Really though, either I’m an addict or they truly sound different. What is it that creates that unique sound of beer opening vs soda? They are both carbonated and it looks like the cans are the same.
In: Chemistry
Probably the amount of carbonation. Beer can have carbon dioxide form from fermentation or it can be force carbonated like soda. Soda is force carbonated with high pressure CO2. Beer is usually injected with less CO2 than soda probably because it better mimics the natural carbonation.
Beer and soda, while both carbonated beverages, are made of a variety of different things, which sound and react differently to the container. They are also carbonated to different levels.
Soda is typically drank at 37-41° and stored at a pressure of up to 25 PSI.
Most beers at the same temperature would be recommended to be 10-13 PSI, with wheat beers and “highly-carbonated” beers as high as 21 PSI.
That extra force in the soda can leads to a more powerful release and harsher bubbles.
And just to illustrate, champagne bottles are pressurized between 70-90 PSI, and they are powerful enough to launch the cork across the room.
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