The Future of Czech Beer: Beer, Food & Technology workshop

On Friday, 6 February, Mendel University in Brno hosted the Beer, Food & Technology workshop, which brought together the current and next generation of Czech brewers. The event took place in the context of the prestigious Czech Brew Star competition and attracted students from brewing schools in Brno, Turnov, and Žatec.

As part of the programme, the AI Catalyst for SMEs project team presented practical examples of how artificial intelligence can support the transformation of craft and microbrewing. The workshop focused on demonstrating how digital tools and data-driven approaches can complement traditional brewing know-how rather than replace it.

Students were introduced to several key applications of artificial intelligence in the brewing sector. These included the use of AI as an administrative assistant to reduce routine tasks, sentiment analysis of user reviews on platforms such as Untappd to identify market trends and unmet consumer needs, and digital tools supporting brewery operations — from recipe optimisation to predictive fermentation monitoring.

The workshop highlighted the growing importance of interdisciplinary skills at the intersection of food production, technology, and data analytics, and showed how future brewmasters can benefit from combining craftsmanship with modern digital solutions.

We would like to thank Mendel University in Brno and the Beer Academy for hosting this inspiring event and creating a space for dialogue between education, tradition, and innovation.

This activity was supported within the project AI Catalyst for SMEs (ATCZ00036), funded by the INTERREG Austria–Czech Republic 2021–2027 programme with support from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).