Split (1)

train · 95.7k rows

source stringlengths 620 29.3k	target stringlengths 12 1.24k
How high does the "bug layer" extend? As far as I know, a big obstacle to attaining laminar flow in aircraft today is the so-called "bug layer", presumably a lower layer of the atmosphere where bugs are encountered. So, my question is simply this: how high up do insects stop becoming a serious issue for laminar flow? <...	As already answered, most places it is rare to get many bugs over 1000’.
How does ATC direct aircraft on ground from the parking to the runway? For medium size airports, ATC will direct aircraft with a single message like this "Taxi to runway 29 via Papa, Sierra". I was wondering if it was the same thing for bigger airports (like international airports) which have a lot of taxiways. I kno...	Some airports may issue a taxi clearance to a runway with intervening taxiways, while others may issue a taxi clearance to a holding point, and then issue another clearance as the aircraft approaches that point.
What triggers a CVR to start recording? Until recently, I was under the impression that CVRs will start recording as soon as the engines are started and turn off when the engines are stopped. However, this is not the case given there are only 2 hours of recording time. In one airplane disaster documentary, the CVR st...	The CVR records up to the final moments. So if the airplane has a BATTERY MASTER switch or similar, it is recording audio as you as you switch it on, so pretty much as soon as you climb in and start getting things ready.
Why did water come into USAirways Flight 1549 if an airplane is sealed and pressurized? Airplanes are supposed to be air-tight and pressurized.However, when USAirways Flight 1549 landed on the Hudson river; water started to come into the airplane. How is this possible if the airplane is sealed? Was there a crack in th...	Airplanes are not completely, perfectly hermetically sealed. There was a hole in the fuselage, and cargo doors had come open.
Where does fuel from the boost pumps go before engine start? For example let’s take the PT6A-27. In every video related to engine start I see, the fuel boost pump is turned on, and then the fuel pressure goes up. Example: My question is: where is that fuel going if the condition lever is still at the idle cutoff p...	That extra fuel is then returned to the fuel tanks.
Could a flight ever be considered to be operating under Visual Flight Rules and Instrument Flight Rules at the same time? In the US, could a flight ever be considered to be operating under Visual Flight Rules and Instrument Flight Rules at the same time? If not, where in the FARs is this spelled out? Consider the spe...	I can't find any regulation that says "every flight is either VFR or IFR", maybe because it's such a fundamental thing.
How does a failed turn and slip indicator behave if the gyro isn't spinning at all? I have my own theories, but I have never experienced a turn coordinator or turn and slip indicator's gyro failing first-hand. If the gyro isn't spinning, would the instrument behave like a weak accelerometer but on a different plane of...	If the motor's not running so the gyro is stationary, there will be indications from gyro's mass inertia as the housing moves, but it will be quite random and the needle will randomly tilt and move around.
Why do helicopter operations avoid IFR? In almost any airplane commercial operation, unless you’re doing something very short haul daytime ops, an Instrument Rating is all but required with airplanes(it’s even in the FARs). Generally the weather won’t stay nice enough for you not to use it, and most airlines and other ...	Helicopter IFR operations do exist, but the short answer to the thrust of your question is: helicopter IFR is inherently more dangerous than fixed-wing IFR due to the lack of stability. The increased restrictions of IFR flight means that there is much more opportunity to make money in VFR flight with a reduction of ris...
What is the difference between nautical air miles and nautical ground miles? What is a simple way to understand the difference between the nautical air mile (NAM) and the nautical ground mile (NGM)? How does the wind affect the net displacement of the aircraft as that is the only differentiating factor between NGM and...	A nautical ground mile is one nautical mile over the ground.
Why do countries not bound by US law comply with the FAA's originate airworthiness directives? I'm not an aviation or private international lawyer, but is it true that countries unbound by US law, i.e. most if not all countries outside the US, still comply with the FAA's directives ? If so, is the cause merely pol...	Some planes made in Russia and China are not able to fly internationally to any significant extent because they do not meet FAA or EASA standards.
Taxi to spot?? Hot spot? What is meant by this? I heard ground controller at KPHL say taxi to spot so and so?What do they mean by this during taxi procedures. <Q> The word “spot” just means a designated place, or part of the airport where the aircraft is to be parked and shut down. <S> Sometimes they are numbered. ...	Known Hot Spots are marked and numbered on some airport taxi diagrams to alert pilots of the hazard.
What button do I push on the instrument panel to activate DME in VOR navigation? For some strange reason I cannot seem to find any information about what button to push on the instrument panel to active the DME. There is plenty of information about how DME works with interrogation and slant distance, but I cannot seem...	Press the DME Softkey to display the DME Information Window.
What are pro/cons of steam as lifting gas for airships? I was reading Wikipedia page about hot air airship and another Wikipedia page about the first powered and steerable airship which was powered by a steam engine. So I ask myself "why didn't they use the exhaust steam from the steam engine as lifting gas?" Afte...	For steam to remain steam, it must be constantly heated to make up for the energy it's losing by heat transfer to its surroundings.
