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All About Beer

“All About Beer” are short informative online workshops organised by the EBCU for delegates and members.

The workshops are run by the European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) and are open to members of all affiliated organisations.

Do you wish to suggest a future workshop?

All About… Green Hop Beer presented by Chris Gooch

June 10th 2024 20.00 CET

Hops are grown in the Midlands and South East of England. They are harvested during September and early October. The cones are separated from the bine and then dried immediately on a kiln, and pressed into bales to be stored until used – maybe for more than a year. Hops used in green hop beers are not dried before use. Brewers collect the hops as soon as possible after picking and pitch them to the boiling wort, all in less than a day. We expect more flavour and aroma, just like using fresh herbs from the garden rather than dried herbs.

A brewer at Teme Valley Brewery since 1997, Chris worked on hop farm and has an IBD diploma in brewing, He organises the annual Green Hop Festival at the Talbot Inn, Worcestershire.

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All About… Best Bitter presented by Laura Emson and Miranda Hudson

March 25th 2024 Watch Now

Focussing on the quintessential ‘English’ beer join Laura Emson and Miranda Hudson as they discuss what makes the perfect example, from selecting the best ingredients to pouring the perfect pint. You will also be treated to a behind the scenes insight into Duration brewery’s first foray into cask bitter as well as what judges look for when awarding the highest accolades at CAMRA competitions.

Laura is the Awards Director of CAMRA, having been elected to the National Executive in 2022. She has volunteered at dozens of beer festivals across the country, usually found in her happy place of the cellar ensuring every beer served is in the best condition it can be. 
Miranda is co-founder at Duration Brewing, a progressive farmhouse brewery in Norfolk making fresh beers and wild ales brewed from nature with purpose. Starting out as a nomadic brewery in 2017, before settling into their site in a ruined abbey in West Norfolk, the multi-award winning business she founded with her husband Bates, has become one of the most respected breweries in the UK.

All About… Speciale Belge presented by Tom Vergracht

February 19th 2024 Watch Now

I’m going to present ‘The history of Spéciale Belge’, a beer invented thanks to a Belgian beer competition. This beer style almost disappeared because of the gaining popularity of pilsner. Only a handful of breweries still brew a ‘Spéciale Belge’, I’m going to show them all. The name ‘spéciale belge’ is protected. You’re going to learn what a ‘Spéciale Belge’ is and how it can be recognized by the government.

Tom worked for two years as a brewer in Proefbrouwerij and seven years as an account manager at different breweries. He has been a beerologist since 2012.

All About… Polish Hops presented by Michael Kopik

January 8th 2024 Watch Now

Polish hops are an emerging contender in the global hops market, delivering both traditional flavours associated with noble continental hops as well as new-wave hoppy, fruity and bold aromas. What are the new experimental hops, which beer styles are best for them and what can we expect in following years – all in this workshop.

Michael Kopik has 19 years of experience in the brewing industry.  He started as a homebrewer and has worked in several regional and craft breweries. An International beer judge, food-pairing and beer mixology expert. Lecturer in brewing postgraduate studies at UPWr in Wrocław. He runs an internet beer service PiwnyGaraz.pl.

 

All About… Pilsner presented by Christian Andersen and Jens Eiken

December 7th 2023 Watch Now

From loathed to loved. The pilsner style – or more correct pilsner styles – was loathed by the craft beer brewers and beer lovers for many years in the beer revolution. Pilsner was – and is – the industy beer über alles. More than 90 percent of all beer in the world is pilsner. Today the fine art of brewing the perhaps most difficult of beer styles is finally embraced by the craft beer brewers. In this presentation we will explain the many pilsner styles and flavours. We will try to reveal the secrets behind the fine pilsner and highlight some of our favourites.

Christian Andersen is a prized beer writer and blogger. He is the author and translator of several books about beer. Skilled journalist and communications consultant. Christian is a former delegate to the committee of the European Beer Consumers Union from The Danish Beer Enthusiasts. 
Jens Eiken is a former Master Brewer in managerial roles at Carlsberg, the Jacobsen Brewhouse, Molson Coors Brewing Company, Royal Unibrew, Novozymes & Carlsberg Research Laboratory. Jens is now working as Global Product Manager, Brewing & Distilling, at IFF.

All About… Norwegian Farmhouse Ale presented by Lars Marius Garshol

12 October 2023 Watch Now

All About Norwegian Farmhouse 750x375

Norwegian Farmhouse Ale has attracted great interest over the last years, partly because of the kveik yeast, but because it is so difficult to find many are not familiar with this type of beer. In this presentation we will go into where these beers come from, why they are the way they are, and what styles of Norwegian Farmhouse Ale there are. We will also visit some brewers to see what they do and how they brew these beers. Since the kveik yeast is used for some of these beer styles we will also look a little at what it is.

Lars Marius Garshol used to be a software engineer, but he gave that up to work full-time on researching and writing about traditional farmhouse brewing. He’s spent the last decade researching various aspects of farmhouse brewing throughout northern Europe. He is the author of Larsblog, a blog devoted to sharing his discoveries and travels, Historical Brewing Techniques: The Lost Art of Farmhouse Brewing, and a book on Lithuanian beer. He lives with his wife and daughter in Rælingen, Norway.

All About… Mild presented by Will Taylor and Brett Laniosh

22 May 2023 Watch Now

Mild used to be England’s most popular beer style but now accounts for less than 3% of beer sold in British pubs. It’s a fascinating beer, typically, but not always, dark and low in bitterness. This presentation will cover the history of the drink and give some great examples of it that exist today. We will also be sharing information on brewing this particular style of beer. For many years, CAMRA has used the month of May to promote Mild, so we look forward to celebrating this great beer with you.

