Yes, your beer tastes better ice cold, and scientists discovered why

While the slogan “Save water, drink beer — ice cold” might be catchy, a recent study published in Matter adds scientific backing to the preference for frosty pints. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences investigated how temperature affects the taste of alcoholic beverages.

Their findings? Alcoholic drinks exhibit varying degrees of “ethanol-like” taste depending on how cold they are. The team discovered that the temperature alters the way water and alcohol (ethanol) molecules arrange themselves. At a molecular level, these clusters form either chains or pyramids, impacting the drink’s flavor.