Craft Brewing Course Outline

Next course: 1 to 12 September 2025

“Craft Brewing in Practice”  is a ten-day full time training course
providing up-to-date knowledge in the field of craft and micro brewing.  It covers the basics of beer brewing in theory and practice. The lectures will cover topics like raw materials (water, malt, hops, and yeast) the brewing process, yeast management, fermentation, hygiene, sensory evaluation, basics of quality control as well as economic and legal aspects for starting a pub brewery.
In addition,  a visit to a Berlin pub brewery is on the agenda.  The language is English. You can expect an intensive and individual training with maximum benefit. Starting with practical brewing on the first day, the participants will accompany their own brew up to the final product in practical quality control.

Due to the high share of practical training lessons in our brewery and labs, the number of participants is limited.

The following topics will be covered:

Establishing a pub brewery:

• Plant equipment
• Business plan & economic aspects

Brewing technology:

• Brewhouse work / wort treatment
• Fermentation & maturation
• Basics of beer filtration
• Basics of filling
• Application of special malts
• Special beers - types & production
• Production of alcohol-free beers

Utilities:

• Water treatment / analysis
• Energy in the brewery
• Cleaning and disinfection aspects

Raw materials & quality aspects:

• Malt - quality aspects
• Hops & hop products
• Hop "tasting" seminar (by HVG)
• Yeast management in micro breweries  
• Different aspects of beer and flavour stability
• Quality control for pub brewers
• Basics of tasting - main off-flavours
• Dispensing

Visit to a pub brewery in Berlin

Schedule subject to minor changes.

Target Group: Prospective Craft Brewers

The course addresses persons who have a professional interest in craft brewing. We strongly recommend some basic experience in brewing, e.g. as home brewer.

In-person Course in Berlin

The lectures will be held at VLB Berlin. Our institute is located in the heart of Berlin – the German capital. In addition to our training programme, Berlin is also a top-destination for sight-seeing and extra-curricular activities.

Attendance Fee & Accommodation

The fee for this ten-day course is 2,400 Euro plus VAT, including all course materials.
Your accommodation in Berlin has to be booked separately. Depending on your requirements we can send links for accommodation in different categories.
A non-refundable deposit of 500 Euro is due at the time of acceptance to the programme. The total balance is due by 19 August 2024 at the latest. The fee may be paid by bank transfer or credit card. The number of participants is limited. Reserve your place by registering in time!

Next course
1 to 12 September 2025

Our Brewing Plant

Microbiological training lab

Foyer / Entry hall