755: Brewing Beer with AI — with Beau Warren

AI in Brewing

Beau Warren and Jon Krohn explore the innovative use of AI in brewing, enhancing both flavor and efficiency. Beau shares his experience with tools like lazy predict and tab PFN, which streamline the process of identifying top-performing algorithms for beer recipe predictions 1 2. This collaboration has led to the creation of a unique lager, showcasing the potential of AI in crafting exceptional beers. Jon expresses his excitement about the project, stating, "I'm so excited, Bo, for February 8, to come out to Columbus and try it out" 3.

   

Genetic Algorithms

Genetic algorithms play a crucial role in optimizing beer recipes, as Beau Warren explains. By utilizing tools like teapot, Beau can efficiently adjust parameters such as mutation rates to enhance beer quality 4 5. These algorithms allow for the exploration of various models, often leading to surprising results, like the discovery of boosted trees as top performers in certain scenarios. Jon Krohn notes, "People who know from data science competitions like Kaggle, these kinds of boosted tree approaches, like XgBoost, end up often being top performers" 6.

   

AI Recipe Creation

The process of AI-driven recipe creation involves using supervised learning models to simulate and predict beer flavors. Beau Warren describes how AI agents research top beers and iteratively improve recipes, resulting in a lager that stands out among his creations 7 8. This unconventional approach has led to surprising ingredient combinations, such as the use of Maris Otter and D-45 candy syrup, which are not typically found in lagers. Jon reflects on the uniqueness of the project, saying, "I was worried that we'd get on air, do all this rigmarole, then you'd be like, oh, we gotta go back to the drawing board" 9.