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Many moons ago I came across a web page that discussed portrayals of propulsion in sf stories and the science (or lack of it). One story mentioned in passing was about a man trapped on a moon and using a beer keg (or beer cans) to generate sufficient thrust to get off the planet.
I'm thinking this one is more on the "lack of science" scale but it sounds entertaining.
Unfortunately all I know is that it was published in the 20th century. Shot in the dark but does this ring any bells?
The Makeshift Rocket by Poul Anderson. When I'm at a proper computer I'll provide more details
https://www.sfgateway.com/titles/poul-anderson/the-makeshift-rocket/9780575109131/
Knud Axel Syrup, chief engineer of the spaceship Mercury Girl, sat and drank his favourite beer and thought about the coming war he was so anxious to avoid. For Grendel – the planetoid on which he was stranded – had been occupied by a band of fiery Irish revolutionaries. And once the rival Anglians discovered this, there response would be speedy and violent.
Then, as Herr Syrup shook up a bottle of brew and let the foam shoot out of its top, he realised suddenly what could be done to get him off Grendel.
And so came about a marvellous spaceship – built of beer kegs, bound by gunk, upholstered with pretzel boxes, and powered by the mighty reaction forces of malted brew!
I wonder if the web site that @raindog308 was reading was "Project Rho"
