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The Spoon

Daily news and analysis about the food tech revolution

beer brewing

Thirsty For a Beer? Let’s Print You Up a Frothy Cold One

Say it’s Friday night, and you’re having friends over to have a beer and watch the game. You ask your buddy what type of beer she likes, and when she tells you she wants a hoppy IPA, you say no problem.

While you don’t have one in the fridge, within a few minutes you return from your kitchen and hand your friend a pint of freshly-made American-style IPA.

That’s the vision for a new startup out of Belgium called Bar.on, which claims to have created the world’s first molecular beer printer. The machine, which the company calls One Tap, can produce a variety of beer styles such as blond, brown, IPA, and tripel, as well as make high, low, or even no-alcohol beer.

Beer printing “cartridges” from Bar.on

The One Tap uses what the company calls “beer cartridges,” small vials of flavor compounds that can dial up or down a beer’s hoppiness, sweetness, fruitiness, and aroma. The machine, which can fit on a kitchen countertop, allows the user to adjust the parameters and have a beer ready to drink within a couple of minutes.

If the idea sounds similar to the Cana, it is, only unlike the Cana, the Bar.on system just makes beer. And unlike the long list of startups that have come (and mostly gone) focused on building home brewing appliances, the One Tap makes beer instantly, without the bother of going through the days (or even weeks) long process of brewing and fermenting up the sudsy stuff.

A big part of the Bar.on pitch is also similar to Cana’s in that it plays up the sustainability angle of avoiding shipping vast amounts of liquid and the elimination of beverage containers. It’s a smart pitch, though one that will likely resonate more with Europeans, who tend to be more mindful of the environmental impact of their consumption habits than Americans.

Of course, the big test is how the beer tastes. While I have my doubts about the machine making anything resembling a Pliny the Elder or Bodhizafa quality brew, Bar.on claims that their molecular beer recipes have performed well in blind taste tests.

And then there’s the slight weirdness around the idea of ‘printing’ a beer. Still, one strong argument in its favor is that the concept overcomes the most significant deterrent for home beer crafting, which is that it’s a messy process that takes a long time to make a consumable beverage. In this sense, the One Tap takes home beer making out of the realm of a dedicated hobby and brings it something closer to the convenience of a Sodastream or Keurig coffee maker.

The Bar.on team, which raised €.1.8 million last fall, has developed its home machine prototype and is also working on a professional machine for bars called the One Tap Pro, which it plans to put into field test later this year. The company says it is raising a Series A to scale up operations and the production of its system.

Beer Brewing Startup iGulu is Back from the Dead, Plans to Split Brewing Machine Into Two

Like something out of a horror movie, beer brewing automation startup iGulu has come back from the dead, reanimating into something resembling a startup trying to bring a product to market.

The company, whose demise was well-documented here on The Spoon, apparently never gave up on its dream of delivering a beer-brewing appliance. Over the last year, the company’s CEO,  Shu Zhang, has been posting updates on both Kickstarter and Indiegogo (they raised funds on both platforms) about the company’s progress in paying down its debt and cobbling a new team together.

In an April update, Zhang said the company had paid down its debt and was hunting for new financing. Zhang also said the company had hired new product designers.

At present, our team of Home-machine Project includes professional, experienced and top-notch specialists in software, hardware, beer technology, structure, etc., constituting the strong R&D lineup of related products.

In a July update, Zhang said the team numbered ten and that they had decided to change the machine’s design from its original all-in-one brewing concept into two pieces of hardware.

There will be two products. One is the mashing machine for enthusiasts and deep players, from whole malt to wort; Another one is the beer capsule appliance, from wort to beer; The design capacity of the machine is about 1 gallon.

