Unexpected Elements A keg of beer-based science
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Nov 14, 2025 Join food historian Pen Vogler as she unpacks the fascinating history of beer, tracing its origins back to ancient China and exploring the evolution from home brewing to a professional industry. She also explains why a 150-year-old Arctic Ale could still be drinkable and discusses the beliefs surrounding alcohol’s role in cold expeditions. Additionally, the episode dives into unique topics like auto-brewery syndrome and the surprising ways yeast might help combat climate change, making for a delightful blend of science and history.
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City Navigation By Smell
- Marnie navigated Edinburgh by smell and discovered a street that always smelled like hot buttered toast.
- The scent came from a nearby brewery producing malty, roasted barley aromas, not actual toast.
When The Gut Brews Alcohol
- Auto-brewery syndrome occurs when gut microbes overgrow and ferment dietary sugars into ethanol faster than the body clears it.
- Identified microbes include Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans and bacteria like Klebsiella pneumoniae.
Diagnose And Treat Auto-Brewery
- Doctors diagnose auto-brewery by excluding secret drinking and using a carbohydrate challenge to monitor blood alcohol spikes.
- Treatment focuses on rebalancing gut microbes and adopting a low-carb, low-sugar diet to starve fermenters.
