Beer as a Teaching Aid in the Classroom and Laboratory

Abstract

Beer was chosen as a teaching tool to maximize students’ class participation and systemize and enhance their knowledge of chemistry. Viewing beer as a complex mixture allowed the students to learn how to directly apply their chemistry knowledge. Before the “Beer Unit” students were instructed to research beer and acquire data on beer composition and properties. They were also asked to propose a hypothesis about possible chemical links between the components of beer and suggest qualitative analytical experiments. During the laboratory and classroom periods, the students performed experiments, analyzed the results, tested their hypotheses, and solved problems. The multilevel approach generated more discussion topics and acquisition of new chemistry knowledge. The students were also encouraged to point out negative consequences caused by uncontrolled consumption of beer. As a result of this unit, the students obtained the correct answers during chemistry classes, and they gained powerful arguments for discussions and were able to make proper health and life choices.

Além da caipirinha: cachaça como solvente para síntese orgânica e extração de pigmento

“…21,22 Misturas de flavorizantes presentes no uísque também foram empregadas em aula de destilação simples e fracionada, associada à elucidação estrutural de substâncias orgânicas.…”

“…21,22 Misturas de flavorizantes presentes no uísque também foram empregadas em aula de destilação simples e fracionada, associada à elucidação estrutural de substâncias orgânicas. 23 À parte estes aspectos, são praticamente inexistentes experimentos de ensino de química orgânica que empreguem bebidas alcoólicas como solvente de reações químicas e de extração de produto natural.…”

Brewpub and Brewery Operations

“…There is no doubt that using brewing to interest non-science majors in science can lead to a popular undergraduate general education science course (2,21,34,35). Such a course is a common requirement (100 level) of the General Education or Liberal Studies Curriculum and is usually fulfilled by General Biology or Physical Science (a mixture of Physics and Chemistry).…”

DEVELOPING CHEMICAL ENGINEERING ACUMEN by Brewing Kicking Mule Beer

“…Beer making is a nearly ideal process to demonstrate a wide variety of chemical engineering concepts and has recently served this purpose at several other undergraduate institutions. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Heat transfer, reactor design and kinetics, process control, separations, and basic unit operations are all included in one process, and the data analysis has the potential to tie into our Chemical Engineering electives in our eight semester academic sequence. [7][8][9][10][11] We will articulate this potential in the Discussion section.…”