In an October update, Zhang gives a volume production date (end of 2023) and more details on the two-machine concept:

…the new machine will be implemented in two products. The first product will Mash making wort from grain. This product is designed for traditional home brewing enthusiasts. It supports high efficiency and high quality wort generation with your own recipes. The other machine is a fermentor and dispensing machine, this will support fermentation of both wort, and malt extract. The dispensing tap will be a disposable pipe design. It will also be capable of holding some existing commercial beer capsules (like 5L Heineken Beer Keg) for instant drinking. We are currently mid way through the design process for the new product. 

Zhang’s explanation of the transition from one brewing appliance to two is a little confusing since he never clarifies if iGulu intends to send both machines to original backers. The original machine takes care of the entire brew process from grains to glass, but one needs both of iGulu’s new product family to create a drinkable glass of beer from scratch. It appears most backers are assuming they will get both, but strangely Zhang talks about the two machines as if they are targeting different audiences when he explains the wort-making appliance as being designed “for enthusiasts.”

With all the confusion, product pauses, restarts, and time passed (nearly seven years at this point), I expected most backers to dismiss Zhang’s reboot on the iGulu. Instead, while a good chunk is predictably skeptical, some encourage Zhang to keep plugging.

For my part, I’m doubtful iGulu ever makes it to market and would advise against any new or existing backer giving the company any money. With the likelihood of little to no new crowdfund money coming in, the company has a tough road ahead in raising additional capital to help get it over the finish line. The success rate of home brewing appliances has not been encouraging, and investors are taking an ever-more-skeptical eye toward every investment nowadays.

All that said, the company has survived longer than anyone could have predicted and still has a pulse, so we’ll be keeping an eye on how things shake out next year.

Hop On: There’s a Sudsy New Wave of Homebrew Appliances Looking To Automate Beer Brewing

How many people will make beer at home if you give them an machine to help in the process?

The next few years should provide an answer to that question as a new wave of beer-brewing appliances hit the market.

Home beer brewing machines aren’t new. PicoBrew started shipping the Zymatic a few years back and followed that product with the consumer-focused Pico. Brewie started shipping its second generation, the Brewie+, last year. Australian extract-beer giant Coopers got into the game in 2017 with BrewArt (though technically some wouldn’t call extract-derived beer “brewing”), and we’re not even counting those like HOPii that have already come and gone.

Despite all this activity, it seems the homebrew market has only just started to pick up speed. With that in mind, here’s a quick look at the new entrants to home brewing appliances coming to the U.S. in the next year:

BEERMKR

Set to ship this summer, BEERMKR’s open platform and proven ability to deliver products make this startup one of the more promising new entrants to the home brew appliance space.

Here’s what I wrote in March after I saw the BEERMKR in action at the Housewares show:

The system, which comes with a brewing appliance and a beer dispenser, sells for a post-Kickstarter price of $399 for the complete system. MKR KITs, the optional ingredient packs for those that want to “brew-by-number”, will each cost $12 and deliver a gallon or so of beer.

At $399, BEERMKR is one of the most affordable new entrants to the market. The company will sell MKR KITS that include all the ingredients for a batch of beer for $12, though you can also use your own grains and hops.

You can watch founder Aaron Walls walk me through the product below:

A look at the Beermkr beer brewing appliance

LG HomeBrew

We were as surprised as anyone when LG announced their intent to enter the home-brewing appliance space in advance of this year’s CES. The new appliance, aptly called LG HomeBrew, sees the South Korean appliance giant taking a Keurig-style approach to home brewing with an all-in-one capsule-based system that automates the entire process, including dispensing.

If anything, a big consumer electronics brand like LG entering the home-brew-appliance space helps legitimize it, even if LG runs into challenges finding a market for their product. Of course, much of the product’s ultimate success will depend on pricing and on how well it actually works, but I worry that by creating a fully-capsule based system the company might be going against the trend towards more open brewing systems. After all, consumers who go through the trouble of making beer at home have shown they want some room for creativity, one of big the reasons PicoBrew finally opened their platform to enable ‘bring-your-own-ingredients’.

MiniBrew

MiniBrew, the brain child of two Dutch advertising executives, is different from all the other appliances on this list for one reason: it’s already shipping.

