Technical Session 19: Outside the Box Session
Alastair T Pringle , Pringle-Scott LLC, St. Louis, MO USA
Co-author(s): Anthony Cutaia, Science Source Consulting LLC, St. Louis MO, USA
ABSTRACT: There are two philosophies for obtaining
knowledge: deductive thinking and inductive thinking. In deductive
thinking knowledge is reasoned from existing facts without the
inconvenience of having to design experiments or make measurements.
However, in inductive thinking abstract thought and reasoning are
supported by real world findings. Inductive thinking is the basis for
the scientific method that we know today. In applying the scientific
method to brewing there are several pitfalls that need to be considered,
including imprecise measurements, raw material variability, process
variability, etc. In this paper we will discuss a step-by-step process
to reliably gain knowledge. The initial steps include selecting suitable
small scale experimental systems, gathering variables, and testing
variables in screening experiments. Once the most important variables
have been identified, then the interactions can be explored using such
techniques as response surface methodology in further lab scale
experiments. Finally the effects of the most important variables can be
confirmed in a pilot plant and at full scale. Evolutionary operations
(EVOP) protocols are an effective way to test two variables while
eliminating the inherent noise of production brewing.
Alastair
Pringle was educated in England, where he earned undergraduate and
graduate degrees in microbiology. He joined Anheuser-Busch in 1984
following five years of post-doctoral research in the United States. At
Anheuser Busch Alastair held a number of technical management positions,
including director of brewing research, where his responsibilities
included all aspects of the brewing process. He is currently the
principal consultant at Pringle-Scott LLC, a science-based consulting
company that works with craft breweries on process control and quality.
In addition, Alastair teaches microbiology at Maryville University in
St. Louis, MO, and is a member of the IBD Board of Examiners.
VIEW PRESENTATION 65
