Seeking to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Bridger Brewing, Montana Space Grant Consortium at Montana State University, and Bozeman-based Crooked Yard Hops have collaborated on a beer made from ingredients launched into space.
The result is Space Cowboy Pale Ale (5.2% ABV, 40 IBU) which goes on tap at Bridger Brewing today, Wednesday, July 3.
Bridger Brewing Brewmaster and Director of Operations Daniel Pollard and Crooked Yard Hops Owner Jake TeSelle recruited the help of the Montana Space Grant Consortium and MSU students to launch a Google balloon carrying malt, hops, yeast and water to the “edge of space.”
The balloon carrying the ingredients was launched on June 12 from Wheatland County Airport in Harlowton, MT, and rose to 106,011 feet. MSU students helped to track the balloon with the direction of the Berk Knighton, Flight Director for the BOREALIS (Balloon Outreach, Research, Exploration and Landscape Imaging System) program. They also operated under the direction of Angela Des Jardins, Director of the Montana Space Grant Consortium and assistant research professor at MSU. The balloon was recovered on a ranch northeast of Big Timber, MT.
“Providing real-world, hands-on opportunities for Montana’s college students is our passion. Working with community members like Bridger Brewing makes these learning opportunities even more meaningful,” Des Jardins said.
According to the press release, other breweries across the country have attempted to launch ingredients into space for the same purpose but, to the group’s knowledge, none have been successful so far.
Tuesday, July 16, 2019, marks the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 launch, the mission that landed the first two people on the moon, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.
