Brewing: Art or Science?

[unclepumble]

then what is alchemy? if it is not creative science?

I was erring towards science RS, as Brewing beer is a chemistry experiment, although I suppose Alchemy is also a Dark art, and if you are AG your on the dark side so am sticking with Alchemy.


UP

 

[evanvine]

agreed. :) but it is still both science and art ( art meaning the use of creative thought and expression there of)

You've not got it infamy as well have you Rob?

 

[robsan77]

I disagree with all of you brewing is alchemy, where if you get it right you change grain into gold, (coloured lovely tasting beverages)

Its certainly not art, its not big in the Tate or a runner for the turner is it.

UP

What I love about the subject of art is how subjective it is. Just because something isnt in the tate or turner doesnt mean it is not good art. Unfortunately the perception of art in a modern sense has become almost fashion. some would say there is a sheep mentality to what is supposed to be "good" In fact the definition of art is whatever your definition of art is. There cannot be one true definition of art by its very nature.
What I mean is that if there is a creative element involved in what you are doing then in my definition the result is art.

 

[robsan77]

agreed. :) but it is still both science and art ( art meaning the use of creative thought and expression there of)

You've not got it infamy as well have you Rob?

nice took me a few reads ( 4beers) I love brewing!!

 

[robsan77]

then what is alchemy? if it is not creative science?

I was erring towards science RS, as Brewing beer is a chemistry experiment, although I suppose Alchemy is also a Dark art, and if you are AG your on the dark side so am sticking with Alchemy.


UP

I agree, alchemy it is that was what I was trying to get across. So how can you pick either science or art? :geek:

 

[evanvine]

if there is a creative element involved in what you are doing then in my definition the result is art.

Art maybe, but there is still skill and craft involved!

 

[robsan77]

if there is a creative element involved in what you are doing then in my definition the result is art.

Art maybe, but there is still skill and craft involved!

If you were an artist and your skill with a paint brush was better than most, considering that you were producing art in the medium of paintings, do you think you could produce better art than someone without as good skill? I dont think there is a right or wrong answer to that question

 

[evanvine]

I dont think there is a right or wrong answer to that question

There isn't, most come out with pomposity!

 

[unclepumble]

to create fine art you need an exceptional skill, to get in the tate or up for the turner you need to be able to get pickfords to get your messed up durty fluid stained litter ridden bed down to the tate.


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[Tony]

Outstanding!

I suppose I should give my opinion too - for what it's worth

It was the art/craft (see how I did that? Cheating ) that got me into brewing, the pure creative aspect, in much the same way that I got into cooking. It was however, the science which has kept me here, the understanding of the chemistry (alchemy? Although I was sure that was an album by Dire Straits).

Brewing would not exist without a healthy mix of the two. Be interesting to see a pint in the Tate though, it would be much more deserving of a place than much of the tat that is in there (some say that's how the Tate was named, someone 'dropped an E' and put it on the end of Tat.

For me it's Art because it is easier to love art than it is Science - but that's just me

 

[AdrianTrace]

Noting down exact recipes and processes in order to achieve repeatable results, changing the recipe/process to affect those results - sounds like a good example of scientific method, yet it's called "the art of brewing" :wha:

Being able to say that if you boil this weight of hops with this %AA in this amount of a certain SG wort for so long will give you so many IBUs bitterness = Science.

Knowing what IBU to aim for and which hops to use to best suit a particular style of beer = Art

Whaddya know, I sat on the fence :whistle:

 

[johnboy]

Whaddya know, I sat on the fence :whistle:

Good job it wasn't an iron railing!

 

[prolix]

It is definately an art form in my eyes, all that beautiful stainless sculpture!

 

[jenki]

You've not got it infamy as well have you Rob?

:rofl:

 

[jenki]

It was the art/craft (see how I did that? Cheating ) that got me into brewing

It was turning drinking into an accepted hobby by SWMBO that got me into brewing :whistle:

 

Judging from some of the results I've had over the years, it's got to be an art.
Though not as consistantly off beat as Picasso!