Online Workshops Archive
An archive of past EBCU online workshops and webinars. All recordings are available to watch on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@ebcu_official, or via the individual links below.
The workshops are run by the European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) and are open to members of all affiliated organisations.
A Festive Beer & Food Celebration with Bob Molenbroek and Nicole Warners
8 December 2025 – Watch Now and download the recipes and information pack
Join beer experts Bob Molenbroek and Nicole Warners for a festive exploration of beer and food pairing. This lively and seasonal webinar brings together their decades of passion for great beer and good company, built through years of hosting beer tours, dinners, and tastings across Belgium and the Netherlands.
Let Bob and Nicole guide you through an indulgent tasting journey featuring inspired combinations (download the recipes and information pack above) such as:
- Beet Tartare with Witkap Dubbel
- Roasted Pig with Herbs paired with Saison Dupont
- Celeriac with Hazelnuts alongside Aventinus
- Chocolate Cake with Cherries matched with Geuze Framboise
Whether you’re a seasoned beer lover or simply curious about pairing beer with food, this online event is the perfect way to celebrate the festive season in style.
Bob Molenbroek is a long-standing contributor to PINT Magazine, where he writes about cooking with beer and reviews restaurants that champion great beer culture. He has led beer-and-food workshops at the PINT Beer Festival and brings a unique sense of fun to everything he does — including his annual DJ appearance at Amsterdam’s legendary beer bar In de Wildeman, spinning his collection of vintage Christmas records.
Nicole Warners is a certified Doemens Beer Sommelier and trained in beer and food pairing at the renowned Echoput academy. With experience behind the bar at In de Wildeman and ‘t Arendsnest in Amsterdam, she now works at De Bierkoning, the city’s oldest beer shop. Through her project Kooltjes Bier en Spijs, she regularly hosts beer and food tastings that highlight her passion for flavour and hospitality.
A Continent of Beer – Poland, presented by Kacper Myśliński and Jan Łepek
Held on 24 November 2025 – Watch Now
2010 – the year a nearly forgotten beer style, Grodziskie, was brewed again for the first time in decades. That moment is seen as the symbolic start of the craft beer revolution in Poland. Today, Poland’s beer scene is the biggest and most vibrant in Central & Eastern Europe. With 300+ craft breweries, thriving hop and barley fields, and a passionate homebrewing community, Poland has become a must-visit destination for beer lovers. Join our webinar to explore the beer styles that shaped Poland’s past and present, and discover the best pubs, breweries and festivals across the country you just can’t miss. Let’s plan your beer trip to Poland together!
Kacper Myśliński – President of the Polish Homebrewers Association (PSPD) since 2024, and previously head of the organization’s regional branch in Kraków. An experienced homebrewer and winner of numerous homebrewing competitions. Certified judge, competition organizer, and beer educator who eagerly shares his knowledge in many forms – from workshops to webinars, articles in Piwowar (The Brewer) magazine, and podcasts. Co-founder of the Italian craft brewery Birrificio Wild Raccoon, passionate about new flavors and British classics.
Jan Łepek – Executive at the Polish Homebrewers Association (PSPD) and Vice President of the Northern PSPD regional branch. Certified PSPD and BJCP Beer, Cider, and Mead Judge. Former taproom manager with extensive experience collaborating with numerous Polish craft breweries. Co-organizer of homebrewing competitions and the Homebrewers Festival.
A Continent of Beer – Denmark, presented by Kasper Mundt-Nielsen and Niels Torm
Held on 8 September 2025 – Watch Now and download the factsheet
In this engaging workshop, we’ll take you on a guided tour through Denmark’s diverse beer landscape. Learn about historical breweries, modern pioneers pushing the boundaries of beer, and where to find Denmark’s finest beer destinations, including brewpubs, taprooms, and a world-renowned beer festival.
Whether you’re planning a beer-focused trip or simply want to deepen your appreciation of Danish beer culture, this workshop offers insider tips, local insights, and recommendations you won’t find anywhere else.
All About Gueuze, presented by Frank Boon
27 October 2025 – Watch Now
The Boon Brewery is the life’s work of Frank Boon, who is often referred to as the saviour of Geuze. He took over a geuze blendery that was threatening to disappear in the late 1970s, determined to revive the local Geuze tradition. As the years went by, the Boon Brewery grew with the greatest respect for traditional craftsmanship.
