This week Burghard Meyer joins us from the Research and Teaching Institute in Berlin (VLB) to discuss professional brewing education and how you can get the training needed to become a certified brewmaster.
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Topics in This Week’s Episode (31:57)
- Burghard Meyer from the Research and Teaching Institute for Brewing (VLB) in Berlin is my guest this week. Burghard is the Head Teacher of International Brewing Courses for the institute. He has degrees in Biotechnology and Brewing Technology, and previously brewed at the Bolten-Brauerei Carl Bolten GmbH & Co Brewery. He is suppoerted by Jan Biering who has an Engineering degree and also teaches at the institute. He is also headmaster of the Berlin Brewer’s Guild.
- We start with a discussion of how Burghard got started in brewing and gained a passion for brewing beer.
- Burghard explains the advantage of a professional beer education for those considering a career in brewing.
- We talk about how much time and money it takes to become a Certified Brewmaster
- Burghard explains the topics covered in the Certified Brewmaster course, including both classroom work and also practical experience on their pilot brewing system
- We talk about scaling a recipe up from a small pilot brewery to professional brewing scales
- We briefly discuss the business side of running a brewery and education for that
- Burghard shares with us his thoughts on the importance of apprenticeships and discusses this system in Germany
- We talk about the variety of courses the VLB offers for brewers including those just starting in professional brewing, as well as those looking to become certified brewers
- Burghard shares his thoughts on the growth of home brewing in Germany
- We discuss his final advice for home brewers and those considering going pro in beer brewing
Thanks to Burghard Meyer for appearing on the show and also to you for listening!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
This interview really makes me wanna move to Berlin for half a year, perhaps some day I will!
Your guest mentions a book published about old beer styles and recipes. Unfortunately I can’t find reference to it or figure out the author’s name. Did you by any chance write it down?