Single vs Twin motor for an electric RC airplane I'm designing a fixed wing UAV for a project. I need an airplane that can fly for at least 200 minutes. Obviously, it means a big battery and thus a lot of added weight. I've been debating whether or not I need a twin motor configuration. The idea came after I saw a vid...	A motor-prop combo designed to be most efficient during cruise will produce just enough thrust to overcome the drag so that it can be running the entire time with no efficiency penalty, but such a combination will probably have a lot of trouble getting off the ground.
Why landing gears still need bungee springs? While studying landing gear, I came across this term 'bungee spring' to which there was no definitive explanation in text with regards to its usage. So in the image, you can see for the jury strut/ drag brace down lock strut there are 2 bungee springs used even after the p...	The bungee is simply being used to support part of the mechanism that is being worked on.
Do pilots keep light in the cockpit during long night flights? During long times of the cruise flight, is the internal light normally switched on or off inside the cockpit? Knowing it is generally dark in the night would make a smartphone-based night time logger easy to write. <Q> Red lights are sometimes used as thes...	White lights are usually off in the cockpit in night flights to protect pilots' night vision.
Do aircraft at cruise bob and/or skip? Recently I started flying a model aircraft, admittedly a kindness for a motor stuck onto a piece of foam, and have noticed that it either bobs, for lack of a better term, like something afloat on water might when depressed or that it skips, for lack of a better term, like a stone ...	Since simple model planes generally do not have elevator trim, the solution is to move the wing attach point aft in small increments until the plane does not "do the dip".
Are there any remaining flying boat or seaplane airliners in operation? Is there anywhere in the world that still offers scheduled air carrier service using flying boat / seaplane types of aircraft - something akin to a proper airliner? Or are they all limited to charters and shuttle-type flights on de Havilland Otters...	NORDIC Seaplanes flies daily between the two largest Danish cities. As far as I know, there is no actual flying boat in use at an airline.
Is PVC tubing a good material for helicopter airframes? Been thinking of getting into the hobby of building ultralight helicopters, and would PVC tubing be a good choice to build the overall airframe? <Q> No. <S> The strength to weight ratio of PVC is poor compared to aluminum <S> and you would end up with a very hea...	PVC is no where near stiff enough for a given weight.
How can I easily keep track of my landing count during pattern work? PPL Student pilot, ~20 hrs Hi,whilst doing some pattern work I frequently find myself unable to keep accurate track of the number of landings. There's an AFIS at my home airport who keeps track (because they charge fees) but there are a few "flatrate...	You could also use a product like Foreflight or CloudAhoy or even a service like ADSBExchange to count the number of approaches you made after the fact. There are apps that can record the pressure data over time (
Is the APU classified as a component of Airframe or Powerplant? In the classification of systems and components on the aircraft - is an APU classified under the Airframe or the Powerplant? <Q> I was a tech writer in another life. <S> Under ATA100/2100 , the Air Transport Association system of categorization of syste...	The FAA Aviation Maintenance Technician Handbook - Powerplant, Volume 1 lists auxiliary power units in the category of turboshaft engines on page 1-38.
Can an airline lay off its flight attendants and use pilots to fill the role? IcelandAir recently announced that it will be laying off its entire flight attendant staff, and plans to have pilots fill the role in the meantime. Can an airline lay off its flight attendants and replace with pilots without requiring furt...	Yes, additional training would be required because airline flight crews don't get significant FA (crowd control) training and a pilot would have to take the FA course. It wouldn't be a difficult transition if the pilots were willing.
Why hasn’t the Wankel rotary engine seen more use in aircraft? The Wankel rotary engine seems to have several advantages over traditional reciprocating cylinder-and-piston designs. In general, they have a much higher power-to-weight ratio, less vibration, and drastically reduced rate of catastrophic failure, among many...	Their manifest unreliability in automotive applications is one reason they failed so badly in the marketplace.
What would an all-flying aileron look like, and would it be a good idea? The only info I could find about someone doing this IRL was the British Army Aerorplane No. 1 , but I don't think it ever flew with them. I don't know much about how this would affect the aerodynamics, but maybe it would give more roll? I'm not t...	All-flying tip ailerons have the advantage of maintaining control up to and beyond the stalling point of the main wing. Examples include the 1906 Santos-Dumont 14.bis, the first plane to fly in Europe, S.F. Cody's 1908 British Army Aeroplane No.1 and the Gold Bug, modified by Glenn Curtiss from his June Bug in 1909.
Where's the A318 on the runway that caused a 747 to go around? I screenshot 1:00 of a 480p YouTube video. The autopilot proclaims Minimums at 1:01, and the pilot flying decides to go around at 1:02 because an A318 was still on the runway, but I can't spot it, or any airplane, on the runway in the video! Can anyone? O...	That's the strobe lights of the A319.
Why can we not use full throttle in a C172 when cruising at lower altitudes? My flight training manual (FTM) says that at low altitudes we throttle back our trainers in order to not exceed recommended power settings. But why is that? Is the air close to sea level just too dense for the standard Cessna 172 engine? And ...	However I wanted to also add that it could be possible that going full throttle at a low altitude would cause the aircraft to go out of its structural flight envelope as well.
