This paper presents a case-study of an individual engaged in the practice of craft brewing and the ways in which his use of a mobile device has supported the informal learning underpinning his transition from novice towards mastery. Through participant observation, online ethnographic methods and interview data the authors present a description of how the mobile device is used. The authors argue for the importance of considering the role of constraint in the creative process, and the place of expert assessment in evaluating a product as creative. These arguments are contrasted with theorisation of assessment as absent in informal learning or inappropriate for evaluating creativity.