All this time, Boon’s unique knowledge also continued to grow, as he gained more and more expertise on brewing Lambics and blending Geuzes and on the maintenance of the foeders, or the oak barrels. That knowledge has been passed on to the next generation in recent years: the succession is now assured and in good hands with Jos Boon and Karel Boon. Both sons grew up in the shadow of the brewery and inherited Frank’s passion for the region’s traditional beer styles.
Frank Boon is a Belgian brewer renowned for helping to revive and preserve the tradition of lambic and gueuze beers. In the early 1970s, at a time when lambic brewing was in decline, Boon purchased and restored one of Belgium’s few surviving lambic breweries in Lembeek, a village near Brussels. Founding Brouwerij Boon, he modernised production while staying true to traditional methods of spontaneous fermentation, oak cask ageing, and blending. His dedication not only safeguarded the future of authentic gueuze but also elevated it to international recognition. Widely regarded as a pioneer and guardian of lambic brewing, Boon’s influence has inspired a new generation of Belgian and international brewers.
Tasting Notes by Pete Brown
9 June 2025 – Watch Now
In his pioneering new book Tasting Notes, award-winning beer writer and Sunday Times beer columnist Pete Brown explores how what we can hear affects what we (think we) taste. In this online presentation, Pete tells us how food scientists, biologists, psychologists, neuroscientists and philosophers are only just starting to to figure out how the brain processes the different senses, and how they overlap and merge more than we might think. If that all sounds a bit heavy, Pete lightens it with it his trademark clarity and humour, and with references ot great beers and great songs. Prepare to have your mind expanded.
Pete Brown is an award winning author, journalist and broadcaster specialising in food and drink. Awarded British Beer Writer of the Year three times and named an “Industry Legend”, he is the Sunday Times Magazine’s weekly beer columnist and is currently Chair of Judges for the World Beer Awards.
All About… Gluten Free Beer, presented by Sophie de Ronde
13 May 2025 – Watch Now
Discover the world of gluten-free beer in this engaging webinar, designed for anyone curious about beer options that fit a gluten-free lifestyle. Whether you’re managing gluten sensitivity, living with Celiac disease, or simply interested in exploring new flavours, this session is for you! This is your chance to dive into the fascinating world of gluten-free brewing, ask questions, and even discover your next favourite brew. Don’t let gluten sensitivity hold you back – a whole universe of beer is waiting for you to explore!
You’ll Learn:
- The difference between gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers, and how they’re crafted.
- Alternative grains like rice, sorghum, and millet used in gluten-free brewing.
- How choosing gluten-free beer might help alleviate symptoms like bloating and fatigue for some.
Join Sophie de Ronde, head brewer at Suffolk’s Burnt Mill Brewery and an innovator in gluten-free brewing. Sophie’s personal journey as someone allergic to wheat and barley has fuelled her passion for crafting exceptional gluten-free beer.
About Sophie de Ronde: Head Brewer at Burnt Mill Brewery. Formerly with Brentwood Brewing Company (2007–2014). Named “Brewer of the Year” in 2019 by the British Guild of Beer Writers. Founder of International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day and co-founder of Beer Day Britain. Sophie will share her expertise, discuss the brewing process for gluten-free and gluten-reduced beers, and inspire you with her dedication to making beer accessible for everyone.
All About… Italian Style Pilsner, presented by Agostino Arioli and Matteo Contini
10 March 2025 – Watch Now
From Italy with Hops: all you want to know about Italian Style Pilsener – A webinar on the history, characteristics, and brewing of an all Italian Beer style.
Presented by Agostino Arioli, brewer and founder of Birrificio Italiano, and Matteo Contini, Unionbirrai Beer Taster.
A Continent of Beer – Finland, presented by Anikó Lehtinen
Held on 21 April 2025 – Watch Now
Come and hear what kind of beer country Finland is now, what kind of brewery travel destinations, taprooms, beer restaurants and other beer destinations there are in our country, what are the beer trends in Finland and why you should travel here if you want to taste sahti in the Finnish championships or enjoy what the brewery terraces have to offer. We guide you virtually through the best beer destinations in Finland!
Beer and Cheese by Anikó Lehtinen
12 February 2025 – Watch Now
Beer is the perfect partner for cheese, as long as you know a few tricks on how to combine them. Come and hear which beer goes with which cheese and taste them yourself. Reserve the following beers for tasting: IPA, barley wine, kriek beer and Belgian wheat beer, as well as the following beers: brie, blue cheese, Gouda and goat cheese. Let’s taste together and find out which pairs are the best!
