Beer recipe etiquette

[brewtasting]

I want to start a beer recipe website. What would be the best way of gathering recipes properly?

 

[Yooper]

Ask people for recipes. That's the only really ethical way, unless it's already been made public.

 

[doug293cz]

There are already many web sites (HBT being one) with thousands of recipes available. What do you hope to accomplish with your web site vs. what's already out there?

Also, be aware that just because a recipe is on-line doesn't mean it is public domain. If you intend to scrape recipes from other on-line sites, you risk running afoul of copyright laws, which can turn out to be an expensive mistake. You might want to seek legal advice if you intend to do any scraping.

Brew on

 

[madscientist451]

I agree/disagree with Doug293cz above. Why do you want to create a recipe website? There are already plenty in existence and many books on the subject (which presumably have been registered in the US copyright office, see below)
The part I disagree with is about the copyright issue. Just because a recipe is online, doesn't mean its an original work that can be copyrighted. The US copyright office website says that recipes can't be copyrighted:
https://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl122.html
However any description of HOW TO BREW the recipe could be considered an original work and theoretically could be copyrighted.
The recipe/process in question has to be registered with the US copyright office in order to bring a lawsuit for damages. The plaintiff also has to prove how they were damaged by the infringement of the copyright. All this legal work can be very expensive and time consuming with no real guarantee that anything positive will occur.
https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html

 

[z-bob]

I want to start a beer recipe website. What would be the best way of gathering recipes properly?

Link to the original recipe, or cite the source. You don't really need permission because recipes are not copyrightable. But be careful if the "directions" part of the recipe has a lot more than just directions in it -- that can be copyrighted.

I don't know why you want to do this, but IMHO the value you can add is testing the recipes and curating them. The Internet is full of untested recipes, some good and some awful.

 

[Yooper]

It's not copyrighted- but someone took a recipe I posted on here (so totally available for all), and posted it as his own on a different recipe site.

He even posted my tasting notes, word for word.

While copying exactly may be plagiarism, that wasn't my gripe at all. And it might not be illegal, but posting something as their own from this site (which has something like 200,000+ registered members) really irritated me. I think that was a dick move for sure. Just ask- I've never said no. But to just take it was definitely something that bothered me.

If you want a repository of recipes (although I don't know why, when there are thousands and thousands already out there), I do suggesting asking before posting them as your own.

 

[day_trippr]

There's legal, and then there are ethics.
I would hold the latter most dear wrt using others work without explicit permission...

Cheers!

 

[triethylborane]

I agree/disagree with Doug293cz above. Why do you want to create a recipe website? There are already plenty in existence and many books on the subject (which presumably have been registered in the US copyright office, see below)
The part I disagree with is about the copyright issue. Just because a recipe is online, doesn't mean its an original work that can be copyrighted. The US copyright office website says that recipes can't be copyrighted:
https://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl122.html
However any description of HOW TO BREW the recipe could be considered an original work and theoretically could be copyrighted.
The recipe/process in question has to be registered with the US copyright office in order to bring a lawsuit for damages. The plaintiff also has to prove how they were damaged by the infringement of the copyright. All this legal work can be very expensive and time consuming with no real guarantee that anything positive will occur.
https://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html

AKA trade secret. This is why Coca Cola does what it does to keep its recipe a secret. There is no legal protection granted by the government for such things. Great reply.

 

[brewtasting]

I realize there are plenty of recipe websites. I wanted to create another site since I have a good domain and the skills to build a good site. I like what z-bob said about curating some recipes. I don't want a massive database of recipes. I also have some original recipes to add also. After reading the thread I will contact a brewer and request permission and cite the brewer. I do have a bit of a concern of requesting permission and later finding out that someone else claims that as their recipe. It would be hard to avoid that issue unless the recipe/brewer were well known. I just want to cover my basses and make sure I do this the right way.

 

[pdxal]

As noted above, there are craploads of recipes posted online on numerous websites. What is missing the most is "tried and true" recipes that make good beer... many posed recipes are just someone's random idea with no actual execution or assurance that they turn out. "Curating" could make the difference. Do you have any credibility as a brewer or taster?

 

[z-bob]

It's not copyrighted- but someone took a recipe I posted on here (so totally available for all), and posted it as his own on a different recipe site.

He even posted my tasting notes, word for word.

While copying exactly may be plagiarism, that wasn't my gripe at all. And it might not be illegal, but posting something as their own from this site (which has something like 200,000+ registered members) really irritated me. I think that was a dick move for sure. Just ask- I've never said no. But to just take it was definitely something that bothered me.

If you want a repository of recipes (although I don't know why, when there are thousands and thousands already out there), I do suggesting asking before posting them as your own.

If he had just cited you as the source instead of claiming it himself, I assume you would have been cool with it?

BTW, you retain copyright to the tasting notes, etc (whether registered or not) because that is original content that you created. If you wanted to be a dick about it, you could file a DMCA complaint to his hosting site.
<-- closest thing to a "dick" smilie I can find here.

