Japan: Sapporo Holdings to launch

Japanese brewer Sapporo Holdings said it’s working on the first “space beer,” using the third generation of barley grown at the International Space Station, according to the Agence France-Press, May 27.

Researchers said the beer project is one of many efforts to prepare for a future where people spend lengthy periods of time in space, the AFP reported.

Sapporo’s partner in the project, biologist Manabu Sugimoto, said they hope their research will someday be “not just about producing food, but about enjoying food and relaxing,” according to the AFP.

The company reportedly hopes to launch the new beer by November and has enough space grain for about 100 bottles. Still, Sapporo officials said there are no immediate plans to make it available to the general public, the AFP reported.

28 May, 2008