Can briefly explain the principle behind the inversion on this power required curve? I’ve noticed on several graphs in the “Advanced Pilot’s Flight Manual”, that power available is lower for any given speed at 10,000 feet as compared to sea level flight. The power required curves intersect at the sea level best rate-of...	Because of the lower density up at 10K feet, the aircraft needs to overcome less parasitic drag.
Will it be more efficient if airplanes flap like birds? Many airplanes have parts that are designed to mimic some features of animals. I have also read that birds are incredibly more efficient than most of the airplanes we see today. I wonder, will the future passenger airplanes resemble a big flapping bird? Considerin...	Efficiency aside, the big show stopper is that a mechanical flapping wing machine, to the extent it can be perfected, will always suffer from the the problem of the body moving vertically in an inertial response to the wings being driven up and down.
Why are lower VHF frequencies used for towers? So, why are usually lower VHF frequencies (around 118MHz to roughly 120MHz) used for towers and higher frequencies (around 130MHz to 136.975MHz) for ACC? What is the advantage of using lower frequencies for towers and higher for ACC since the wave propagates as a line of s...	Since towers have a relatively small FPSV, typically 5,000' high (AGL) & 15 nmi radius, the tower frequencies can be reused closer together than a high altitude sector frequency that may cover a 150 mi radius at 45000 feet.
Why do some aircraft have multiple switches for the landing lights? A question just popped into my mind: Why does an A320 overhead panel have 2 landing lights switches? What's the logic behind that? Why isn’t there only a single switch to turn on both landing lights? <Q> On a dark morning preflight check, I can verify ...	Again, having separate switches allows you to turn off only the problem light, while keeping the rest on.
What is 'level' to a G1000? I used to fly a Cessna 550 with 'steam gage' mechanical gyros. The Attitude Indicator always had its flight director solidly on the horizon in level flight -- to the extent a mechanical instrument could be seen accurately. I recently started flying a Phenom 300 with a G1000 panel. It is cur...	"Level" on the attitude indicator probably refers to 0 angle of attack, or how the plane sits when it's on the ground wheels down and the G1000 is being calibrated.
Why does aileron response diminish as speed becomes slower, from slow-flight up to the stall? (In a light trainer) Can someone phrase the explanation to this in simple words as you would explain to a student? <Q> This is real easy, no explanation required: <S> Tell your student to stick their hand out the window of t...	As speed is reduced the volume of air being deflected downward per unit time is reduced so the lift created by the aileron is also reduced and the aileron become less effective.
What is airflow direction in turn? Let imagine that we put wind indicator on rotating merry-go-around.Will wind indicator stay prepedicular to the radius of circle,showing tangetinal airflow velocity? (Wind indicator has equal mass and distance from pivot point so moment about pivot point is zero.It desing like this ...	Assuming that the indicator has a mass distribution such that the apparent "centrifugal force" from the rotation has no effect on it, and also assuming that the physical length of the wind indicator is trivially small compared to the radius of the circle , then yes, the wind indicator will remain perpendicular to the r...
What determines the maximum ground speed of hot air balloons? I am wondering how the ground speed of hot air balloons is controlled. The wind is obviously going to have a large influence upon the ground speed, but apart from wind effects, do hot air balloons have the ability to control their ground speed? If so, how? I...	Balloons travel with the wind, so all their motion over ground comes from air movements.
Why is fuel quantity expressed in flight hours Going through a few aircraft documentaries online, I've noticed the thing that they usually express the fuel quantity in flight hours. Ex - A 747 burns 4 litres of fuel every second. So with a ton of fuel, it'll stay in air for roughly 3-4 minutes. Why are flight hours a...	As far as air traffic control is concerned, fuel endurance is the measure which air traffic control uses to initiate search and rescue if the aircraft becomes overdue.
What kind of assistance can another aircraft provide to an incapacitated pilot? A recent incident unfolded as follows: An aircraft overflew the planned destination and did not respond to radio calls on any frequency. ATC decided the pilot might be incapacitated and asked another pilot whether he could get close to...	This is speculative and I haven't looked at the links you gave, but I can think of a few things: Having another aircraft there gives ATC a way to gather information that they otherwise couldn't.
What is the impact of camber on CLmax? I was reading Aerodynamics for Engineering Students by Houghton and saw the following graph: A lot of other sources say that increasing camber increases CLmax, like the graph below. I am a little confused by what camber actually does to CLmax? An explanation which focuses on...	Adding camber by 'bending' the airfoil somewhere near the front of the chord will give some more circulation, but also probably increase the departure angle, and create a risk of separation towards the trailing edge where the pressure recovery is too steep for the boundary layer to cope with.
Are there two types of runway holding position sign? I came across this section on runway holding position marking while reading Jeppesen Airway Manual, which got me very confused. My question is: Is Pattern B describing another type of runway holding position sign other than the one described in Pattern A? Or is it...	A image you posted shows runway holding position markings only; pattern B shows runway holding position markings and ILS holding position markings.
What's this black rectangle painted on the side of a V-1 flying bomb? A friend sent me a photo of the V-1 flying bomb on display at the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo. What's the black painted rectangle on the side of the fuselage? The writing isn't much help... Nicht auftreten is the German equivalent of "No step," but ...	That's one meaning of the word, what we need here is "putting down", "parking" or "putting in storage". I can't find Pallung in any German dictionary.