Anikó Lehtinen is a beer journalist, beer judge, beer sommelier and president of the Finnish Beer Association. She is responsible for beer education at Laurea Applied Science University, brews beer with students and has written two books about beer and two about beer tourism, those together with Maria Markus. One of Anikó’s favorite subjects is the combination of beer and food, and she is writing her doctoral dissertation at the University of Helsinki on the history of beer.
A Celebration of Winter Beer: A Special Christmas Tasting Event
9 December 2024 – Watch Now
Join us for a festive online tasting event celebrating the best of winter beers! Led by renowned beer experts Jan Van Bragt and Pet Aerden, and hosted by Markus Raupach, this unique experience will bring the flavours of the season right to your home.
We’ll explore three outstanding holiday brews — Gouden Carolus Christmas, Bons Voeux, and Stille Nacht — which we encourage you to purchase in advance to fully participate in the tasting. To round out the evening, Markus will introduce two exceptional seasonal beers from Germany.
Markus Raupach — Founder of the German Beer Academy, acclaimed beer writer, judge, and President of the German Beer Consumers Union.
Jan Van Bragt — International beer judge, trainer, and author of The Beer Icons of the Low Countries.
Pet Aerden — Expert guide and host of popular beer tours in Antwerp.
All About… Berliner Weisse, presented by Markus Raupach
18 November 2024 – Watch Now
Dive into the World of Berliner Weisse: A Workshop of History, Flavor, and Tradition!
Calling all beer enthusiasts and curious palates! Join us for an unforgettable journey through the frothy and flavorful world of Berliner Weisse. This workshop will quench your thirst for knowledge as we explore the rich history and unique aromas of this iconic Berlin beer style.
Prepare to be enlightened by tales of Berlin’s vibrant brewing past and meet the two torchbearers of tradition: Brauerei Lemke and Brauerei Schneeeule. These local legends are keeping the spirit of Berliner Weisse alive, one refreshing sip at a time.
Whether you’re a seasoned beer lover or a curious newbie, our workshop promises a blend of education, entertainment, and historical insights. Discover why Napoleon once called this delightful brew the “Champagne of the North.”
Join us and celebrate the sparkling, slightly tart wonder that is Berliner Weisse! Prost!
Markus Raupach is the founder of the German Beer Academy, Beer writer, Beer judge and President of the German Beer Consumers Union.
A Continent of Beer – Iceland, presented by Beth Manghi
Held on 30 September 2024 – Watch Now and download the factsheet
Small but mighty. A phrase which sums up Iceland’s beer scene. Historically, Iceland’s relationship with beer has been complicated, given a prohibition that ended in 1989. That lack of a long brewing tradition allows for an openness to experimentation and an embrace of a variety of beer styles. From crisp Helles to hardy stouts to ales literally as wild as the landscape, Iceland may be small but our beers are mighty. In this workshop, we’ll discuss a bit of Iceland’s beer history, the best places to find beer and much more.
A Continent of Beer – Ireland, presented by John Duffy
Held on 9 September 2024 – Watch Now and download the factsheet
Ireland has a diverse and exciting beer scene, one which has sprung back to life in the last couple of decades after a century of consolidation and closures at the hands of multinational brewing concerns. Today, almost every county has a brewery, some with particular specialisations, including barrel-ageing and wild fermentation. With the multinationals still very much a dominant force in Irish brewing, finding independent beer can be tricky for the visitor. This workshop offers a guide to the current scene, including some of the hidden corners where the most interesting Irish beers can be found.
All About… Green Hop Beer, presented by Chris Gooch
10 June 2024 – Watch Now
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. Chris Gooch from Teme Valley has long been a proponent of green hop beer and will share his experiences.
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.
Beer and Chocolate by Anikó Lehtinen and Christine Cryne
Held on 9 May 2024 – Watch Now and download the tasting sheet
One of the best combinations of tastes is beer with chocolate – honestly!
Anikó and Christine will be offering people a chance to see how the complexities of the flavours in beer marry with the luscious flavours in chocolate by going through the fundamentals of how it is done and giving examples.
The workshop will cover: How we taste, the three C’s: Cut, Complement and Contrast, why beer and chocolate work so well together, the four beer and chocolate combinations, and people’s favourite: beer, chocolate and combination.
To get the best out of the session, the presenters suggest you have some beer and chocolate with you for the session so that you can follow the talk. The suggested beers are Belgian Witbier, such as Hoegaarden; East Coast IPA or a premium British Bitter; Stout or Porter; and a Belgian Triple or Barley Wine. The suggested chocolates are White, Milk and Dark chocolate and a milk chocolate with nuts and/or fruit.
