COLD fridge beer freezes solid upon popping the cap

[Rusty Heap]

Interesting unintended science experiment.


Beer Fridge in my shop was super chilled, beer sloshing back and forth in the bottles. It's in a liquid state.

Upon opening the cap, releasing the CO2 carbonation the top half of beer instantly turns to un-pourable slushy ice crystals.

Interesting. That releasing the gases that is in suspension in the liquid, creates enough of a cooling drop to freeze to ice.

Thermal Physics says when you compress gas it gets hot, when you vert gas it does get chilled.

When I release air out of my scuba tank, pressurized to 3000 psi, and drain the whole tank the valve at the top will start to freeze ice cold

But beer is only pressurized to 5-7 psi at serving.


Any other theory's?

[Zeke]

You summed it up.

[flatbutt]

Temperature is directly proportional with kinetic energy When the gas is released KE is decreased along with temperature. Or so I recall.

[ramonesfreak]

Just like the co2 cartridges I use to inflate bike tires. Gets damn cold. They come with a foam sleeve. Interesting

[LJ851]

The freezing point of a liquid is lowered with pressure. What could remain liquid under pressure in the bottle could freeze when returned to atmospheric pressure.

[billybek]

Even non carbonated drinks can do this without opening the top.

A simple bottle of water can be cooled slightly under the freezing point and remain in the liquid form.
A simple bump to the bottle is enough to kick over the freezing process.

We had a bunch of bottled water in the freezer to cool down prior to a team marathon. When I took them out, we bumped each one of them and watched them turn solid.

Carbonated drinks that are at the freezing point will kick over to a frozen state with a pressure drop.

Think I might just go open a beer.

[stevej37]

Your ABV is too low.

[masraum]

We drink seltzer water instead of sodas (just carbonated water or carbonated water with natural flavorings). My wife likes hers as cold as possible, so I'll move it from the fridge to the freezer for a period of time before she's ready for it. Usually when you pop the cap, it'll freeze or partially freeze, but occasionally, just picking it up out of the freezer will cause it to freeze a lot like this.

[Arizona_928]

Originally Posted by LJ851

The freezing point of a liquid is lowered with pressure. What could remain liquid under pressure in the bottle could freeze when returned to atmospheric pressure.

Like a pipe freezing in the winter... or an aluminum pressure vessel in this case...

[sc_rufctr]

Originally Posted by Zeke

You summed it up.

This... Also note this is how a refrigerated air-conditioner works.

[GH85Carrera]

I used to have a fridge at my house that would get a beer to the perfect temp. Upon opening it had just a few ice crystals, but totally liquid and drinkable.