What shape would a glass be that could scientifically be designed to keep beer cold for as long as possible?

Claudio Pellegrini, a professor of thermal fluid dynamics at the Federal University of São João del Rei in Brazil, has calculated the optimal shape of a beer glass to keep beer cold for as long as possible and published the results in a paper.

[2410.12043] Optimizing Beer Glass Shapes to Minimize Heat Transfer -- New Results

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 in clear glasses, so beer glass manufacturers have researched and developed various designs to keep the beer cold for as long as possible.

For the study, Pellegrini tested a number of designs based on the laws of physics, calculating the rate of heat transfer based solely on the shape of the glass, rather than on external factors like the temperature of the hand holding the glass or the material of the glass used.

In addition, the bottom is assumed to be insulated, with heat loss only occurring through the top and sides. In all tests, the starting temperature of the beer was assumed to be constant, and the thermal resistance of the glass was assumed to be negligible, so that the change in heat transfer rate was determined only by the shape.

As Pellegrini continued his calculations, he found that the shape that would keep the beer coldest was a glass with a small base and a wider top. Rbase in the diagram below is the radius of the base, and the optimal shape of the top changes as the base area increases.

In terms of tasting the beer cold, the best results come from using a small glass that can be drunk in one or two sips, but Pellegrini says, 'There's no point in drinking beer if you drink it that badly.'

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