WSET Level 2 Award in Beer

Siren Brewery is hosting the WSET Level 2 Award in Beer on 7 and 14 November, two full days of tasting and learning held in their tap room at Alberto House, Wokingham (RG40 4RF). It's a proper dive into how beer is made, rather than just a few casual pints, and it's run by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, so it's a formal qualification you can actually put on your CV.

The course looks at how ingredients and brewing methods shape different beer styles and their quality, and it teaches you how to taste, describe and evaluate what's in your glass. You'll cover the main ingredients — malted grains, water, hops, yeast and bacteria — alongside the fermentation and brewing processes, and how beer is stored and served. There are more than 60 beer styles in scope, so it's a broad look at the landscape rather than just a few favourites. The learning is built around tasting, following the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Beer®, and if you're attending in person, you'll taste around 32 beers over the two days.

There is an assessment at the end: a closed-book exam of 50 multiple-choice questions over 60 minutes, which you can take either online or in person. The qualification is graded Pass, Pass with Merit and Pass with Distinction, it's regulated by Ofqual, and if you pass, you get a WSET certificate and a lapel pin. The whole thing takes place in the tap room of Siren Craft Brew, a modern Berkshire brewery that recently won Supreme Champion Beer of Britain.

Both days run from 09:45 to 18:00, so you'll need to clear your schedule for the full two. Prices start from £595.