A Continent of Beer – An Introduction, presented by Tim Webb
Held on 15 April 2024 – Watch Now
While enjoying a drink of beer, have you ever stopped and wondered about the history of the world’s most popular fermented beverage?
Why do beer and Europe seem to go together – glass in hand?
In large parts of medieval Europe, ale or beer was the drink of choice. It was consumed daily by all social classes, particularly in the northern and eastern parts of the continent, where grape cultivation was difficult or impossible. Brewing was considered a common household task, alongside cooking and growing crops.
All About… Best Bitter, presented by Laura Emson and Miranda Hudson
25 March 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
19 February 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
8 January 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
7 December 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.
Beer, Health and Wellbeing by Claus-Christian Carbon
Held on 14 November 2023 – Watch Now
Beer has some undeniably good basic ingredients, primarily when ecologically produced and sustainably processed. Even the calories are not that high compared with standard soft drinks. Politics, however, focuses on health-related issues with beer, for instance, problems with alcohol, overweightness and unbalanced diet. This strict focus on measurable and also undeniably negative health factors comes at a price: We will forget other factors which play an important role in as so-called secondary or indirect effects which are linked with cultural values, social aspects and further values such as identity. All these effects can be subsumed under the concept of well-being. This wider view on beer from a well-being perspective is important to capture a consumer’s holistic experience but still does not neglect negative factors which should be treated professionally and with an open mind.
Claus-Christian Carbon is an academic with an interest in the social aspects of beer. He is a psychologist by training, working in the field of sensation and perception as a Full Professor at the University of Bamberg in Bavaria, Germany. He is a Beer Sommelier and a former executive member of the EBCU.
All About… Norwegian Farmhouse Ale, presented by Lars Marius Garshol
12 October 2023 – Watch Now
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.
An Introduction to the European Beer Consumers Union with André Brunnsberg and Chris Welsh
Held on 11 April 2023 – Watch Now
A chance to hear from the chair of EBCU and members of the Executive Board on the activities and campaigns the organisation has been involved in recently and has planned for the future. There will be an opportunity to put your questions to André, Chris and other members of the board and project coordinators.
André Brunnsberg is the chair and Chris Welsh is a member of the executive board of EBCU.
Challenges to the Brewing Industry from Climate Change with Tim Webb
Held on 21 February 2023 – Watch Now
So, finding myself accidentally in the company of a global expert, I asked him, “Is there an easy way to avoid catastrophic effects from climate change?”, and he said, “Sure. Be under 50.” That was ten years ago. Since then the incline has got steeper and the path become lined by large corporations bent on securing their continuing financial success. Brewing is around 4% of the global economy and its carbon footprint is significant. The way it carries out its business must change in line with the needs of our grandchildren. Greenwashing won’t work. This seminar will analyse the problems, the proposed solutions and the issues that are still unaddressed.
Tim Webb is an EBCU Project Coordinator, beer consumer champion and author.
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.
Beer and Food with Anikó Lehtinen
Held on 10 October 2022 – Watch Now
How to combine beer and food? How to use beer as a food ingredient? The workshop advises easy and good tricks on how to make beer and food taste good together and what advantages beer has when used as a food ingredient.
If you want, you can reserve the following snacks and beers for the workshop, or you just come and listen:
- IPA and Gouda cheese
- Sour beer (flavored with berries) and milk chocolate
- Stout/porter and blue cheese
Anikó Lehtinen is a beer journalist and the Chair Person of Olutliitto, the Finnish Beer Consumer Union.
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”.
Is the beer industry unwelcoming? with Christine Cryne, Jing Chen, Gordon Keen, Anikó Lehtinen and Cian Duffy
Held on 23 September 2021 – Watch Now
Despite some improvements, there is still a lack of women involved in the European beer industry. Although it cannot be proved (no figures are available), the Brewers Association in the USA quotes from a survey in 2019 ‘about 7.5% of the staff of reporting breweries employed a female in the brewer role’ although this grows to 14% in the “production, non-brewers” staff roles. Perhaps then it is not surprising that UK’s Dea Latis says that only 17% of women drink beer at least once a week (compared to 53% of men). They also add that male-oriented advertising is the main barrier to over a quarter (27%) of women drinking beer – rising even higher for the 18-24 year-old female group to almost half (48%). The situation is equally bad regarding people from a non-white background. Again, no figures are available for Europe but the USA report that only 12% of their craft breweries are owned by non-whites and there are even fewer when it comes to brewing staff (11%). If you think these figures for diversity are poor, the involvement of LGBTQ people seems even worse although no one at all seems to report on these! All of these three sectors have people who drink beer and many feel that the industry does not reach out to them. What are the barriers to engagement? What has been tried and what worked and didn’t work? And what can drinkers do to make the beer industry truly inclusive?
