The big take-off is planned for 2012, when the two pilots will try a transatlantic flight before attempting to circumnavigate the globe.

"The big take-home message here isthat, as beer ages, a whole series of breakdown products grow with time, "said Tom Shellhammer, a brewing scientist at Oregon State University inCorvallis.

There are now more than 20 big companies waiting in the wings to take over some of its business.