If you scientifically calculate the shape of a glass that can keep the poured beer cold for as long as possible, what kind of shape will it be? -GIGAZINE

Claudio Pellegrini, a professor of thermohydrodynamics at the Federal University of São João del Rey in Brazil, calculated the optimal shape of a beer glass to keep beer cold for as long as possible and summarized it in a paper.

[2410.12043] Optimizing Beer Glass Shapes to Minimize Heat Transfer — New Results
https://arxiv.org/abs/2410.12043

Professor calculates optimal glass shape for preserving chill in beer glasses
https://phys.org/news/2024-10-professor-optimal-glass-chill-beer.html

Beer lovers prefer to drink their beer chilled, and they also prefer to use clear glasses. That’s why beer glass manufacturers have researched and developed different designs to keep their beer cold for as long as possible.

In this study, Pellegrini tested numerous designs based on the laws of physics. We calculated the heat transfer coefficient based solely on the shape, rather than on external factors such as the temperature of the hand holding the glass or the material of the glass used.

Furthermore, the bottom is insulated and heat loss is assumed to occur only from the top and sides. In all tests, the starting temperature of the beer was constant and the temperature of the glassthermal resistancewas assumed to be negligible. By doing this, the change in heat transfer coefficient will be determined only by the shape.

As Mr. Pellegrini continued his calculations, he found that the shape that best kept beer cold was a glass with a small bottom and a width that widened towards the top. Rbase in the figure below is the radius of the base, and as the base area increases, the optimal top shape also changes.

When it comes to enjoying beer cold, the best results are found in small glasses that can be drunk in one or two sips. However, Mr. Pellegrini says, “There is no point in drinking beer in such an ugly way.”