This Beer Was Brewed to Taste Good at 35,000 Feet
Another round of applause for science.
It's no secret that cabin pressure and altitude can play around with passengers' taste buds. As the atmosphere changes inside a plane your sense of smell and taste are actually the first to mutate. To tackle the issue of leaving your palate at the departure gate, Cathay Pacific has launched the world's first bottled beer specially brewed to taste as good on the ground as it does at 35,000 feet.
Through a combination of "science and traditional brewing methods" the airline worked with the Hong Kong Beer Co. to create Betsy Beer. Named after Cathay Pacific's first aircraft, Betsy, it draws upon the 'dragon eye' fruit (or longan) for its aromatic attributes, as well as Hong Kong honey to cut through in-flight bitterness, and the fuggle hop - best known for its appearance in traditional British ales. The beer is 5.1% ABV and is wheat based.
Betsy Beer is set to roll out on flights between Hong Kong and destinations in the United Kingdom from 1 March until 30 April 2017 to First and Business Class passengers. It will also be available in the airline's lounges in Hong Kong and Heathrow as well as a number of restaurants in Hong Kong.