The product, for which the company raised €2.6M in funding in December, started shipping throughout Europe in the fall of last year and the company is targeting a 2020 entry into the U.S. market.

Cofounder Olivier van Oord gave me a walk-through of the MiniBrew when I was in Europe last month, and I have to say I liked what I saw. The system is both open enough to allow the brewer to craft their own recipes while also also applying enough automation to make the brewing process (and serving) much easier and approachable.

One aspect I liked was an app that allows the user to craft recipes easily around their own beer preferences. From there, they can order ingredients based on their own recipe or choose an ingredient pack based on a beer from one of MiniBrew’s partners. Once the wort is created, the user tosses the yeast into the brew keg and tells it to start the fermentation process with the app.

Keeping the the wort and what becomes the fully fermented beer contained in one keg that also serves as the (fully refrigerated) dispensing keg is something van Oord saw as critical, in part because it eliminates room for error:

“Where beer goes wrong is in the transport of wort,” he said. “Working clean is the most important part of beer brewing.”

The MiniBrew isn’t cheap, selling for €1,200 (which is roughly $1,350 USD), but for those that was a powerful but open system — and one that is already shipping — the MiniBrew is a strong contender.

You can see my walk through of the MiniBrew below:

MiniBrew Beer Brewing (and Dispensing!) Appliance

DrinkWorks

While not technically a home-brewing machine, DrinkWorks at least deserves mention for one reason: the home adult beverage machine is a product of a joint venture between Keurig and the world’s largest beer company, AB InBev.

The DrinkWorks machine, which is now available in beta in the Budweiser’s hometown of St Louis, MO, to consumers statewide in Missouri and Florida, uses pods to make cocktails and, surprisingly, beer. While it’s unclear exactly how the beer is made from a pod, it’s not through traditional brewing and fermentation methods. But for those that like the idea of making cockails and beer at the press of a button with a Keurig-like pod system, you have to at least be intrigued by DrinkWorks.

While DrinkWorks has been fairly vague on details, we expect the product to be more widely rolled out later this year. For now the DrinkWorks machine will set you back $399, though pricing could change in future.

Preorder Pricing For PicoBrew Z, PicoBrew’s Pro Brewing System, Starts At $1,499

Last week when the Spoon was the first to write about the PicoBrew Z,  I speculated about what the pricing would be for PicoBrew’s latest product line. I guessed the system, which is intended to fill the gap between home brew systems and commercial setups that typically start with a barrel (30 gallons) brewing capacity, would start below $10 thousand.

While I was right, I admittedly shot a bit high. The PicoBrew Z MSRP pricing ranges from $2,500 to $8,500 and is currently priced at up to a 50% discount for preorder customers.

Per the release:

  • Z1 produces up to 2.5 gallons per brew cycle (MSRP $2,500, Pre-Order for $1,499)
  • Z2 produces up to 5 gallons per brew cycle (MSRP $4,000, Pre-Order for $1,999)
  • Z3 produces up to 7.5 gallons per brew cycle (MSRP $6,000, Pre-Order for $2,999)
  • Z4 produces up to 10 gallons per brew cycle (MSRP $8,500, Pre-Order for $3,999)

Preorders can only be purchased through the PicoBrew website, which marks a departure for a company that has become something of a Kickstarter darling. According to CEO Bill Mitchell, they are modeling their latest effort after that of Glowforge, which had a hugely successful crowdfunding campaign in 2015 when it launched its 3D printer through its own website. Much like the Glowforge 3D printer, the new PicoBrew Z is a product targeted at the pro/semi-pro market.

For those who prefer buying gear through Kickstarter, don’t despair. For future consumer-centric products like that of the Pico, Mitchell said the company will continue to use Kickstarter.

Will Artificial Intelligence Brew a Better Beer?

Global beer maker Carlsberg is using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve the business of making its product.

