Why We Can’t Figure Out What’s in the Booze of Science Fiction Universes

Summary

Science fiction has given us many iconic concepts, but it seems to have fallen short in depicting how alcohol works across different universes. In different works of fiction, we see different types of beverages, from Romulan ale in Star Trek to Klingon blood wine, but how these drinks are made, and their composition, raises questions for anyone familiar with alcohol production. This piece delves into the mystery of the boozy drinks of different science fiction universes, trying to figure out how they are made and what is in them.

What is Romulan ale made of?
What’s the science behind Klingon blood wine?
Is ethanol the psychoactive compound in alcoholic drinks in science fiction universes?
How is butterbeer made in Harry Potter?
What’s in ambrosia in Battlestar Galactica?
How is alcohol used in starships?

Introduction

Science fiction has always presented a range of imaginative and complex universes that leave their fans intrigued, considering the implications of everything from onboard technologies to the composition of exotic drinks. However, while the question of what people on other planets drink might not be vitally important, it nevertheless raises some fascinating questions. Simply put, what is in the booze of science fiction universes like Star Trek, Star Wars, Tron, Harry Potter, and Battlestar Galactica?

Q&A

What is Romulan ale made of?

Romulan ale, a blue-colored drink common in the universe of Star Trek, has puzzled fans for years. While some viewers suggest that it is similar to a vessel of distilled liquor, a closer look reveals that it has none of the characteristics of a distilled beverage. The fans’ primary issue is its production method, which suggests that it is made using an ale strain of yeast.

Beer that is brewed using an ale strain of yeast does not flocculate; instead, it remains floating at the top of a ferment. Secondly, ale yeast produces carbon dioxide as a byproduct during fermentation, resulting in bubbles. The crucial question arising here is that the Romulan Ale wasn’t bubbly, even though it comes in a bottle and not a can, indicating that it is not a distillate or a classic brewed beverage like beer. This gap in knowledge leaves us all wondering what exactly is in the drink.

What’s the science behind Klingon blood wine?

Klingon blood wine from Star Trek is another drink that catches the interest of science fiction fans. While grapes and other fruits laid the basis for most traditional alcoholic beverages, Klingon blood wine comprises something entirely different: blood. However, one fundamental fact puzzles us about this drink – the yeast, an essential component in fermenting the drink, requires sugar. And blood, at least that of humans, contains little or no sugar.

However, some posit that the sugar in Klingon blood might come from starches or sugars, with the Klingons’ blood, serving as a structural component that helps with oxygen movement throughout the body. As to the notion that the ethanol is the psychoactive component, it remains unclear whether that is true throughout science fiction universes.

Is ethanol the psychoactive compound in alcoholic drinks in science fiction universes?

Though ethanol contains psychoactive properties, there is no definitive argument on the matter in science fiction universes. Every universe might have a different science behind the drinks they take, making it difficult to make generalizations. Perhaps the fermentation and distillation process used in the production of alcoholic drinks in different universes is entirely different from anything we’ve seen on Earth.

How is butterbeer made in Harry Potter?

Butterbeer, a drink in the Harry Potter universe, warms drinkers from the inside out but does not make them drunk. This drink has stirred some controversy about its production because of its unique properties. Although there is no definitive answer about the drink’s chemical makeup, it is evident that the drink can leave people feeling quite happy without dependence on ethanol.

You also have to consider the Replicator’s synthahol, which is used to make this drink. People end up getting drunk without getting outright drunk, suggesting that there could be another psychoactive component present in the drink that could be entirely different from ethanol.

What’s in ambrosia in Battlestar Galactica?

In Battlestar Galactica, Adama drinks a beverage that looks like whiskey, and there is also a beverage called ambrosia. Though both are alcoholic drinks, the production process remains a mystery. The only clue we get is that ambrosia smells like sulfur, which means that there is an off flavor that suggests a problem in the distillation of the liquor. Perhaps the humans just had different palates than we do today.

How is alcohol used in starships?

Alcoholic drinks’ production and storage aboard starships present novel challenges not encountered on Earth. Carbon dioxide production during fermentation and distillation is an issue, particularly because carbon dioxide is a waste product that human beings cannot breathe in. However, carbon dioxide might still play an important role, particularly in a closed system involving plants. These plants would consume carbon dioxide and produce oxygen. However, the exotic microorganisms on different planets could pose an issue in fermentation and distillation. We could assume that yeast might exist on different worlds but would be domesticated differently than it has been on earth, resulting in some adverse tastes.

Conclusion

Science Fiction universes are vast and varied, and this variety extends to the types of drinks found in these universes. While the production of alcoholic beverages on different worlds is still a puzzling question, it leaves us with areas to explore and seek new answers. Ultimately, it is clear that the psychoactive effects of these drinks remain a mystery, and their production is so unconventional that it would be arrogant for humanity to assume we know everything about them. So, until we have more information about what is contained in the drinks of different science fiction universes, we can only keep wondering.