Technologies

SpaceX ‘orbited hops’ landed in an IPA. Here’s how it tastes

I find out whether you can taste the space in the Inspiration4 Space Craft IPA.

I’ve just had the closest thing to an off-world Star Trek Romulan ale I will likely ever drink. Samuel Adams’ Space Craft IPA is a brew with a twist: It’s made with «orbited hops.»

When the private astronauts on SpaceX’s Crew Dragon Inspiration4 mission circled Earth in September, they weren’t alone. The payload included 66 pounds (30 kilograms) of Citra and Mosaic hops (two classic choices for IPAs). In exchange for the hops, Samuel Adams pledged $100,000 to St. Jude Children’s Hospital as part of the mission’s fundraiser.

The special-release Space Craft is only available through Samuel Adams’ Boston brewery and taproom.

I’m a craft beer aficionado, frequenting my local breweries and willing to try everything from pickle beers to French’s Mustard Beer. I’ve tasted a lot of IPAs, but it’s not my favorite style, so I called in the most experienced (and toughest) IPA critic I know, my mother.

Samuel Adams gives this description of the West Coast-style Space Craft: «Firm bitterness, with generous tropical notes of grapefruit, guava and passionfruit co-pilot classic piney and resiny hop aromatics.» Our verdict? That’s pretty accurate.

The IPA pours a lightly hazy golden honey color and offers a gentle nose my mother describes as «diffuse honeysuckle.» The grapefruit notes stand out and it rolls to a dry finish. My mother calls it «a very decent IPA» that’s «typical of West Coast,» a style that tends toward bold bitterness and pine. At 50 IBUs, Space Craft is more soft-spoken than some of the super-bitter IPA options.

But you really want to know if we can taste the space. We can’t. I would never guess the hops in Space Craft had been in orbit.

We’ve already seen space Scotch whisky, which the experts said tasted quite different than its Earth-matured counterpart. But ale is another animal. Hops is just one ingredient in a recipe that also calls for yeast, malt and water.

As commercial opportunities continue to open up in space, we can expect more food and drink products that prominently feature a space-related component. Sometimes, the orbital journey might make a difference in the flavor. Sometimes, it will mostly be a marketing hook.

If Samuel Adam’s Space Craft is just marketing, I’m OK with that. There’s still something soul-stirring about holding a can in my hand and knowing a little piece of its contents circled the planet far, far above me.

From fiery launch to sweeping orbit to thrilling landing, those IPA hops lived a life I will probably never experience. With my feet on Earth and a glass in my hand, I’m a little more connected to human space exploration. Cheers.

Technologies

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 Might Come in 5G and 4G Cellular Models

If the rumor proves true, the 5G Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3 that debuted last fall.

Samsung’s next high-end Galaxy Watch could support faster 5G speeds, but if this leak is true, it will depend on where you live. The rumored Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 might come in 5G and 4G cellular models, with availability for each smartwatch depending on the country.

According to the Dutch website Galaxy Club (and spotted by SamMobile), Samsung’s servers may have revealed a series of model numbers that point to 5G, 4G and Wi-Fi-enabled editions of the next Galaxy Watch Ultra, which would succeed the original model that debuted in 2024.

A representative for Samsung did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Galaxy Club website speculates that the 5G edition would be sold in the US and Korean markets, while the 4G edition would sell in the rest of the world. In the US, a 5G version of the Galaxy Watch Ultra would rival the 5G-enabled $799 Apple Watch Ultra 3, which debuted last fall. The 4G edition would have broader compatibility worldwide, since the earlier network is far more established.

It will likely be a few months until we hear anything official about the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2. Samsung typically unveils its new watches in the summer alongside its Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip foldable phones. Last year, Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch 8 and the Galaxy Watch 8 Classic, but otherwise left the prior 2024 Ultra in the lineup for those looking for a larger 47mm smartwatch.

Technologies

2 Cases Show Supreme Court Isn’t Holding ISPs Responsible for Piracy

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for April 8, #1032

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle for April 8, No. 1032.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle is kind of tough. The purple category is a fun one, once you see the connection. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for the groupings in today’s Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: In the group.

Green group hint: Appearance details.

Blue group hint: Often found in gyms.

Purple group hint: They help you see.