Why did wings start to be made with aluminium skin instead of fabric? Why did engineers start designing planes with aluminium skin on the wings instead of fabric covering? While the force of lift acts on the skin, to my knowledge it is not subject to high stresses <Q> Wings and fuselages are subjected to twisting loads...	There were so many manufacturing and durability advantages to aluminum (no glue, no wood rot etc etc)
First time passenger flight by two pilots? In this video , the captain proclaims after take-off: We were nervous about this, but takeoff went smoothly It was his first passenger flight in the A350, but still... not exactly what I would want to hear as a passenger. This got me thinking, does it ever happen that two...	For the very first flight of a new type at a given airline, obviously none of the pilots will have flown it with passengers before, though that crew will have undergone extensive training in sims and empty planes.
Why don't piston engines require as heat resistant materials as jet engines? Piston engines often get away with using aluminium as their heat exposed material, while even the early jets required inconel to operate. Is that because the combustion takes only, for example, half of the time for two stroke engines hence ha...	With pistons, combustion of fuel is not constant, allowing heat sinks such as air and water flow, to remove the heat before temperatures get too hot.
How can a pilot become established on the KBIV, ILS or LOC Rwy 26 Approach? Consider KBIV (Holland) in west Michigan: Now consider the ILS / LOC to Rwy 26 at KBIV: Questions: There is a note on the IAP: "Procedure NA for arrival on PMM VOR/DME airway radials 004 CW 091" Does this mean only V55, V193, V274 or V170...	Ideally, you would either 1) simply enter and fly the hold as your entry method, 2) get "cleared straight-in" from ATC when they issue your clearance, or 3) get radar vectors to the final approach course from ATC.
Why is the position of the pilots' head (eyes) so important? From this question: What are these Lights on Center Holm between Windows on the A320? I learn that the pilots' eye position is important. Enough to justify an extra piece of equipment. But why? Can't a pilot tell if they see enough, above/below/on each sid...	The correct seating position is important to ensure A consistent viewpoint , which results in the final approach and flare always looking the same to the pilot.
how can i help the air force at this age if I'm only 13 years old? I'm young, 13 to be exact. I'm not old enough to join and I really want to help the brave men and women in the skies.How can I help the air force at this age? <Q> So is the Civil Air Patrol . <S> Both will give you a taste of armed uniformed services l...	Whether you enlist or not, strengthening your own mind and your own knowledge of science and technology will help the Air Force. You could contact the Air Force Aid Society , a charity that provides support to the men and women of the air force to help with their non-operational needs (education, healthcare, housing, e...
Why are the guns on the AC-130 not mounted on the underside of the aircraft? Why must the guns of the AC-130 be on the side forcing the plane to circle the target. Would it not be more practical to have the guns underneath the plane shooting downwards? <Q> By putting the guns on the side, the gunner can direct a contin...	If the guns were belly-mounted, the pilot would have to make multiple passes at the target zone from different directions, with long pauses between them- long enough for the enemy soldiers to reposition themselves and escape. Purpose built aircraft usually integrate guns into the wings (fighters) or fuselage (A10). Bec...
Is there any benefit of using a swept wings at low-subsonic speeds? Is there any benefit to using swept wings for speeds up to 250km/h ? (By the way..Why do some fast birds like falcons, swifts and most migratory birds use swept wings or raked wingtips since they fly at low subsonic speeds?) Peregrine falcon - swept ...	Swept back wings increase the amount of span-wise flow, decreasing the amount of velocity that the air picks up as it travels over the airfoil and allowing the wing to fly closer to the speed of sound.
Could propeller wash provide sufficient lift to take off - even in theory? I know this seems a crazy thing to ask but it is not the same as lifting oneself by the bootstraps. If you try to lift yourself that way, there are two equal and opposite forces, yet there are experiments with muscle powered planes that work. S...	This wouldn't be even remotely practical with a normal engine and airfoil.
Why don't turbofan engines have shrouds affixed to the fan blades? For a turbofan to be efficient the gap between the blades and the shroud has to be extremely small. Why don't we just attach the shroud directly to the blades and let it spin as one? Would that decrease the efficiency of the fan or is it just not struct...	Affixing the blade tips to the shroud may not tolerate such abuse well, in terms of not exploding, or surviving the next hour, or lengthening the interval between engine overhauls.
Are there any GA trainer aircraft without toe brakes? I'm a student pilot, and I've built about 20 hours on a Cessna 172. I also have an old ankle injury that makes it hard to bend my left ankle, and I'll probably be getting an ankle fusion later this year. I know I won't be able to work the left brake with a fused ank...	Russian/Soviet GA trainers Yak-18T and Yak-52 have a manual brake handle on the yoke/stick.
How is reduced alcoholic beer made? How is low/no alcohol beer made? I'm assuming that the beer is made normally and the alcohol is then removed, is it any more than just boiling it off? I've noticed that no/low alcohol beers' taste improved hugely a few years ago, is this due to a new technique? <Q> There are a couple...	He said that their approach for reducing the alcohol content to legal "non-alcoholic" levels was to simply dilute regular beer with purified water.
