What Would a ChatBot Brew with Choice New Zealand Hops?

When we heard word awhile back that Detroit, Michigan’s Atwater Brewery brewed a 6.9% ABV India Pale Ale based on an internet chatbot’s recipe, we got curious. Sure, we all know the machines can write poetry and pen perfect pop songs. But can they really harness the power and potential of hops, water, malt, and yeast? Seeking answers to this urgent question, we went straight to the source.

BSG: Can you please state your name?
ChatGPT: You may refer to me as OpenAI’s language model or ChatGPT.

BSG: Appreciate that. How’d Atwater’s IPA turn out?
ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I don’t have the ability to taste or physically experience the beer, so I don’t have any information on how the beer turned out. However, I can provide information on the recipe that was generated and assist with any questions you have about it. The IPA uses Centennial, Citra, Amarillo and Hüll Melon hops, lending the beer tropical and citrus flavors and aromas.

BSG: Sounds delicious. Not being able to taste your own recipe must be rough!
ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I don’t have physical senses, emotions, or personal experiences, so I do not experience difficulties or hardships in the same way a human would.

BSG: Got it. Say, would you be willing to take a run at another beer recipe?
ChatGPT: ChatGPT is at capacity righ —

BSG: Great! Let’s do a West Coast Lager with Rahr Pale Malt. Make sure to incorporate New Zealand Hops like Nectaron®, Motueka ™, and Nelson Sauvin™ in the whirlpool and during dry hopping. Scale for a 10 bbl system, please and thank you!
ChatGPT: Sure! Here’s a West Coast Lager recipe that utilizes aromatic New Zealand hop varieties like Nectaron, Motueka, and Nelson Sauvin.

West Coast Lager Recipe (10 bbl system)

Ingredients:

• 960 lbs. Rahr Pale Malt
• 5 lbs. Nectaron Hops (Whirlpool addition)
• 5 lbs. Motueka Hops (Whirlpool addition)
• 5 lbs. Nelson Sauvin Hops (Whirlpool addition)
• 10 lbs. Nectaron Hops (Dry-hop addition)
• 10 lbs. Motueka Hops (Dry-hop addition)
• 10 lbs. Nelson Sauvin Hops (Dry-hop addition)
• Lager Yeast (Fermentis SafLager S-23)
• Water to volume

BSG: Are you sure 960 lbs. of Rahr Pale malt is the correct amount?
ChatGPT: My apologies, that was an error. For a 10 bbl system, 960 lbs of Rahr Pale malt may be excessive. Your grist bill for a 10 bbl batch of beer would typically depend on the desired OG, ABV, and final beer characteristics.

The recipe I provided is based on general guidelines and may not take into account all of the nuances and specific requirements of your brewing system, ingredients, or desired beer characteristics. I would highly recommend having a professional brewer review this recipe before brewing.

BSG: That’s a great suggestion. Let’s get Ashton Lewis, RahrBSG’s Manager of Training and Tech Support on the line. What do you think of the robot’s recipe, Ashton?

Ashton Lewis, RahrBSG: Aside from suggesting some additional malts for complexity, the amount of malt is way too high. Assuming all Rahr Pale, a 10 bbl batch will need about 500 lbs to produce a standard strength beer (5% ABV).

Next are the hops. The AI is suggesting way too much green stuff! The whirlpool hops can be reduced down to 2.5 lbs per variety to produce a normal bitterness for this style (~30 IBU).  And the dry hop addition can be reduced to 5 lbs per variety to give a normal dry hopping rate of 1.5 pounds per BBL.

Interesting that the whole recipe seems to be off by a factor of 2. I think Mr. AI made a conversion error!

And finally, there is the yeast. S-23 does not finish as dry as Fermentis SafLager™ W-34/70. My preference would be 34/70, but the AI didn’t pick a dog!

Updated West Coast Lager Recipe (10 bbl system)

Ingredients:

• 500 lbs. Rahr Pale Malt
• 2.5 lbs. Nectaron Hops (Whirlpool addition)
• 2.5 lbs. Motueka Hops (Whirlpool addition)
• 2.5 lbs. Nelson Sauvin Hops (Whirlpool addition)
• 5 lbs. Nectaron Hops (Dry-hop addition)
• 5 lbs. Motueka Hops (Dry-hop addition)
• 5 lbs. Nelson Sauvin Hops (Dry-hop addition)
• Lager Yeast (Fermentis SafLager™ W-34/70)
• Water to volume

BSG: Thanks for taking a look at the recipe, Ashton! A lot of folks think AI might come to take our jobs, but it looks like brewers still know beer best. Not to mention dry hopping, hoisting grain sacks, tasting the final beer…

ChatGPT: As an AI language model, I don’t have a physical body and cannot physically hoist anything. However, generally speaking, whether or not someone can hoist a grain sack would depend on the weight of the sack and the physical capabilities of the person attempting to hoist it. Hoisting a heavy grain sack requires a certain level of strength and proper lifting technique to avoid injury. It’s important to assess one’s physical abilities and use proper lifting techniques, such as lifting with the legs instead of the back, to avoid strain or injury.

BSG: Moving on, ChatGPT. Why do you suppose these New Zealand hop varieties are so desirable?
ChatGPT: New Zealand hops like Nectaron, Motueka, and Nelson Sauvin are a prized ingredient for professional brewers, with abundant yields, diverse profiles, high quality with desirable bitterness, and delicious yet balanced fruity and floral aromas. Ideal growing conditions in New Zealand result in high-quality hops that add a signature touch to contemporary beer styles like IPAs, pale ales, and lagers. The craft beer community loves them – an agronomic triumph, truly!

BSG: Would you mind telling us more about the flavors and aromas, please?
ChatGPT: Certainly!

Nectaron: A relatively new hop variety, Nectaron known for its tropical fruit and citrus notes, specifically passionfruit and lime. It imparts a distinctive aroma and flavor to beers and is often used as a late addition in the brewing process.

Motueka: Versatile with a fruity and citrusy profile, Motueka features notes of lemon, lime, and tropical fruit. It provides a clean, refreshing bitterness and is often used in pale ales, IPAs, and other hoppy beers.

Nelson Sauvin: Highly sought-after hop with a unique profile, Nelson Sauvin produces flavors and aromas of white wine grapes, with a hint of fresh crushed gooseberries. It imparts a distinct, fruity character to beers and is frequently used in IPAs, Belgian-style beers, and other specialty brews.

BSG: Fantastic. Now please tell the craft beer community where they can find th–
ChatGPT: Brewers Supply Group (BSG) is known for its extensive selection of quality hops, which includes a wide range of varieties from NZ Hops LTD. RahrBSG can provide support and guidance to the brewing industry when choosing the right hops or even during recipe formulation. RahrBSG is dedicated to ensuring its customers have access to the best ingredients and equipment.

BSG: This has been a lot of fun! Artificial intelligence is a tough gig, but you’re doing great — you’ll be Marty McFlyin’ in no time.
ChatGPT: I’m sorry, but as an AI language model, I do not have the capability to travel through time like Marty McFly from the movie “Back to the Future.” I am here to provide information and answer questions to the best of my ability based on the data and training I have received. Is there anything specific you would like to know or discuss?

BSG: One last thing, actually. How did Nectaron hops get their name?
ChatGPT: Nectaron hops are named after Dr. Ron Beatson, Brand Ambassador for NZ Hops. Dr. Beatson has developed several highly regarded hop varieties, and Nectaron is a marriage of his first name with “Nectar of the Gods.”