Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly playing a vital role, assisting humans in various fields. Now, scientists are looking to AI to help create better-tasting beers.
Artificial Intelligence has reached impressive milestones, with its capability to support human tasks and even generate artistic works—activities that require creativity and cognitive thinking.
Now, AI can also help humans create beverages with even better flavors.
Accordingly, scientists from KU Leuven University in Belgium, led by Professor Kevin Verstrepen, have turned to an AI system to improve the flavor of beer, a beloved drink for many during hot summer days.
AI can help create better-tasting beers that meet the stringent demands of discerning customers (Image source: Getty).
Professor Kevin Verstrepen stated that based on data provided by humans, the AI system can help decode the complexity of human flavor perception and identify commonalities among them.
“Beer, like most other foods and beverages, contains hundreds of different aromatic molecules that our tongue and nose perceive, which our brain then combines into a complete picture, creating the flavor when we drink beer,” Professor Verstrepen shared.
“However, the compounds present in beers are similar, so our flavor perception depends on the varying concentrations of these compounds,” he added.
Professor Verstrepen and his colleagues analyzed the chemical composition of 250 commercial beers available in the Belgian market, covering 22 different styles, including lager, fruit beer, stout, pale ale, and non-alcoholic beer. This analysis aimed to study the characteristics of these beers, such as alcohol concentration, pH levels, and the ratio of chemical compounds.
Additionally, the research team examined the presence and concentrations of over 200 different compounds related to beer flavor, such as esters from yeast and terpenoids from hops. These are two important organic compounds that contribute to the flavor of beers.
Participants in the study tasted and evaluated 250 beers based on 50 different factors and criteria, including beer flavor, sweetness, acidity, and the stimulating effect after consumption.
After collecting the data, the research team used this information to instruct an AI system that could analyze and predict the concentrations of compounds in beer to best cater to the preferences of many people. Scientists believe this will help create the tastiest beer that meets various preferences.
“Small changes in the concentrations of chemical substances can have significant impacts, especially when many components start to change,” Professor Verstrepen noted. He emphasized that some compounds produced during the traditional brewing process may be off-putting for drinkers, but adjusting the concentrations of these substances could enhance the beer’s appeal.
Scientists attempted to create a beer with chemical ratios suggested by the AI system and had a group of volunteers taste it. The results showed that tasters rated the beer created based on AI recommendations highly, both in terms of sweetness and richness.
However, scientists indicated that the AI system serves merely as an advisor, and the skill of the brewer is still essential to create a delicious beer. Thus, AI cannot yet replace humans in the process of crafting great beers.
“AI models only predict and suggest chemical changes to help optimize the quality and flavor of beer, but executing that still heavily relies on the brewer, starting from the recipe and brewing methods,” Professor Verstrepen explained.
“Therefore, AI cannot yet replace humans in producing great batches of beer. However, in the future, we may very well enjoy beers created entirely by AI,” Professor Verstrepen added.