The “Beer Fingerprinting Project” is a new initiative the Copenhagen-based brewery launched with Aarhus University’s Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center, Microsoft, and the Technical University of Denmark.

Using a taste-sensor platform, the team can analyze different yeasts and identify subtle nuances in them, making it possible to quickly distinguish between the different flavors developed each day in the Carlsberg Laboratory. That’s a process that’s long been done by humans, with little to no tech involved. Having sensors identify the flavors means getting products to market much faster than ever before. Using AI will also help the company ensure higher-quality products that meet all food-safety regulations.

Carlsberg is not the first to try this. IntelligentX Brewing Co. has launched a beer brewed entirely by machine learning and algorithms. Drinkers taste the beer and report feedback to the company’s AI. That data is used to make changes and improvements as it brews the next batch of beer.

But wait. Isn’t beer-making supposed to be a kind of art form? Wouldn’t replacing human taste buds with sensors diminish that artistic side and stifle creativity in the process?

To some degree, yes. The flavor of a beer depends on how brewers choose to combine the drink’s four ingredients—water, yeast, barley, and hops. As anyone who’s ever been to a craft beer bar knows, those combinations often turn out pretty wacky results, depending on the group doing the brewing. Doughnut-bacon-maple beer, anyone?

Of course, like any other major brand, Carlsberg’s main business is to move product. But that doesn’t mean the company can’t experiment. And while we probably won’t see beer made from Hawaiian pizza anytime soon, Carlsberg has said it wants to develop “novel flavors” across all its lines, from its mainstream products to specialty and non-alcoholic beers.

Likewise, the IntelligentX founders told The Financial Times that AI is “an enabler but not a replacement for humans” when it comes to making brews. Technology, in this case, is just a means of enhancing what’s already there.

Not everyone is so excited, though. The same FT article quoted Yeastie Boys founder Stu McKinley as saying he would expect beers made with AI “to be pretty middle of the road.” And my former colleague Derrick Harris recently noted that, “For some reason, adding AI into the mix cheapens the process to me,” adding that, “this isn’t pharmaceutical research, where the right or wrong chemistry has life-or-death consequences. It’s just beer.”

Harris has a perfectly valid point, and sure, there is always a possibility that machine-made beer will turn out middle of the road. That said, a larger beer-maker experimenting with AI will give the market more insight into what you can do with technology-based food and beverage in general, and on a global scale. Whether that’s middle-of-the-road or pizza-flavored remains to be seen.

PLAATO Adds IoT Smarts To Beer Fermentation

Here’s how Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine describes the purpose of a fermentation airlock:

The sole purpose of any airlock is to allow an otherwise sealed fermentation environment to relieve internal pressure. That’s it. Airlocks aren’t designed to tell you anything, and they aren’t indicators of fermentation. 

Sorry to break it to you Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, but the folks behind PLAATO have different ideas.

That’s right, the Norwegian startup is looking to take what is typically a dumb $3 piece of plastic used to release excess CO2 during the fermentation process and add IoT smarts to create a tool for beer brewers to monitor beer gravity, temperature and estimate the alcohol content of the beer using algorithms.

Sure, the PLAATO isn’t a beer brewing appliance, but as it turns out, when it comes to modernizing the beer brewing process not everyone wants a turnkey system like PicoBrew and BrewArt. Some home brewers want to brew their beer the traditional way, but aren’t against the idea of applying modern technology to refine the process and elevate their craft. PLAATO helps do that by monitoring the amount of CO2 generated by fermentation, send that data via Wi-Fi to the cloud, which then allows the brewer to monitor the brew process in a mobile app.

The PLAATO app

The PLAATO airlock, which can also be used for fermentation of cider, wine and mead, has reached its target via the company’s Kickstarter campaign. The campaign, which as of this writing has six days left, has raised a total of $165 thousand.

The team behind the PLAATO started working on the concept a year and a half ago. After finishing their first prototype in May of 2016, the company finished hardware design in February of this year and started the process of moving into production. The company plans to ship the PLAATO to backers by October of this year.

