Q. Why should a bottle be held obliquely, in order to be emptied of its liquor?
A. Because air will then flow into the bottle, and help the liquor out by balancing the upward pressure.
Q. Why does wine (poured from a bottle quickly) spirt about without going into the decanter?
A. The liquor fills the top of the decanter (like a cork), and leaves no room for the air inside to escape; therefore, the decanter (being full of air) refuses to admit the wine.
Q. Why is beer made stale, by being exposed to the air?
A. Because air absorbs its carbonic acid, which gave it “life.”
Q. Why is porter made stale, by being exposed to the air?
A. Because air absorbs its carbonic acid, which gave it “life.”
Q. Why does the effervescence of soda water and ginger beer so soon go off?