Japan’s Kirin Holdings (TYO:2503) is stepping up the use of artificial intelligence to speed the development of new beers, highlighting how advanced data tools are reshaping product design in industries traditionally guided by human sensory judgement.

According to Kyodo News, the brewer plans to deploy the system in products launched from March 2026, according to a company official. The technology analyses a wide array of variables that influence taste - including bitterness, body and richness - and identifies the chemical components required to achieve a specified flavour profile.

Kirin says the approach allows brewers to work with greater precision and at a faster pace by combining accumulated human know-how with machine-led analysis. Developing new beers has long been complicated by the interaction of numerous ingredients, with refinements often dependent on the intuition and experience of individual developers. The company argues that this reliance can slow innovation and make outcomes less predictable.

The AI has been trained on roughly 20 years of internal data covering ingredients and consumer tasting results Kyodo adds. This enables Kirin to quantify how particular compounds affect flavour and to design recipes that more closely match targeted taste preferences. When problems arise - such as excessive bitterness - the system can suggest alternative ingredients or adjustments.

In repeated consumer tests, samples developed with AI support were rated more favourably than those created through conventional methods. As a result, Kirin intends to extend the technology to categories such as wine and soft drinks, while stressing that final decisions on flavour and brand positioning will remain with people.