BrewArt, The HomeBrew System From Australian Giant Coopers, Hits Kickstarter Goal

If at first you don’t succeed, run another crowdfunding campaign.

That’s exactly what the people behind home beer brewing system BrewArt have done. After an aborted campaign in March in which they only raised just under $3 thousand after three weeks, the BrewArt is already in the money after hitting their $30 thousand goal in just one week.

Of course, it’s not like there was ever any doubt the system would make it to market in the US. That’s because BrewArt – which has been available in Australia since 2016 – is from that country’s largest brewer, Coopers, a company responsible for roughly 70 million liters of beer annually.

Chances are if you’ve heard of Coopers in the US, it’s because the company is a force in DIY home extract brewing. The company created its extraction process in the early 80s and has been selling DIY brewing kits ever since. The company also acquired their biggest DIY extract competitor, Mr. Beer, back in 2012.

And, just like Cooper’s own DIY kits, the BrewArt system utilizes extract ingredients in making a brew. Only unlike Cooper’s syrupy looking extract, each brew made with the BrewArt brewing system utilizes a series of packets of powder-based ingredients called Elements and Enhancers, as well as packet each of yeast and hop oils.

The video below walks through how the BrewArt ingredients are added to a brew.

BrewArt: Brewing Using BrewArt Ingredients

Unlike whole grain brewing systems such as those from PicoBrew and Brewie, BrewArt’s powders simplify beer brewing by allowing the home brewer to skip the mashing process. While some home brew purists prefer whole grain brewing since it puts them at the same starting point as most craft breweries which use raw ingredients, the truth is that there are some breweries that make very good beer using extracts. Add in the extra convenience and time-saving benefits of extract brewing, and you can see why it has its converts.

BrewArt convenience also goes beyond a simplified brewing process. The system streamlines the cleanup process with disposable linings for the store kegs, something I find appealing since cleaning out the serving kegs is the least enjoyable part of using my PicoBrew. The BrewArt disposable linings mean I wouldn’t have to mess with home detergents or going to your local homebrew store to pick up keg cleaner.

Another difference between the BrewArt system and other automated home brew systems is it comes in two full parts: The BeerDroid, which is the beer brewing component, and the BrewFlo, a refrigerated kegging system that houses the Store Kegs (where the beer is fermented and stored).

The full retail price of the BrewArt system will be almost $1,700, but Kickstarter backers can save 40% and get the full system for $995.  If that’s too much or you prefer to use your kegerator, you can pick up the BeerDroid by itself on Kickstarter for $495.

And much like PicoBrew Pico users need to buy brew ingredients in the form of PicoPaks, BrewArt backers need to buy the BrewPrints ingredient packs when they want to brew up a new keg of beer. However, the BrewArt allows the user to mix and match their ingredients to change flavors such as making beers extra hoppy or more fruity*.

Bottom line, there are definite advantages to the BrewArt in a simplified brewing and cleanup process, as well as slightly more control over brew ingredients than competing systems like the Brewie.  However, the retail price is still fairly high compared to the PicoBrew Pico C, which will sell for $549 this fall, and some purists may shy away from the BrewArt because they want to brew from whole grains.

*The PicoBrew PicoPaks do allow for customization, but that’s done online through the company’s online PicoPak customization tool, the BrewCrafter. Once you design your customized PicoPak, it is made in the PicoBrew packing facility and sent to your home for brewing. 

Update 7/22/17: On Kickstarter, the creator of the BrewArt system, Scott Harris, described what their powders are made. We asked for these details in an email interview, but the company was vague in describing how exactly the brew ingredients were made. This new description gives us a much better understanding of what a brewer is getting in the BrewArt Brewprints. 

Lastly, while he says these aren’t the “extracts” home brewers have become accustomed to, I would suggest the BrewArt Elements are still an extract in the sense they are a concentrated powder made of mashed malted barley. 

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