What temperature should I serve my beer? In general, what's the best way to work out the temperature at which to serve a particular beer? Room temperature? Cold? Supercold? Warm? <Q> It depends on the beer really. <S> A good rule of thumb is darker beer should be served at a warmer temperature than lighter beer. <...	Necessity may also play a part (Given a choice between a warm beer vs no beer it depends how thirsty you are!).
What is the difference between an ale and a lager? Apart from coming out of different taps, some ales seem very similar to lagers (although there are clearly a much greater variety of ales). Is there a difference in the way they are made? <Q> Ale yeast strains are best used at temperatures ranging from 10 to 25°C, thou...	The primary difference is the yeast used to ferment the beer -- ales use yeasts strains which work at a warmer temperature (10-25 deg C) than lager yeasts strains (7-15 deg C).
Do IPAs cause worse hangovers? I usually drink strong Belgian Ales, particularly Triples, Quads and Trappists, so I'm no stranger to strong beer. But I've noticed that I get far, far worse hangovers when drinking IPAs. Is there anything about IPAs that would make this possible? The lower quality places like ask....	Dry-hopped beers seem to give me worse hangovers. I suspect this really boils down to each persons' chemistry.
Do different beer glass shapes really make a difference in taste? I understand the basic distinction for wine glasses: red wine glasses are shaped to help keep some of the aroma inside the glass, whereas whites don't. But shapes for beer glasses, such as pilsner vs a standard pint glass, just seem to be an aesthetic di...	So even excepting the usual reasons for matching a beer style to a glass style (head retention, aroma dispersal, etc.), presenting a beer in a good looking vessel will enhance its taste.
What's the difference between a porter and a stout? Porters and stouts seem very similar and sometimes stores and restaurants group them together as if they're two different names for the same thing. Is there a difference and what is it? <Q> Beer Connoisseur Online answers this pretty thoroughly in an article . <...	There are a number of different types of porters and stouts, so it isn't necessarily a simple answer, but I would say the use of roasted grains in stouts, particularly roasted barley, is the biggest difference.
Why are some beers non-vegan? Some beers (for example, Guinness) are marked as 'not suitable for vegans'. What is in the beer such that this is the case? <Q> There are two main ingredients in beer that might cause them to be unsuitable for vegans. <S> The first one might be fairly obvious. <S> Honey is sometimes used a...	Some beer use animal by-products in their production.
Why is drinking beer after wine a bad idea? As the well known rhyme reminds us, drinking beer after wine is a bad idea. Having made the mistake during my student years more than once and regretting it, why is it that consuming these two beverages in the wrong order causes such effects? <Q> Beer contains a lot of CO2, a...	You can get stupid with a few beer and then just get even way more stupid with shots as you are numb and the beer dilutes the alcohol so you don't feel the boom.
Will temperature changes cause a beer to "skunk" or otherwise spoil? In my fraternity days, there was a constant fear of beer (typically kegged but also bottled) getting "skunked" as a result of warming up and cooling down too many times, possibly even once. Do non-extreme temperature changes such as moving a beer bac...	Warm storage, while damaging to the flavor of beer, does not skunk it. I have read that wine in wine cellars at around 14-16 degrees celsius last the longest, and that unstable and fluctuating temperatures over many years will spoil your wine by oxygenation.
Does chocolate stout contain real chocolate? Various microbreweries make chocolate stout that does indeed, to varying degrees, taste of chocolate. Does it really contain chocolate, and how is chocolate used in the brewing process? <Q> It depends on the brew really; some do and others do not. <S> More often than not, th...	Some use cocoa nibs to add the chocolate flavor, but often they use what are called "chocolate malt", grain that is roasted until it's the color of chocolate.
How much of an impact does the water have on a beer? How much of an impact does the water (minerals/quality/distilled) have on a beer? <Q> Most of beer is water, so it is vitally important. <S> Here in Atlanta, we have some of the better tap water compared to many cities, but Monday Night Brewing in particular takes ...	During brewing, the quality of the water is important because the minerals can affect a beer recipe greatly.
What's the difference between an "export" beer and a regular beer from the same brewer? In the UK at least, a great many beers are marketed with a regular version and a fancier (more expensive) 'export' version. For example: Carlsberg and Carlsberg 'Export'. Is there any reason why the imported beer might be reasonably...	They are obviously two different beers. It doesn't actually mean anything; or at least, it almost never means the same thing twice, and doesn't refer to any specific common style or process. For example, in the case of Molson Export, the story goes that it was deemed so high quality that it was "good enough to send ove...
Why does Guinness have a special pouring process / bottle, while other stouts do not? Guinness is sold in bottles and cans with special nitrogen widgets; the taps are specially rigged to have a two-step pouring process; heck, there's even a certificate given to people who learn how to "pour the perfect pint" at the Gui...	Both bottled and draught beers use nitrogen to add bubbles instead of CO2 on occasion. Not cost effective for small brewers, who are only just able to start affording canning systems.
