You ever seen one of those trucks drive? They are bouncing up and down the whole way. But if I even transport a beer in my pocket shit is done
In: Chemistry
Gas needs two things to remain in solution (simply speaking, it’s likely more complicated scientifically): cold liquid – gas dissolves better in cold liquids than warm – and pressure. The beer in the truck is not cold, but the cans are sealed and pressurized. The pressure prevents the CO2 from escaping into the can’s head space (the small volume of empty space at the top). When the can is shaken, everything is disturbed but the gas has nowhere to go, so it settles back into solution because the can wants to equalize – the head space won’t just fill continually with gas, the beer will take it back until equilibrium is found. When you shake a can and then open it, gas is agitated and actively escaping already, so beer volcanoes out.
Beer is carbonated at a brewery to a higher level than required for the finished product. When the beer is canned, the tops of the cans are dropped on after the beer is injected into the open can. The beer is filled nearly full, and then passes quickly under a small jet of sterile water that causes the beer to foam (“fobbing” – Foam On Beer). The foam ideally pours a little over the sides of the can, or at least reaches over the top of the can. This causes the oxygen/ambient air to be pushed out the top (oxygen is bad for beer). Then the cap is dropped on and sealed. The extra CO2 escapes the beer into the head space, and this is how the can becomes pressurized. If all is done correctly, the beer in the can is at the right level of carbonation after this process, and remains so until you open the can. It’s a balancing act.
Source: am pro brewer.
Edit: not really explained like you’re 5 but I think it’s interesting.
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