Discover the World of Beer with WSET’s New Certification

Have you ever wished you knew more about beer? Can you tell the difference between an IPA and a pilsner? A brown ale and a porter? WSET is launching its first-ever beer courses in early 2024. Our exciting new Level 1 Award in Beer is a beginner-level qualification for anyone interested in learning the basics about lagers, ales, sours, and more. Through a short and interactive course, you’ll learn the foundations of beer production, styles, service, food pairing, and tasting.
Upon completion, you’ll gain a globally recognized qualification and the knowledge to help you explore the world of beer in greater depth.

What you’ll learn

The WSET Level 1 Award in Beer provides a great introduction to the world of beer. Learning through sight, smell, and taste, you’ll become familiar with a range of beer styles and how they are made.

If you work with beer, you’ll be able to answer customer queries with confidence and provide helpful recommendations. If you’re learning for fun, you’ll feel inspired to explore new styles and know how to get the most out of every glass.

What’s covered?

• The main ingredients used to make beer: malt and other sugar sources, water, hops, yeast
• The main production steps used to make beer malting, brewing.
• The principles of successful beer storage, service, and food pairing: Beer storage and service: keeping beer fresh, glassware, pouring keg beer, opening and pouring bottled beer, and service temperature. Common beer faults: staling, light strike (skunking), bacterial infection. Food and beer: Preferences, sensitivities, interactions, application and other considerations.
• The characteristics of a range of key beer styles:
  Malt-driven styles: American or international pale lager, Munich Helles, Blonde ale,  Munich Dunkel, Brown ale, Porter and stout, Barley wine
  Hop-driven styles: Traditional Czech or German pilsner, Bitter, American pale ale, American IPA, Hazy IPA
  Yeast driven styles: Weissbier, Dubbel, Tripel, Saison, Witbier
  Sour styles: Berliner weisse, Geuze (gueuze)

Course delivery

This qualification has a minimum requirement of six hours of guided learning, including a 45-minute exam. Courses will be available in person or online.

This is a fully guided course, meaning there are no private study requirements. 

This qualification is currently available in English only.

Assessment

Your learning will be assessed by a closed-book exam of 30 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 45 minutes. Exams will be available both online and in person.

WSET is committed to making our exams fair and accessible and ensuring that no candidate is placed at a disadvantage. If you have any special requirements or need to request reasonable adjustments, please discuss this with your chosen course provider.

Entry requirements

There are no entry requirements for this qualification – it is suitable for complete beginners.

You must be of legal drinking age in the country where you are attending the course to participate in any alcohol tasting. However, this is not a barrier to successfully completing the qualification.

If you are eager to increase your knowledge and appreciation of beer, WSET will soon be launching an intermediate-level qualification. This immersive and interactive course will help you understand how key ingredients and production processes influence the flavor profile and quality of beer.
Upon completion, you’ll gain a recognized qualification and the skills to select, taste, and describe beers with confidence.

What you’ll learn

The WSET Level 2 Award in Beer focuses on how key ingredients and production processes influence the style and quality of beer. It will also teach you how to taste, describe and evaluate the quality of beer.

If you’re a beer or hospitality professional, you’ll be able to offer valuable guidance on selection and service to your colleagues and customers. If you’re a beer enthusiast, you’ll know exactly what to look for when choosing beers for any occasion.

What’s covered?

• The main ingredients used in beer production, how they are processed, and their influence on the style of beer produced:
  Malt and adjuncts, water, hops, and other flavorings, yeast, and bacteria.
• How beer production influences the style and quality of beer. Alcoholic fermentation process, brewing process, brewing equipment, beer production options, spontaneous and mixed culture fermentation options.
• The key principles and processes involved in the storage and service of beer: Ideal conditions for storage, packaging and shelf life, service temperatures, glassware, beer on tap, bottled beer, common faults, beer, and food
• How over 60 beer styles are produced and labeled and their typical characteristics. Malt-driven lagers, malt-driven ales, hop-driven lagers, hop-driven ales, yeast-driven ales, mixed fermentation styles, and other specialty beers.

Course delivery

This qualification has a minimum requirement of 28 hours of study

• 16 hours of guided learning
• 11 hours of private study
• A one-hour exam

We will be able to offer the course in a variety of formats, for example, over consecutive days or using our Online Classroom, an interactive e-learning platform where you complete activities at your own pace over five weeks under the guidance of an expert educator.

This qualification is currently available in English only.

Assessment

Your learning will be assessed by a closed-book exam of 50 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 60 minutes. Exams will be available both online and in person.

This qualification is graded:

• Pass: 55% – 69%
• Pass with Merit: 70% – 84%
• Pass with Distinction: 85% or more

WSET is committed to making our exams fair and accessible and ensuring that no candidate is placed at a disadvantage. If you have any special requirements or need to request reasonable adjustments, please discuss this with your chosen course provider.

Entry requirements

This qualification is suitable for beginners as well as those with some foundational beer knowledge. If you are completely new to the subject, we recommend starting with the WSET Level 1 Award in Beer, though this is not a requirement.

You must be of legal drinking age in the country where you are attending the course to participate in any alcohol tasting. However, this is not a barrier to successfully completing the qualification.