"The second most convenient method for photographing beer is to atomize or convert the beer into a fine mist and to blast or spray the mist onto a smooth hydrophobic surface such as silicon, germanium, polystyrene, or treated glass. The photomicrograph in Figure 2 exhibits this technique when applied to the same Budweiser sample used to produce Figure 1. In this case the beer was chilled to 4° C, placed in a container and pressurized with Freon before being atomized and sprayed directly onto the surface of a highly polished silicon wafer.

The sample was imaged in a reflected light differential interference contrast (DIC) microscope using a quartz compensating plate between the Wollaston prisms and polarizers. DIC microscopy is a rather complicated technique, but it can be used effectively to produce dramatic and colorful images of both liquid and crystalline samples. The major drawback to DIC microscopy is the high cost of the equipment, which will generally add about $10,000.00 to the price of a polarized light microscope."

Figure 2. DIC photomicrograph of chilled Budweiser beer
sprayed onto a highly polished silicon surface and imaged
with a retardation plate.