Rise of the machines: can artificial intelligence replace tastemakers
No one disputes that neural networks are taking over the world. But many people still believe that in some professions, humans are irreplaceable — for example, in creativity, where it is not the quality of the work that is valued above all, but the emotions that the creator has put into it. And what about tasters, particularly of alcoholic beverages — can artificial intelligence fully replace them? Let’s get to the bottom of it.
Pros and cons
Machines have been used in the production of alcoholic beverages for a long time — for example, technology monitors the temperature of fermentation and many other processes. But the final decision — whether to release the product into the world or not — is still made by a human being. It is professional tasters who taste the finished drinks and give a verdict on how well they are made.
It is known that there have been many attempts to create an artificial «nose» that would capture and recognize the aroma of drinks. But as experiments have shown, it is too early for it to compete with humans — humans are capable of capturing up to a trillion flavors. In addition, experienced tasters can make predictions on the smell, how the drink will evolve with longer aging, and this artificial intelligence is all the more beyond the control.
As experts themselves say, they have been learning the art of tasting for dozens of years. And it is simply impossible to put so much experience into a program so that it could evaluate a product in the same way as a human being. In addition, everyone evaluates drinks differently, focusing on their individual preferences, sensitivity, approach. Trying to systematize this is like having only one critic evaluate art, books, or movies. Neural networks can derive the perfect formula for drinks, but are hardly able to properly evaluate the diversity from different angles, as humans can.
It is also important to remember that the sense of taste is made up of many elements. Among them are sight, smell, touch and even individual associations. In addition, it takes a very extensive vocabulary to not just recognize but also describe a flavor correctly.
Professional tasters are very careful with their «working tools» — the taste buds. For example, they do not use perfume during tastings, do not work with colds, and the process itself usually takes place in the morning, because at this time the receptors are most sensitive. This is why experienced professionals are so valued around the world. And this once again proves that so far artificial intelligence can’t even come close to competing with them.
And all amateur tasters are invited to the beer restaurants of the Lambic chain, Hundreds of the best beers from all over the world are waiting for you to try them!
Jeju Beer Company: legendary craft from South Korea
When talking about good beer, Belgium, Germany, the Czech Republic and other European countries are most often mentioned. And the reason for this is not that other parts of the globe do not make high-quality foam, it is simply that many varieties simply do not reach Russia. It is about such a case — the famous South Korean beer of Jeju Beer Company — that we will talk today. History of the brewery Jeju Beer Company was founded in 2015 on the largest Korean island of Jeju. The company, whose main mission is to create a new beer culture in the country, became the first global craft brewery in Korea, and in a short period of time — also the most popular. According to analytics, one bottle of Jeju Beer is purchased every three seconds in the country. In 2017, the company introduced a series of new wheat beers, including the already sensational Jeju Wit Ale, Jeju Pellong Ale and Jeju Slice. The highlight of these brews is the composition: the unique flavor of the beer is given by the rind of gamgyul, a citrus plant native to Jeju. Now Jeju Beer Company’s beer is exported to Taiwan, Thailand, India, Hong Kong, Singapore, China and other countries of the world. The global distribution network of the Korean brewery is ensured by partnership with Brooklyn Brewery. Jeju Beer Company is a winner of many festivals, in particular, the winner of silver medals of Australian International Beer Awards and Korea Liquor Awards 2019 in the category of craft beer. Best brews One of the most popular brews is Jeju Wit Ale. It is a luxurious wheat beer with the addition of the aforementioned Jeju Island citrus and coriander. The drink has a delicate floral aroma and a pleasant taste dominated by citrus notes. The beer recipe was developed in collaboration with Garrett Oliver, brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery and winner of the James Beard Award, which is called the «Oscars» for chefs in the beer industry. Special attention should be paid to Jeju Pellong Ale. This is an American Pale Ale style beer with a citrusy aroma dominated by tones of apricot. The flavor has the sweetness of the tropics. The aftertaste is dry, with a pleasant citrus bitterness. There is also Jeju Geomeong Ale, a dark beer made with local black barley and chocolate malt. The drink has a rich flavor that reveals tones of coffee and dark chocolate. The same notes, as well as malt sweetness, can be felt in the taste of the drink. You don’t have to go to South Korea to try Jeju Beer Company beer. Come to Lambic! Our beer restaurants have hundreds of high quality beers from all over the world. We also have delicious food, excellent service and always cozy atmosphere. We are waiting for you!
23 January 2025
Belgian waffles: history of origin and interesting facts
If you ask anyone what Belgium is associated with, most people will name three things — a sculpture of a boy in Brussels, beer and, of course, waffles. Flavorful, airy and crispy, they have long ceased to be just a dish on restaurant menus and have become a real culinary landmark of the country. Back in the past Surprisingly, the history of the most famous waffles originates not in Belgium, but in the United States. During the 1962 World’s Fair in Seattle, Belgian pastry chef Walter Clement introduced his unique dish to the Americans. The waffles, served with strawberries and whipped cream, were so well liked by the local population that they soon spread throughout America. It is said that in the first four months after the «premiere» more than half a million waffles were sold in the United States. It is believed that the name «Belgian» was established because not all Americans knew where Brussels was located. In their homeland, Belgium, the famous waffles are called only Brussels waffles. Did you know that... Brussels waffles are made from yeast dough in cast iron waffle makers, which makes them soft on the outside and crispy on the inside. Some pastry chefs add a secret ingredient to it, but what it is they don’t reveal. There is speculation that it could be one of the beers, but there is no proof for this theory. Brussels waffles are often confused with Liege waffles, which are also made in Belgium, in the city of Liege. But these are different dishes: Liege waffles are drier, more like buns, and their dough contains bits of caramelized sugar. Classic Belgian waffles are sweet, served with coffee or tea. But there are also unsweetened waffles with different fillings. Where to try Of course, it is better to taste any national dish at home, but if you can’t go to Belgium yet — come to Lambic! Our Belgian beer restaurants have everything to feel the real taste of this wonderful country: dozens of varieties of beer, national cuisine and cozy atmosphere. And for Belgian waffles we have allocated a whole section with sweet classics with strawberries and ice cream, and unsweetened potato positions with fish, meat and other fillings. Come — it will be delicious!
23 January 2025