 

[brewtasting]

As noted above, there are craploads of recipes posted online on numerous websites. What is missing the most is "tried and true" recipes that make good beer... many posed recipes are just someone's random idea with no actual execution or assurance that they turn out. "Curating" could make the difference. Do you have any credibility as a brewer or taster?

That seems the best direction to go in. And I have a few ideas to hopefully spice that up. I believe I have credibility. That's also subjective.

 

[Gavin C]

.... I believe I have credibility. ...

You don't

 

[day_trippr]

 

[triethylborane]

You don't

Hence subjectivity, which you omitted from the quote.

 

[brewtasting]

Like I said we all have a different perception

 

[Gavin C]

Like I said we all have a different perception

We don't. We have one of two opinions.

We all either
a/ view you and/or your website as a credible resource
b/ view you and/or your website as a less than credible resource

I have yet to encounter any credible resource for beer recipes online or elsewhere. Typically they are made up of rehashed garbage.

As an example of lack of credibility.

Your brief post history on HBT and avatar (an under-fillered secondary vessel with massive oxygenating headspace) are consistent with someone to which a healthy air of skepticism WRT brewing expertise and recipe assessment abilities should be exercised.

I do not wish you or your venture any malice. I simply see the objective as 100% redundant in an already existing ocean of redundancy. If you can generate clickbait income from it, more power to you.

 

[brewtasting]

You speak for "we". You come of as a condescending dick.

 

[Gavin C]

You speak for "we". You come of as a condescending dick.

Unfortunately (rightly or wrongly) your click market will be made of of folks who fall into the following groups WRT to your website's content

a/ condesend ...
b/ do not condesend ...
c/ are unfamiliar with richard

Like I said. I wish you every success.

 

[z-bob]

He's harsh, but he has a point. You have no credibility yet (I'm not sure that I do either) so the value you add by curating is questionable.

But if you want to do it, go for it. Prove him wrong.

 

[brewtasting]

Unfortunately (rightly or wrongly) your click market will be made of of folks who fall into the following groups WRT to your website's content

a/ condesend ...
b/ do not condesend ...
c/ are unfamiliar with richard

Like I said. I wish you every success.

Thanks buddy

 

[Gavin C]

.. (I'm not sure that I do either) ..

You don't.

Neither do I.

It's a hard nut to crack. Credibility.

 

[day_trippr]

fwiw, it's "condescend".
And I'm making popcorn

 

[brewtasting]

He's harsh, but he has a point. You have no credibility yet (I'm not sure that I do either) so the value you add by curating is questionable.

But if you want to do it, go for it. Prove him wrong.

I'm going for it. But not to prove anyone wrong. I appreciate the advice (especially tactful advice)

 

[Gavin C]

fwiw, it's "condescend".
And I'm making popcorn

You certainly do like your popcorn. That much is clear. Easy on the butter now. Greasy fingers can play havoc with one's con·de·scen·sion (made sure to seamlessly copy from wikilexia. No one will be any the wiser)

 

[Gavin C]

I'm going for it. But not to prove anyone wrong. I appreciate the advice (especially tactful advice)

Good for you man/ma'am

 

[brewtasting]

fwiw, it's "condescend".

And I'm making popcorn

Popcorn is not needed...no more feeding the troll

 

[Killshakes]

Link to the original recipe, or cite the source. You don't really need permission because recipes are not copyrightable. But be careful if the "directions" part of the recipe has a lot more than just directions in it -- that can be copyrighted.

I don't know why you want to do this, but IMHO the value you can add is testing the recipes and curating them. The Internet is full of untested recipes, some good and some awful.

I was going to post this as well.

 

[Braufessor]

I have yet to encounter any credible resource for beer recipes online or elsewhere. Typically they are made up of rehashed garbage.

I agree that it is hard to sift through most recipe resources. In particular, I think the biggest flaw in recipe resources is that they just list ingredients most of the time - as if that is what made a great beer. Process is so much of the outcome that if the recipe is not listing water considerations and other specific process considerations, volumes, efficiencies, etc - it can border on useless in recreating a good beer.

I have noticed this additional detail is being provided in recipes more often over the last couple years - especially in regard to water considerations.

As far as a "credible" resource - I generally use the site below if I am looking to get a basic foundation for a recipe. This is about as "credible" as it gets - and even this site is lacking in a lot of ways:

http://www.alternativecommutepueblo.com/2011/10/ahanhc-gold-medal-winning-recipes-for.html

Beyond all of that - I think if you want to put something together it should include detail, process, water considerations, etc. And, should include contact/input/permission from the person who's recipe you are using..... not so much for "legal" reasons as much as simple decency.

 

[oceanic_brew]

I think you should hunt down the creator of some tried and true recipes and do an interview with each one.

Make the recipe more about it being a result of a person culture/environment/etc.

This I would be interested in and that's what people buy up these days.

Cooking books are sold on the personality of the chef or the culture where the food comes from.

Or even break up the sections by homebrew club (HBT,AHA) or by region.

Just ideas here, good luck.