Should I get beer in bottles or in cans? Sometimes, companies offer the same beer in bottles and in cans. Everything else being equal, should I go for the bottle or the can? I know that e.g. Guinness have their "floating widget" in their cans that releases nitrogen when you open it, but assume that this isn't the case....	As mentioned by LessPop_MoreFizz, beer cans are lined with a compound that attempts to prevent contact with the aluminum... However, if you plan on keeping it in a light place or outdoors, a can is probably your best bet. Finally, the taste issue - minimal research in your favorite search engine will show you that it i...
How is gluten-free beer made? I have a friend who is Celiac and can only drink gluten-free beer. How on earth is it made? <Q> These beers are made with non-gluten containing grains such as millet, rice, corn, or buckwheat as opposed to glutenous grains like rye, barley, or wheat. <S> As a side note, I recommend your...	In general, such beers are made with grains that contain little or no gluten, such as buckwheat, sorghum, rice, or corn.
What's the best way to store beer while camping in hot climates? Every August I go camping 1 for a week or two in western PA, and I like to take along some beer to drink in the evenings. What I've been doing, to save cooler space (and reduce the amount of ice I have to replace each day), is to keep most of it out and...	Pack the cooler before you leave and ice it down. In the ground: Dig a hole in the ground in a shady area and store it in there.
How does serving temperature affect the taste of beers? For example, from the label of Uinta's Crooked Line Labyrinth Black Ale: Flavors are enhanced when served cool, not frigid. How does serving temperature affect the taste of beers? By "How?" I'm asking more about its effects on flavor, e.g. hoppiness, crisp...	As such, overly cold beer will dull any strong flavor (hoppiness, bitterness, etc) and hide weaker ones.
What is the highest alcohol content achievable through brewing? What is the highest level of alcohol you can achieve when brewing beer naturally, without adding alcohol? I know that many strong, popular beers (~10% alcohol) are simply mixed with alcohol, but what level of alcohol can be achieved in natural brewing pro...	I think it's generally around 15% alcohol by volume, but the exact amount will depend on the type of yeast. Fractional freezing is the best way to increase the alcohol content of beer.
What's a good beer to go with lasagna? What beer sort would pair good with lasagna, and other sorts of food with high tomato content? What makes the taste of that beer compose good with the taste of lasagna/tomatoes? <Q> Thinking about a tomato pasta, I get acids, strong aromas, and a lingering mouthfeel. <S> Based ...	Our beer, we said, must also have the ability to " clean up" the palate, perhaps with a touch of citrus fruit or herbal, with a pleasant feeling of hops.
How do popular Polish beers fit into the "periodic table of beers"? In Poland, outside of imports, microbreweries, and various less popular varieties, about all mainstream brands come in two classes: Piwo Jasne ('light beer') Piwo Mocne ('strong beer') The two comprise the massive bulk of the market and are about ...	Piwo Ciemne - this is "dark beer", so something like ale.
Does beer really go bad after the 'best before'-date? Does beer really go bad after the 'best before'-date? I hear I can drink beer even after the expiration date, but is it safe and does it still taste good? <Q> The beer will not be bad in the sense of unsafe to drink, since no harmful pathogens grow once the beer ...	Storage times shown are for best quality only - after that, the beer's color or flavor may change, but in most cases, it will still be safe to consume if it has been stored properly.
What is being doubled or tripled in a doublebock/triple bock? Some beers are classed as "doublebock" and some as "triple bock". Doubles seem to be a little stronger (higher APV) than average and triples seem to be stronger than that, but is that they definition or an effect ? What exactly is being doubled or tripl...	A triple bock would just be a naming convention emphasizing even further the maltiness and alcoholic strength of the brew.
Why should beer be kept in the fridge? Beer is usually found in fridges in shops and supermarkets. At home, you would store it in the fridge as well before drinking. On the other hand, many liquor shops have stacks of beer cans outside fridges, and beer in kegs isn't usually refrigerated when it's transported. What ar...	The flavors the beer will take on during conditioning vary based on warm or cold conditioning, and the beer will have a more limited shelf life.
How does boil time directly affect ABV% & IBU? Dogfish Head makes IPAs called "60 Minute", "90 Minute", and "120 Minute". According to Wikipedia : Their names refer to the length of the boil time of the wort in which the hops are continuously added. There is also a limited edition "75 Minute" which is really a ble...	Here is where the additional alcohol comes in: To counteract the extra bitterness, the beers that have boiled longer have both additional malt added to balance the bitterness, and are given additional fermentation and conditioning time to allow the yeast to convert all of those malt sugars into alcohol. What does affec...
How can a beer be flavored? I've heard of beers such as our local brand in the Philippines and this one, and though I haven't sampled them yet, I am quite curious: how do you add flavor to beer? I've drank a few style of beers but I haven't dealt with any "flavored". As I'm not familiar with the brewing process yet...	Technically you can add anything to beer when it is ready (including honey), but then you get this aggressive flavor on top.
Are there any medicinal uses for beer? Are there any common medicinal uses for beer? I'm thinking along the lines of how liquor can be used as an antiseptic and less of how red wine can improve your heart health. <Q> Just like wine, absolutely! <S> I'm not a doctor and I am not giving medical advice; I am not liable wh...	With that said, in addition to kidney benefits: Beer contains high amounts of silicon, which makes bones stronger In moderation, it has been shown to lower the risk of cardiovascular problems. In general anything medical deserves a great deal of respect because what can cure can kill. However, among other things, I fin...
