The Final Frontier of Brewing
Beer lovers and space enthusiasts, unite! Sapporo Breweries, one of Japan’s oldest beer makers, has taken brewing to the next level—literally. In collaboration with the Russian Academy of Sciences and Okayama University, Sapporo created Space Barley, the world’s first beer brewed using barley grown aboard the International Space Station (ISS). It’s a bold experiment that brings humanity one step closer to self-sustaining life beyond Earth.
How Did Space Barley Happen?
In 2006, as part of a long-term research project on growing food in space, barley was cultivated on the ISS for five months. Alongside other crops like lettuce, wheat, and peas, this barley was part of a study exploring sustainable agriculture for future space missions. After the successful experiment, Sapporo acquired the barley and transformed it into something truly out of this world—Space Barley Beer.
Sapporo’s flagship Black Label beer includes rice as an ingredient. Space Barley is brewed using 100% space-grown barley, it is a one-of-a-kind brew. However, don’t expect to find it at your local liquor store. This exclusive beer was not sold to the general public. Instead, a limited batch of 100 liters was brewed, and only 30 lucky couples in Japan had the opportunity to taste it at a special event in Tokyo.
Space Beer for Astronauts?
Beer is not currently on the ISS menu (due to its alcohol content and its, let’s say, gassy side effects in microgravity). Sapporo hopes that one day astronauts will be able to enjoy a refreshing sip of space beer while orbiting Earth. For now, ISS cargo shipments focus on essentials like miso soup, mackerel, seaweed soup, and green tea—but who knows? With space farming advancing, a cold one in space might not be too far off.
A Beer with a Rich History
Sapporo Breweries has been a leader in the beer industry since 1876. Founded under a different name by Seibei Nakagawa, a Japanese brewer who studied in Germany. Today, Sapporo is known for its iconic Black Label and Sapporo Lager. Space Barley proves they’re not afraid to push the limits of brewing innovation.
Back in 2009, Sapporo officially launched Space Barley for sale in an ultra-limited online release. A six-pack of this interstellar brew sold for a hefty $110. Proceeds benefitted educational charities. The barley used was a fourth-generation descendant of the original ISS-grown barley. It is truly a unique beer with cosmic origins.
The Future of Space Beer
While Space Barley was a limited-run experiment, it opens the door for future brewing possibilities in space. If humanity is ever going to establish colonies beyond Earth, we’ll need food, water, and—of course—beer. Could the first Mars colony have its own brewery? Time will tell. For now, we’ll have to settle for drinking our Earth-brewed beer while dreaming of the stars.