This workshop is chaired by Christine Cryne Master Trainer, accredited EBCU beer judge. She is joined by three people from the beer industry including Jing Chen, co-owner of the Black Lab Brewery and Bistro in Barcelona, Gordon Keen, Head of Marketing at Laine Pub and Brewing Company, who introduced the ‘All For One Apprenticeship Scheme’, Anikó Lehtinen who is a beer journalist and the Chair Person of Olutliitto, the Finnish Beer Consumer Union and Cian Duffy, a pub historian who is active with Beoir (Ireland).
The Beer World after the Pandemic with Tim Webb, Simon Spillane, Claus-Christian Carbon and Ina Verstl
Held on 20 May 2021 – Watch Now
By the start of 2020 the beer industry in Europe was showing strong signs of renewal. The number of small independent breweries had broken through the 10,000 mark for the first time in seven decades, the 21st century’s slow fall in beer sales was starting to reverse, traditional and modern beer styles were appearing in abundance, and there were even some signs of larger and smaller breweries starting to work together to mutual benefit. Then came COVID. With bars and restaurants being locked down all over Europe for much of the last year, shaking hands and hugging outlawed in most countries, and many people fearful to leave their homes, what now is the future for hospitality and how will this affect the brewing industry? What breweries are affected the most? Those dependent on bulk sales or smaller ones making a precarious living from a small number of accounts? Have brewers been looking out for each other or is there a battle for survival? How will beer and brewing move forward as the dust settles and the masks are removed? And how can consumers help?
This workshop is hosted by Tim Webb, beer consumer champion and co-author of The World Atlas of Beer, and includes on the panel Simon Spillane, Director of Communications and Public Affairs at Brewers of Europe in Brussels, Claus-Christian Carbon, Professor of General Psychology at the University of Bamberg and Ina Verstl, brewing economics journalist from Brauwelt magazine.
Tips for a new era of online beer events including tastings and judging with Markus Raupach
Held on 18 March 2021 – Watch Now
The beer industry has gone through considerable growth and change over the past 20 years, particularly in the areas of digital marketing and the use of digital events such as online beer tasting and judging. The 2020 pandemic has intensified this trend. There are many challenges in adapting existing and implementing new event concepts such as beer festivals, competitions and tastings into a digital format. In this workshop, Markus Raupach will give an overview of his experiences as an online tasting and judging provider and offer essential insights from his experience in developing the Deutsche BierAkademie and as German chair of the World Beer Awards judging team. In addition, Anita Ujszaszi, Awards Director of the World Beer Awards will be participating as a speaker. The following questions (and more) concern all those who want to move into the world of online tasting:
- What software and hardware is needed?
- How do I behave correctly as a trainer or tutor?
- What equipment do I need?
- What else do I need to consider in the field of digital beer events?
Markus Raupach is President of the German Beer Consumers Union and founder of the German Beer Academy. He is also a beer sommelier, brandy sommelier and cheese sommelier, an experienced international beer judge, member of the British Guild of Beer Writers and the North American Guild of Beer Writers as well as a recipient of the Bamberg Beer Order, board member of Bierland Oberfranken and the Association of Bavarian Brandy Sommeliers.
Learn & Discover with Alex Metcalfe, CAMRA’s Learning & Discovery Manager
Held on 1 December 2020 – Watch Now
You are invited to attend a presentation by Alex Metcalfe, who will outline the beer education programme being rolled out by the Campaign for Real Ale to which EBCU members may gain access in 2021.
The online presentation will show how the programme can benefit EBCU member organisations and will include:
- Discovery Zones: which are spaces at beer festivals for anyone who loves beer, cider and perry and wants to find out more. Activities are focused around brewer/maker-led comparative tastings and ingredients aimed at learners with a variety of experience, from beginners up to experienced connoisseur drinkers.
- Learn & Discover: is an online learning platform with 42 items of audio, video, text and photo content targeted via three tiers of learning content from beginners to enthusiasts and connoisseurs. 48 more items of content planned for 2021.
- Educational content from volunteers, drinks sector professionals, educators, brewers, journalists, sommeliers, bloggers and vloggers such as Emma Inch, Roger Protz and Pete Brown.
To register for an online event, please go to https://www.ebcu.org/events
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