What are some ways to quickly cool a beer? It's happened to the best of us: you really want a nice hefeweizen or maybe a good bitter, but all you have are room-temperature bottles. Short of waiting an hour or so or (god forbid) putting ice in it, how can a bottle or can of beer be effectively cooled quickly? <Q> Take ...	I read somewhere about making ice cubes from beer somewhere, so that they don't dilute your beer (you need a good freezer for that though).
Which are the most caloric beers? Are there, say, visual criteria to identify them? Is there a visual criterion to roughly estimate the order of calories a beer contains? Specifically, I wonder if "the darker the beer, the more energetic value it has" holds [1]. Please, prove or disprove. [1] (What lead to this beli...	The calorific load from a beer comes from both carbohydrates and alcohol, which are present in both dark and light beers regardless of beer color. Color has little to do with calories, and possibly surprisingly, mouthfeel can have little influence also.
What's a good way to train your palate? Everyone knows how to drink beer, but it seems like it's an acquired skill to be able to differentiate (and articulate) different flavors. Whereas someone just turning 21 might say "this beer tastes... dark", a more experienced drinker might describe it as "nutty and chocolatey,...	The format doesn't matter much, but I prefer a multi-part tasting form to force me to think about each part of the beer.
What units are used to measure beer by volume? It may be dependent upon local custom, but what scales are used to measure beer? Is there one in particular that is used globally, or could be said to be specific to beer or alcoholic drinks? Typically, I see either pints or whatever the local standard of measurement for ...	For instance, in the US, you will almost always find servings of beer measured in fluid ounces.
What are the defining characteristics of a Saison? What should I expect when I drink one? I'll be the first to admit that I have, at best, the palate of a highly experienced amateur. I can tell an IPA from a Stout from a Doppelbock primarily on the common visual, olfactory, and above all else tastes that are found thro...	Moderate sweetness with light, grainy, spicy wheat aromatics, often with a bit of tartness. There was another source that I read (probably that 1000 page beer encyclopedia that I forgot the title of) where they said that a saison was made with whatever ingredients that were available at hand at that season.
Drinking from a pewter mug? Modern beer is typically served in glassware, and the reasons for the various styles are addressed in What glasses are meant for which beers and why? I have some alternative vessels at home, including a pewter tankard. The problem I have with drinking from it is that the pewter has a sligh...	As to whether it's more enjoyable to drink out of glass or pewter, really comes down to personal taste.
Are there any good uses for beer that has sat in my growler for too long? I usually try to drink all of the beer in my growler over the course of two nights. While the second serving is usually a good bit less stellar than the first it's usually still quite drinkable. However, because I almost always plan to drink it ...	Depending on the type of beer, I would also consider using it for boiling sausages/bratwurst with it. Supposedly washing your hair with it has some nice effects,and people have found other creative uses: How to make good use of flat, leftover beer from your Christmas party . I would be reluctant to use it for bread unl...
Why do steins have lids? What's the point of the lid on the beer stein? <Q> Today they're largely just traditional. <S> However, originally they helped: <S> To keep the beer cool by preventing airflow from above. <S> To keep insects and other contaminants out. <S> To prevent spillage while cheers-ing and gener...	The steins with their lids seem to have come about as a result of the bubonic plague to serve as sanitary measure and thus keep flies and other insects (fleas) out of the beer.
Can quick beer cooling have a negative effect on the beer's taste? Is there a difference if we compare the classical cooling of the whole keg : and the quick flow cooling where the keg is at the ambient temperature? Can the quick cooling have negative effect on the beer's taste or head? <Q> As long the beer's se...	The time it takes to cool a beer will not have an impact on the flavor of a beer.
Which types of beer are commonly used for half-and-half beers? Which types of beer are commonly used to create half-and-half beers? In frequent recipes are only beers of contrasting colours being used (like pilsener vs porter or pale lager vs stout) or other combinations are being commonly used too? What are some of ...	Common recipes involve floating the less dense Guinness over a Bass, or a Guinness over a Harp Lager. Black Torpedo Guinness & Sierra Nevada Porters can be used to as a bottom layer to give you a dark-on-bottom drink. There are many different combinations out there such as the Black and Tan, but some companies have als...
What's the difference between a cask beer and a kegged beer? Cask ales seem popular outside of the US (especially in the UK). What distinguishes that style of beer from beer out of a normal keg? <Q> Cask ales are not stored under pressure , and require a pump to transfer the beer from the cask. <S> As the ale is no...	In contrast kegged beer is stored under pressure, and is forced to the tap by pumping gas into the keg (usually carbon dioxide or nitrogen).
How was beer brewed before the discovery of Yeast? Yeast was identified as the cause of fermentation in the 1800s, but beer has been around since long before then. How was fermentation started before the intentional introduction of yeast? Was it all lambic-style ambient yeast, or what? <Q> You don't need to know what...	Before brewers discovered the importance of yeast in the brewing process they had to rely on the local wild yeasts for fermentation.
