Froth!: The Science of Beer

by Mark Denny

Overview

Ever wonder where the bubbles in your beer came from, which way they are going, and why? Have you considered the physical differences among ales, lambics, and lagers? Do you contemplate your pint?

Accomplished homebrewer and physicist Mark Denny has crafted a scientifically sound and witty investigation of the physics and chemistry of beer. He recounts and explains the history of and key technological advances in brewing, provides basic instructions for making your own—including a scientific-yet-accessible account of the changes in appearance during each stage of the process—and looks at the fascinating physical phenomena contained within a pint of beer. Along the way he defines the main concepts and terms involved in the process and shows how you can subject the technical aspects of brewing to scientific analysis.

If you've ever been curious about how beer is made, why it froths so well, and what makes different types... well... different, then Froth! is for you.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780801895692
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	04/30/2009
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	200
Sales rank:	119,431
File size:	5 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

After earning a Ph.D. in theoretical physics from Edinburgh University, Mark Denny pursued research at Oxford University from 1981 to 1984, then moved into a career in industry. He is the author of Ingenium: Five Machines That Changed the World; Blip, Ping, and Buzz: Making Sense of Radar and Sonar; and Float Your Boat! The Evolution and Science of Sailing, all of which are published by Johns Hopkins. Denny is now semi-retired and lives on Vancouver Island.

Mark Denny is a theoretical physicist who worked in academia and industry. He is author of a number of popular science books, most recently Gliding for Gold: The Physics of Winter Sports and The Science of Navigation: From Dead Reckoning to GPS, both published by Johns Hopkins.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. The Evolution of Beer
2. How to Make Good Beer at Home
3. Yeast Population Dynamics
4. Brewing Thermodynamics
5. Bubbles
6. Fluid Flow
7. Final Thoughts
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

What People are Saying About This

Dr. Andy Alexander

If Mark Denny brews his brew as good as his wit, I'll be round to his house in a flash.

— Dr. Andy Alexander, University of Edinburgh

From the Publisher

If Mark Denny brews his brew as good as his wit, I'll be round to his house in a flash.
—Dr. Andy Alexander, University of Edinburgh

Editorial Reviews

Mark Denny’s beer book is different. Neither an 'ultra-technical account of the brewing process' nor a 'how-to plus a lot of recipes,' Froth! is a theoretical physicists exploration of the math and science behind the beer-brewing process. Packed with humor, history, and DIY enthusiasm, Denny shares with readers how he uses physics to home-brew his own beers that froth higher and taste better.
—Seed Magazine

Froth! offers a delicious blend of history and science that will delight beer aficionados and science buffs everywhere.
—Book of the Month Club

Accomplished home brewer and physicist Mark Denny has crafted a scientific yet extremely accessible, investigation of the physics and chemistry of beer.
—Beers of the World Magazine

Froth! is a nice read, garnished with just the sort of wit I'd expect from a British-born beer aficionado. It will be especially useful to home brewers, as it explains step by step how to make the stuff yourself.
—Andy Coghlan, New Scientist

Froth! earns a solid 'A' for bringing science, brewing, and good writing together.
—Beerfestivals.org

For a scientist, Denny's approach is delightfully down to earth . . . There's plenty for the beerophile in Froth!
—Vince Costanzo, The Age

Denny provides a scientifically sound and often witty investigation of the physics and chemistry of beer.
—Greg Rienzi, JHU Gazette

Beer is intriguing enough, but Denny's enjoyment of the subject adds to the fun.
—Stephanie Stone, SpinSheet

A lively yet scientific examination of the physics and chemistry of beer.
—Midwest Book Review

Books about beer tend to be either purely descriptive or wholly scientific. Rarely does a book combine the two, much less with genuine wit and charm. Froth! . . . is the exception. It is a great joy to read and contains a wealth of information for a wide audience . . . Highly recommended.
—Choice

Denny . . . keeps the book interesting with his light and informal writing style and a good sense of humor . . . Froth! is a perfect book for the home-brewing beer aficionado who is looking for more than 'Brewing 101' but less than a master’s degree in the subject.
—Megan Just, Sacramento Book Review

Anyone with an interest specifically in how traditional craft relates to science-based industry would also find Froth! an entertaining and illuminating case study.
—Joseph Schultz, Technology and Culture

From the Publisher

"Mark Denny’s beer book is different. Neither an 'ultra-technical account of the brewing process' nor a 'how-to plus a lot of recipes,' Froth! is a theoretical physicists exploration of the math and science behind the beer-brewing process. Packed with humor, history, and DIY enthusiasm, Denny shares with readers how he uses physics to home-brew his own beers that froth higher and taste better."

Seed Magazine

"Denny provides a scientifically sound and often witty investigation of the physics and chemistry of beer."

JHU Gazette - Greg Rienzi

"Froth! earns a solid 'A' for bringing science, brewing, and good writing together."

Beerfestivals.org

"Beer is intriguing enough, but Denny's enjoyment of the subject adds to the fun."

SpinSheet - Stephanie Stone

"Anyone with an interest specifically in how traditional craft relates to science-based industry would also find Froth! an entertaining and illuminating case study."

Technology and Culture - Joseph Schultz

"Accomplished home brewer and physicist Mark Denny has crafted a scientific yet extremely accessible, investigation of the physics and chemistry of beer."

Beers of the World Magazine

"Froth! offers a delicious blend of history and science that will delight beer aficionados and science buffs everywhere."

Book of the Month Club

"For a scientist, Denny's approach is delightfully down to earth... There's plenty for the beerophile in Froth!"

The Age - Vince Costanzo

"Books about beer tend to be either purely descriptive or wholly scientific. Rarely does a book combine the two, much less with genuine wit and charm. Froth!... is the exception. It is a great joy to read and contains a wealth of information for a wide audience... Highly recommended."

Choice

"Denny... keeps the book interesting with his light and informal writing style and a good sense of humor... Froth! is a perfect book for the home-brewing beer aficionado who is looking for more than 'Brewing 101' but less than a master’s degree in the subject."

Sacramento Book Review - Megan Just

"Froth! is a nice read, garnished with just the sort of wit I'd expect from a British-born beer aficionado. It will be especially useful to home brewers, as it explains step by step how to make the stuff yourself."

New Scientist - Andy Coghlan

"A lively yet scientific examination of the physics and chemistry of beer."

Midwest Book Review