Ninkasi Brewing Company in Eugene Oregon has brought beer to the final frontier!  The “Ground Control” Imperial Stout had it’s yeast shot into space on a rocket before being used to brew the beer!

Two separate rockets were launched in 2014 with the second one delivering viable yeast samples that had flow to 408,035ft or 77.3 miles above earth!  The first rocket was not found for to long and the yeast was no longer viable.  Ground Control pours an opaque black colour with a brown head.  The aroma consists of chocolate, malty, sweetness and some anise.  The flavour was of anise, chocolate, toffee, nuttiness, dark fruits, earthy and hops bitterness.  The alcohol content comes in at 10% with an IBU of 80.  Beyond the shear curiosity of this beer it is a well crafted imperial stout and well worth the pickup.  I personally enjoyed every sip!

Commercial Description:  Seven years after we started brewing in Oregon, we decided the sky was not the limit. One year, two rockets and countless lab hours later, we successfully launched a payload of brewer’s yeast into outer space with the help of rocket scientists. After a much awaited return to Earth, the mission of creating space beer is now complete.  Ground Control boldly combines local and out-of-this-world ingredients. This rich, complex Imperial Stout is brewed with Oregon hazelnuts, star anise and cocoa nibs, and fermented with an Ale yeast that survived a trip to space and back. Mankind will enjoy the sweet finesse of this beer that only fares better with time.

Launch Stats (Second Rocket)
Rocket Name: SL 9
Launch Date: Oct. 23, 2014
Launch Time: 7:33 am

Launch Location: Spaceport America, New Mexico
Maximum Altitude: 408,035 ft, 77.3 Miles
Maximum Speed: Mach 5.5
Payload Recovery Site: White Sands Missile Range