Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is to launch two new beer qualifications, Level 1 Award in Beer and Level 2 Award in Beer, from February 2024.
Beer will be WSET’s fourth qualification area, following wine, spirits and sake and the first new subject stream since 2014, when sake was introduced.
The new beer qualifications were created by WSET’s Product Development team, led by Sara Hobday, Head of Product Development – Beer Qualifications. The team has been supported by Mirella Amato, Senior Business Development Manager – Beer, WSET Americas – world-renowned beer educator and consultant, and one of only 22 Master Cicerones® – as well as Stuart Howe, Technical Development Manager, Institute of Brewing & Distilling.
WSET Level 1 and 2 Awards in Beer will provide both trade professionals and beer enthusiasts with product knowledge and tasting skills.
Initially launching online and in-person in select markets, including the UK, United States, Canada and Australia, the courses will explore the main types and styles of beer, key methods of production, tasting techniques and food pairings. Using WSET’s trademarked Systematic Approach to Tasting, students will be equipped with a universal language to describe what they’re tasting and a framework for assessing quality.
Michelle Brampton, WSET CEO, said: “Extending our qualifications to encompass beer is an exciting time for WSET and a natural fit for us as leaders in global drinks education. Bringing over 50 years of educational experience to the beer category, our new Level 1 and 2 Awards in Beer will bring a unique and interactive approach to tasting and learning. We hope people will be inspired to pursue their passion for beer, whether for career or personal development, using our courses to build their knowledge.”
The announcement comes as WSET reveals that for the previous academic year (2022-23), its non-wine (spirits and sake) candidates have grown at the fastest rate, increasing by 27%, while the number of wine candidates is up by 21%. Wine remains the strongest performing qualification for WSET, with candidates making up 88% of its student base in the last academic year.
Overall, in the academic year 2022-23, 143,000 candidates enrolled for a qualification, up 22% from the previous year. With courses offered by over 700 course providers in 78 countries.
Sara Hobday, Head of Product Development – Beer Qualifications, said: “Developing the materials for our beer qualifications and piloting them with WSET’s Natalya Watson, Malcolm Venter and others has been a real highlight. Helping students to develop their beer knowledge, skills and confidence, with a focus on teaching through to tasting, has been at the centre of every step in the product development process. This applies to both our online and in-person courses, which will soon be accessible to students through WSET’s global network of course providers.”
Jayne Lewis, Business Development Manager – APAC, WSET Asia Pacific, said: “With a strong focus on tasting a wide range of beer styles, I’m excited to be able to deliver our new courses in person in an interactive format. It’ll be highly rewarding to see people’s eyes open to a world of beer that they may not have experienced before.”
Sarah Andrew, Business Development Manager – ANZ, WSET Asia Pacific, said: “Being involved in a new award launch for WSET has been an incredible experience. Production and enjoyment of beer as a beverage is high in Australia and New Zealand, and consumers and trade alike will be curious to learn more. With such a dynamic beer specialist as Jayne Lewis in our Asia Pacific team, I can’t wait for the new qualifications to launch early in 2024.”
To learn more about WSET’s qualifications or to find a local course provider, visit wsetglobal.com.