Will Taylor is the founder and owner of Woodcote Brewery, based in Worcestershire. Established in 2015, the brewery won six awards in 2022. They bottle condition their beers which are all vegan and unfined.  
Brett Laniosh is a project coordinator for the EBCU and a former director of CAMRA. He runs cellar training courses in pubs and breweries and runs a beer and pub magazine publishing company. 

All About… Baltic Porter presented by Marcin Chmielarz

17 January 2023 Watch Now

In 2016 Baltic Porter Day was born, as a way to celebrate this style of beer. Often called the Polish Brewing Treasure (Piwowarski Skarb Polski), this dark, rich beer is especially popular in the Baltic Sea basin, as the name would suggest. Rightly so, as it was created here in the 19th century as a continental version of the famous British porters. Today Baltic Porter is known around the world, with fantastic examples of the style brewed in the USA. But still, it is most famous in the Baltic Sea basin, especially in Poland.

Marcin Chmielarz is a brewer, beer vlogger, and pub manager. Since he started discovering craft beer, he has been particularly interested in one beer style – Baltic Porter.

All About… Grodziskie presented by Dawid Kulbicki and Marcin Ostajewski

21 November 2022  – Watch Now

Grodziskie is a beer style originating from the 16th century, from the little Medieval town of Grodzisk Wielkopolski, located in western Poland. However, in the early 1990s the style was forgotten and discontinued at its mother brewery, only to be rediscovered 20 years later by the community of Polish homebrewers and craft beer enthusiasts. Often called “Polish champagne” due to its carbonation, highly drinkable and refreshing, with a hint of oak smoke, it remains a unique Polish contribution to the world’s beer heritage.

Dawid is a beer judge certified by BJCP and PSPD (Polish Homebrewers Association). His experience spans numerous domestic and international competitions, as well as workshops on beer styles and sensorics for various audiences – from consumers to judges. He is also the Chairman of PSPD Judges’ Committee and Coordinator of Warsaw Homebrewing Festival.
Marcin is the Head Brewer at Browar Fortuna located in Wielkopolska region, the home of Grodziskie. He is also an experienced BJCP judge and the Head Judge of Grodziski Homebrewing Competition – an annual event entirely dedicated to the style. Together with Dawid, he recently delivered speeches on Grodziskie for the beer industry in Brazil.

All About… Dutch Trappist Ale presented by Henri Reuchlin

Held on 26 September 2022 – Watch Now

Belgium has always been known for its Trappist breweries. But neighbouring The Netherlands can boast two Trappist breweries, making it the second country with respect to a number of trappist breweries. They are Koningshoeven (La Trappe) with a long and intriguing history and De Kievit (Zundert), one of the wave of new Trappist breweries. This workshop will focus on why the Trappist came to the Netherlands. We will discuss why they started brewing and of course the beers they brew.

Henri is director of StiBON beer education and has been advisor to Trappistbrewery De Kievit in Zundert since its inception. He has previously served as chairman of EBCU.

All About… Sahti presented by Anikó Lehtinen and Marjokaisa Piironen

13 June 2022  – Watch Now

Sahti is a Finnish, ancient farmhouse ale and the beer style itself is at least 2000 years old.

Sahti is made from malted and unmalted grains, mostly barley and rye. Traditionally the beer is flavoured with juniper and sometimes with hops and has often a banana flavour due to the use of baking yeast.

Finnish Sahti has protected status in Europe, so in order to be described as Sahti a beer must be brewed following the traditional process and ingredients.

Every year the Finnish Sahti Brewing ´Championship is held on the first weekend in August.

Find out more about the past, present and future of this true Finnish beer style Sahti presented by Sahti Brewer Marjokaisa “Sahti-Kaisa” Piironen and Beer Expert Anikó Lehtinen.

All About… Italian Grape Ale presented by Simone Uras

19 May 2022 – Watch Now

From tradition to innovation and beyond

Grapes aren’t just for wine! Grape based beers have been attracting a lot of interest in recent years. Italian Grape Ale (IGA) made with natural fruit bring together two different but very interesting partners.

IGAs perfectly represent the butterfly effect “does the flap of a butterfly’s wings in Brazil set off a tornado in Texas? ” (Edward N. Lorenz)

Even if in Italy there is the largest number of butterflies species on the European continent, actually what caused a disruptive effect in the global brewing world was adding ingredients from the wine to the beer?

Find out more about the past, present and future of this modern style, presented by Unionbirrai Beer Tasters and some of the brewers winners of the IGA categories at Birra dell’Anno” Simone is an experienced brewer living in Bologna and the Chief Operating Officer of Unionbirrai.

All About… Gose presented by Markus Raupach and Matthias Richter

3 March 2022 – Watch Now

There are many rumours about the historic German beer style of Gose. It did not originate in Leipzig, today’s main Gose brewing city. In fact, it all started in a benedictine monastery in the 14th century. What about the taste? How salty and sour should a real Gose be? What about fruits and spices? And what about the iconic Gose bottle with the long, almost endless neck?

Markus Raupach, Beer writer, Beer judge and President of the German Beer Consumers Union gives an interesting insight, together with a famous german Gose brewer.

Matthias Richter from Bayerischer Bahnhof in Leipzig is known to many as “Mr. Gose“

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