Every year when the sun comes out, we Brits flock to sunny beer gardens, lay down picnic blankets in the park, and crack open cold beers on the beach, but does it actually taste any better than at any other time of the year?
The short answer is YES! But why?
Hormones
Well, for starters the sunlight helps to boost and maintain mood. According to ScienceInsights, highly specialised light-sensitive cells in our retinas respond to bright light by sending signals deep into the brain, where they influence the production of three key chemical messengers: serotonin, dopamine, and orexin.
You might already be familiar with serotonin and dopamine as the ‘happy hormones’ but orexin is lesser known. ScienceDirect defines it as a neurotransmitter that mainly regulates the sleep/ wake cycle. It is produced by the brain when we are exposed to sunlight, making us more awake and often feel more energetic.
Adequate light can also adjust the function of the molecules in the brain that recycle serotonin, allowing it to stay active longer. This helps keep us feeling happy for longer. But it’s not just the sun that makes it taste better.
Memory
According to Dr Helen McCarthy, ‘The Appetite Doctor’, a clinical psychologist, the shift in taste and perception is rooted in memory.
“Memory networks include emotional feelings and sensations, all of which can influence a specific eating or drinking experience. When you eat a certain meal, with a certain person in a particular place your memory networks related to this can be activated.”
This explains why beer might taste better in the sun, your enjoyment of the pint is heightened by the environment and your previous experiences of beer.
Pub gardens, bring together a community, the sun and of course, that all important pint so it’s no surprise if your pint tastes that little bit better.
How does hospitality react?
It’s not just us who enjoy the pub more when the sun comes out though. James Hoare manages a small village pub in Berkshire and is very grateful for the shift in weather.
“I really enjoy it when the sun comes out, people are happier and our service seems to run smoother, there’s just a nicer feel all around.
“I’m hoping the sun continues, it’s one of the main ways we can compete with bigger pubs in the area. We don’t have backing from a big chain, so in some ways we are very weather dependent, especially with our large pub garden.”
My very scientific experiment
It wouldn’t be fair to give you the science without first testing it myself. So very noblely, I went to the pub and ordered a pint. I can confirm, it was delicious and I had an excellent time.
So if you were looking for an excuse to drink a beer in a sunny pub garden (like I was) consider this it.
Always drink responsibly. But just in case you take it too far, here’s our guide on how to scientifically hack a hangover.