct heat) with a seriously hard vacuum in the space between them.
2. comes with a lovely insulating foam lid.
3. is silvered on all possible surfaces containing the fluid.

So if it’s good for liquid nitrogen, it’s good enough for your beer.

Good quality, big volume, and cool appearances don’t come cheap. Prices for the Steins of Science (depending on sizes from a wimpy beer can volume to the massive GALLON!) range from $160 to $375.  But if you like your beer, you know it’s worth it.

[Funranium Labs and Etsy]