Beer Appreciation Course – From grain to glass
The main goal of this course is to enhance your experience for the next time you are out for a beer or enjoying a well-deserved one at home.
From brewing theory and historical backgrounds to sensorial training and guided tastings.
| Starts | 22nd January 2025 |
| Days | Wednesdays |
| Time | 6:30 - 8:30pm |
| Duration | 8 Weeks |
| Cost | €100 |
| Registration opens | December 1st at 9am |
Note: First hour will take place in BFEI and then we will move to Blackrock Cellar for the tastings. There will be a small participatory charge each evening tor tastings (Approx. €4)
Week 1
What is beer? Brewing process, ingredients and how they affect the final product.
Creating fermentable sugars from cereals (malting, mashing)
Boiling and hop additions
Yeast and fermentation
Introduction to methodically assess a beer (simplified BJCP)
Tasting: malt forward beer, IPA, weissbier
Week 2
Malt!
Why and how, science behind it
Cooking with sugars and enzymes
Tastes that come from the malt
Tasting: stout, dunkel, doppelbock
Week 3
Hops!
What are they for, where to grow them
Different varieties
How to use them! Boiling additions, dry hopping techniques, etc
Flavour profiles
Tasting: neipa, west coast/classic American, New Zealand
Week 4
Yeast!
Strains and different purposes
Fermentation processes / off flavours
Lagering
Introduction to mixed fermentation
Tasting: blonde ale, lager, weissbier/roggenbier, mixed ferm
Week 5
Introduction to Irish beer scene
Big companies vs Independents
Big independents vs small independents
Best breweries in their own styles
Tasting: core range Irish beers
Week 6
Germany and macro lagers
Why German lagers are so good and macro lager so cheap
Different German styles and processes
How to assess a macro lager
Tasting: Munich Helles, Pils, Dunkel, Doppelbock, Heineken and Corona
Week 7
Belgian and Trappist beer
Historical background and fun facts
Typical ingredients and processes
Belgian culture
Tasting: saison, Belgian blond, dubbel, tripel and quad
Week 8
Possible field trip!