Brewers Almanack MCP Server

<h1 align="center">Brewers Almanack</h1> A brewing knowledge MCP server: beer styles, ingredients, off-flavour diagnosis, water chemistry, and recipe guidance for AI assistants.

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Ask your AI assistant about beer styles, diagnose off-flavours, build recipes, match water profiles, and pair food (all backed by real brewing data, not hallucinations).

6 tools. Zero config. Works with every MCP-compatible IDE.

Install

npx -y brewers-almanack

No API keys, no network dependencies. All brewing data is embedded.

Add to your IDE

<details open> <summary><strong>Claude Code</strong></summary>

claude mcp add brewers-almanack -- npx -y brewers-almanack

</details> <details> <summary><strong>Claude Desktop</strong></summary>

Add to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (Windows):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "brewers-almanack": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "brewers-almanack"]
    }
  }
}

</details> <details> <summary><strong>Cursor</strong></summary>

Add to .cursor/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "brewers-almanack": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "brewers-almanack"]
    }
  }
}

</details> <details> <summary><strong>VS Code (Copilot)</strong></summary>

Add to .vscode/mcp.json:

{
  "servers": {
    "brewers-almanack": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "brewers-almanack"]
    }
  }
}

</details> <details> <summary><strong>Windsurf</strong></summary>

Add to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "brewers-almanack": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "brewers-almanack"]
    }
  }
}

</details> <details> <summary><strong>Zed</strong></summary>

Add to settings.json:

{
  "context_servers": {
    "brewers-almanack": {
      "command": {
        "path": "npx",
        "args": ["-y", "brewers-almanack"]
      }
    }
  }
}

</details>

Tools

Tool	Description
search_styles	Search 85 BJCP beer styles by name, category, or characteristics. Returns vital statistics, overall impression, ingredients, and commercial examples.
search_ingredients	Search hops, malts, yeasts, and adjuncts by name, type, or characteristic. Filter by category or search across all.
diagnose_off_flavour	Identify off-flavours from taste or aroma descriptions. Returns the likely compound, causes, prevention steps, and styles where it may be acceptable.
match_water_profile	Find brewing water profiles by city name or beer style. Returns mineral composition (Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, SO4, HCO3) and style recommendations.
suggest_recipe	Generate a recipe for a target beer style. Returns grain bill, hop schedule, yeast selection, water profile, and process parameters.
pairing_guide	Beer and food pairing suggestions. Search by beer style or dish name. Returns matches with complement, contrast, and cleanse principles.

Example Conversations

"What hops work in a Belgian Dubbel?"

Searches ingredients for hops that complement Belgian styles, returning varieties like Styrian Goldings and Saaz with alpha acid ranges, aromas, and substitutes.

"My beer tastes like butter, what went wrong?"

Diagnoses diacetyl: identifies the compound, explains causes (incomplete fermentation, premature racking), and gives prevention steps (diacetyl rest, healthy yeast pitch).

"Suggest a recipe for a West Coast IPA"

Builds a complete recipe: pale malt base with crystal malt, Centennial/Cascade hop schedule with dry hop additions, American ale yeast, and a Burton-style water profile.

"What food pairs well with a stout?"

Returns pairing suggestions (oysters