Q: I am enrolled in the Level 2 Beer course. Do I need to buy this?
A: No. The official WSET eBook is already included with the WSET Level 2 Award in Beer course, and your redemption code arrives within about 15 minutes of purchase. This printed copy is purely optional - buy it because you prefer paper, annotate better in margins, or want something on the shelf afterwards. Nobody needs both, and we would rather say so than sell you a duplicate.
Q: Does buying this enroll me in the course?
A: No - this is the textbook on its own. It includes no course access, no webinars, no instructor, no exam registration and no qualification. If you want the qualification you need the WSET Level 2 Award in Beer course itself, which is a separate purchase and includes the eBook. The web address for this page contains the words "study pack", which is a legacy of how it was first set up; what you are buying is one printed book.
Q: Which book is this, exactly?
A: The official WSET textbook that accompanies the WSET Level 2 Award in Beer, published by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust in London. It covers the ingredients - malt, hops, yeast and water - the brewing and fermentation processes, the world's key beer styles grouped by what drives them, label terminology, storage and service including off-flavours, and the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Beer®. It is supported throughout with colour diagrams, photographs and space for notes.
Q: Which edition is it, and is that the current one?
A: Issue 1, published 2024 - the current edition, and the one the current qualification specification is written against. If you are studying now, this is the right book. If you have an older copy from a previous cohort, check the issue number on it before relying on it.
Q: Is the printed content the same as the eBook?
A: Yes - same official WSET text, same edition, different format. The eBook wins on searchability and portability and reads on up to three devices for 12 months from redemption; the printed copy wins if you retain better on paper, want to write in it, or dislike reading a syllabus on a screen. Plenty of students use the eBook to look things up and the book to actually study from.
Q: Who actually should buy this?
A: Three groups, in our experience. Students who know from past study that they learn better on paper. People sitting the exam some months after the taught weeks, who want something to revise from that does not expire. And working beer professionals who want the reference on the shelf behind the bar or in the office - the style and off-flavour sections earn their keep long after the exam.
Q: Can I add it when I enroll, or only separately?
A: You can buy it at any point - alongside your course, or later once you have tried the eBook and decided you want paper too. If you already know you want it, ordering at the same time as your course means it arrives while you are still getting started rather than halfway through.
Q: How long does shipping take, and where do you ship to?
A: Orders are shipped to students in the United States, typically within about five business days. The book weighs around two pounds, so shipping is charged accordingly at checkout. If you are outside the US, or you need it by a particular date, email support@napavalleywineacademy.com before ordering and we will tell you what is possible rather than have you guess.
Q: Is it in stock?
A: We hold stock of this title and orders normally ship promptly. If a title is briefly between deliveries your order will still be accepted and shipped as soon as it arrives - so if you have a hard deadline, tell us at support@napavalleywineacademy.com when you order and we will confirm timing before you are relying on it.
Q: Does it come with anything else - flashcards, practice questions, a study pack?
A: No, this is the textbook alone. Our Level 2 Beer electronic flashcards are a separate $49 purchase if you want drilling material, and the course itself already includes study guides, practice questions and full mock examinations. Do not buy this expecting a bundle.
Q: Can I return it if I change my mind?
A: Printed books are physical goods rather than course access, so they are handled under our general merchandise terms rather than our course refund policy. Email support@napavalleywineacademy.com before returning anything so we can tell you what applies, and see our General Policies page for the current terms.
Q: I am studying Level 1 Beer, not Level 2. Is this the right book?
A: No - each WSET level has its own textbook, and this one is written for Level 2. The WSET Level 1 Award in Beer book is a separate, shorter and cheaper title at $28.50. Buying up a level does not help: the Level 1 exam is set against the Level 1 book.
Q: Can I speak to someone before ordering?
A: Yes. Email support@napavalleywineacademy.com and we will confirm the edition, the shipping timeline to your address, and - most usefully - whether you actually need it, given the eBook is already included with the course.