What type of beer require the most time to produce? Of all types of beer, what type of beer require the most time to produce? <Q> The most time? <S> I'd think Gueze. <S> It is a blend of 1 and 2 (and sometimes 3) year old lambic. <S> So the minimum time to produce would be 2 years. <A> In addition to what's said,...	Some beers go through additional conditioning post-fermentation before they are at their prime to drink.
Should English/English-style beers be served warmer, since that is how the taste was developed? Given that the British tend to drink their beer at a higher temperature than those of us in the US, should beer brewed in an English style be consumed that way? The justification I can think of is: the people developing the ...	In the case of your British bitters, age-old recipes were probably designed to allow the beer to taste its best at room temperature. Just like everyone else said, it's a preference.
Will drinking too much of beer increase the size of belly? Someone told me that drinking beer will increase the size of our belly. Is it true? Since I don’t drink beer, I don’t have any idea about that. <Q> Just like any other calorie intake, if you consume more than you burn, you will gain weight. <S> So, yes, drink...	Most beer has a lot of calories.
What is the German Beer Purity Law? I see some US beers advertising that they brew according to the "German Beer Purity Law." What is that, and is it still relevant today? <Q> It dates back to 1487, which is why you may notice the omission of yeast : it hadn't been recognized as an ingredient yet. <S> The law was r...	The German Beer Purity Law, also know as the Reinheitsgebot , dictates what ingredients may be used to create beer in Germany: barley, hops, and water. It's used as a label for marketing reasons.
Can beer be recarbonated? I was perusing a question about uses for flat beer (" Are there any good uses for beer that has sat in my growler for too long? ") when I came across an answer that mentioned " any use that doesn't require it to be carbonated would be fitting ". If I have flat beer, and I have, say, a sodast...	Beer that is bottle-conditioned or bottle-fermented , however, is put into a bottle with some extra sugar.
What food pairs well with an IPA? Consider your average american IPA. What food would go well with it? <Q> As a complete novice to food pairings with beer, I've been looking at this nifty pairing chart on http://www.craftbeer.com <S> [PDF] whenever pairing questions have come up on Beer. <S> SE. <S> According to it,...	In Blue Point Brewing Company's words , its IPA pairings are meant to complement intensely flavorful, highly spiced dishes, such as curry, and bold, sweet desserts like flourless chocolate cake and crème brulée or rich, aromatic, spicy and smoked foods such as chili, BBQ ribs, grilled chicken, and beef. A sharp Vermont...
What constitutes a Pale Ale? I ask this because I just ordered an "American Pale Ale" and it's actually quite dark in color. So how can I tell a pale ale? What actually defines an ale as pale ? <Q> It's historical. <S> The "Pale" in Pale Ale is mostly historical. <S> In the 18th century, most beers were dark due to...	A pale ale is traditionally an ale that is is brewed predominantly with pale malt and is hop forward. Moderately large white to off-white head with good retention.
Why is it important to have foam on a beer? I've seen people complain when served a beer without foam. Equally, getting a glass full of foam is no use. When serving a beer, how much is the right amount of foam and why is this important? <Q> Most importantly, a good head helps release the aromas of the beer, especially...	As for the ideal amount of head, to some extent it will depend on the style of beer. It can also provide the a pleasant mouth feel.
What do these "OG" and "RDF" numbers mean? I recently got a "Gnarly Oak" craft brew package. Three 22 oz beers and a glass. However, on the beers are some abbreviations and numbers I don't understand. they all have a 5.5% ABV, and I get the IBU and color numbers but what are the rest? The numbers and abbr's are below: ...	RDF = Real Degree of Fermentation sugar in cold wort has been fermented into alcohol in beer with the term degree of fermentation. OG is “Original Gravity” Specific Gravity (often shorted to just ‘gravity’)
Do cans change the taste of beer? My favorite beers come in bottles and in cans. I always buy it in bottles because I've heard that cans negatively impact the flavor of the beer. Is this true? If so, how does it work? <Q> First, I love this question because it is actually interesting. <S> I researched this when I n...	I actually do not think that the can itself changes the taste of the beer as much as the beer placed in the can may be a little different. Make sure your container of choice fits your environment :)
Are Spittoons Used in Beer Tastings? When tasting wine, it is often suggested that tasters do not swallow the wine, but simply taste as necessary and then spit into a bucket/spittoon of some sort. This, of course, aids in the tasting of large amounts of wine without the effect of the alcohol (getting drunk). In casual...	I don't remember the exact reasoning since it's been a few years since my Beers of the World class, but I think it had something to do with the carbonation affecting the after taste if you don't swallow the beer.
Should bottle conditioned beers be consumed quickly after purchase and do they carry on changing taste for a while? Just wondering how a bottle conditioned beer will change over its life - if at all? And is there a perfect time to drink one? Also do different types change differently? <Q> Quite the opposite, bottle con...	How long a bottle conditioned beer can be aged for and, thus how soon you should drink, comes mainly down to the alcohol percentage - stronger beers age better, and the color - darker beers age better than lighter ones In regards to taste, they tend to become heavier, stronger in taste, sometimes a bit more sour.

Subsets and Splits

No community queries yet

The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.