In a groundbreaking collaboration between Barossa Valley Brewing and the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML), the world witnessed the birth of an innovative and award-winning Pale Ale crafted by an AI neural network.
The AI Beer project, as it is fondly known, is not just about flavors; it represents a remarkable feat in utilizing AI to engage customers and democratise the beer creation process.
The journey began when Barossa Valley Brewing joined forces with AIML, where a neural network was trained on an extensive dataset of over 200,000 beer recipes. The network then went on to create an astonishing 300,000 unique recipes.
This data formed the basis for the AI Beer, a Pale Ale that went on to win multiple accolades at beer competitions, including the prestigious Royal Adelaide Beer & Cider Awards.
What sets the AI Beer apart is its ability to evolve continually. Customer feedback and reviews are actively incorporated into the AI system to improve and refine the recipe further.
By involving customers in the creative process, Barossa Valley Brewing empowers its clientele to influence the beers they love, making them true co-creators in the company’s journey.
Denham D’Silva, the founder of Barossa Valley Brewing, emphasises that the AI does not replace human brewers but instead enhances their capabilities.
“The AI takes the flavor parameters provided by the brewers and synthesizes them with customer input, suggesting potential improvements and refinements.” he said.
Human brewers retain full control of the brewing process, ensuring the final product meets their discerning standards.
The decision to integrate AI into the craft beer domain holds immense significance. Beer is the most widely consumed alcoholic beverage globally and the fourth most consumed liquid overall. By leveraging AI to bridge the gap between brewers and customers, Barossa Valley Brewing takes a pioneering step in making AI more accessible and responsibly managed.
Denham D’Silva reflects on the impact of AI on their journey.
“As a new company I co-founded, I’d love to say Deep Liquid is the reason we have done so well. But the fact is we have always had a focus on quality, and while we missed the big trophies, to say it was AI allowed these wins would be doing a disservice to our amazing brewers and all our staff.”
“It also discounts the community’s involvement, both the local community and the wider craft beer community.”
He goes on to clarify, “What AI allows us to do is amplify our strengths. We are in a region with great palates. AI allows us to process every, and I mean every review or comment about our product. The craft brewing community is very supportive and also provides input. This volume of data could not be absorbed by a human, but AI can.”
As AI revolutionizes the beer industry, one thing is clear – the AI Beer project is a testament to the potential of AI when harnessed responsibly. By putting the power of AI into the hands of customers and involving them in the beer creation process, Barossa Valley Brewing is leading the way towards a more connected and collaborative future for craft brewing.
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