One Oregon-based brewery just took the concept of craft beer to new heights — literally.
For the past two years, Ninkasi Brewing Company has been working on perfecting a beer made from yeast the company sent to outer space.
And next month, the celestial brew — cleverly named “Ground Control”— will finally be available for temporary earthly enjoyment.
It took one failed mission before six vials of yeast were successfully launched 77 miles into space this past October. The vials spent a whopping 4 minutes chilling in zero gravity before returning to Earth.
Once safely back at the Ninkasi Brewing Company, brewers mixed the well-traveled yeast with star anise, cocoa nibs, hazelnuts, and three types of hops to create the limited-edition, 10 percent alcohol-by-volume Ground Control stout.
In all honesty, the “Space Program” is really just a marketing ploy — the yeast doesn't take on a different flavor after being in zero gravity — but it is pretty damn cool, if you ask me.
The extremely limited-edition brew will hit shelves April 13, so keep an eye out for the space-themed bottles in your local liquor store.
In the eternal words of Neil Armstrong: That's one small step for man, one giant leap for beerkind.
Citations: A New Beer is Made With Yeast That Was Sent To Space (Grub Street)
