Next Previous Contents

The Design Primer

The design of beer, like much of human creativity, is a mix of science and art. An architect must know the science of structure, as well as the art of form. One without the other leads to uselessness or ugliness. For this reason, the Design Primer is divided into two sections: the science of beer design, and the art of beer design.


The Science of Beer Design The Art of Beer Design

The scientific approach to beer design starts with an analysis. Once a beer style has been chosen, examine and analyze its numbers: International Bittering Units, Original Gravity, Terminal Gravity, Color. Read the style description to determine what attributes are mandatory, acceptable or forbidden.

We will choose an Irish dry stout as an example for beer design. The numbers tell us that dry stouts have an OG of 1038 to 1048, bitterness of 30 to 40 IBU's, and a color of over 40 SRM. The style description tells us that dry-roastiness and head character are mandatory, a woody-earthy flavor is acceptable, along with some lactic sourness, and strong hop flavors and aroma are forbidden.

Next, we build up our recipe by ingredients, making sure the numbers true to form. Malts are the best place to start, followed by hops, yeast and water.

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale, such as

Use pale malts to build up the gravity. An exception to this is where styles demand base malts other than pale