An intermediate level qualification for anyone looking to explore and understand the world of beer. The immersive and interactive course will enable you to look behind the label and comprehend how key ingredients and production choices influence the taste, style and quality of beer.
Course information
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.
Upon completion you’ll gain a recognised qualification and the skills to select, describe and recommend beers with authority.
Register your interest in beer courses at WSET School London
- Know the main ingredients used in beer production, how they are processed and their influence on the style of beer produced
- Malt (malted grains) and adjuncts, water, hops and other flavourings, yeast and bacteria
- Know 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
- Know 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
- Know how over 60 beer styles are produced and labelled and their typical characteristics
- Malt-driven lagers, malt-driven ales, hop-driven lagers, hop-driven ales, yeast-driven ales, Mixed fermentation styles, other speciality beers
Register your interest in beer courses at WSET School London
Your learning will be assessed by a closed-book exam of 50 multiple-choice questions, to be completed in 60 minutes.
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 let us know.
This qualification is regulated by Ofqual.
Successful students will receive a WSET certificate and lapel pin.
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 Level 1 Award in Beer, though this is not a requirement.
You must be at least 18 years old to enrol on any of our courses.
WSET's approach focuses on learning through tasting. This allows you to experience the influence of ingredients, processes and other key factors in the glass.
While you won’t be assessed on your tasting skills, tasting forms an important part of every WSET course. Through the course, you will learn how to taste beer using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Beer®.
Students studying in-person at WSET School London will taste around 32 beers across a range of styles.
Recommended tasting samples
- Tasting technique: British-style brown ale, Weissbier, Sweet stout, American pale ale, Oude Geuze (Gueuze)
- Brewing process and malting: Munich Helles, Munich Dunkel
- Malt-driven styles: Doppelbock, Rauchbier Märzen, Any two malt-driven ale styles
- Hop-driven styles: Czech Pilsner, German Pilsner, American IPA, Hazy IPA
- Yeast-driven styles: Saison, Tripel, Dubbel, Witbier
- Mixed fermentation styles: Oude Geuze (Gueuze), Oude Kreik, Flanders red, Framboise, Gose
- Other speciality beers: Two low alcohol beers, a gluten-free beer, a barrel-aged beer
- Off-flavours: American or international pale lager (can), American or international pale lager (green bottle), American or Hazy IPA (stored refrigerated), American or Hazy IPA (kept in a warm environment)
Study options
We have four study options available for this course at WSET School London.
We recommend selecting the option that best suits your own schedule, factoring in both attendance and private-study requirements. If you are unsure which option will suit you best, please feel free to get in touch.
To register your interest in WSET beer courses, please complete this form and you’ll be the first to know when new dates are available to book.
- Where: WSET School London
- Duration: 9:00am-5:00pm once a week for three weeks (includes exam)
- Private study: 11 hours. We recommend completing the majority of home study before the course begins
- Samples: In-class beer samples included
- Includes: Your workbook, beer samples, six tasting glasses, 16 hours of tuition, access to WSET School London additional resources on WSET’s Online Classroom, your examination, and exclusive offers via our Student Deals Card
- Who: Those with the flexibility to attend classes for one day per week. A popular choice for employers looking to train staff with minimal disruption to their working week
Browse day release courses
- Where: WSET School London
- Duration: 9:00am-5:00pm over three consecutive days (includes exam)
- Private study: 11 hours. We recommend completing the majority of home study before the course begins
- Samples: In-class beer samples included
- Includes: Your workbook, samples, six tasting glasses, 16 hours of tuition, access to WSET School London additional resources on WSET’s Online Classroom, your examination, and exclusive offers via our Student Deals Card
- Who: Those who want to complete the course as quickly as possible. This is the most intensive study format
Browse consecutive courses
- Where: WSET School London
- Duration: 10:00am-2:30pm for five consecutive Saturdays (includes exam)
- Private study: 11 hours
- Samples: In-class beer samples included
- Includes: Your workbook, beer samples, six tasting glasses, 16 hours of tuition, access to WSET School London additional resources on WSET’s Online Classroom, your examination, and exclusive offers via our Student Deals Card
- Who: A popular option for those wanting to explore the local area or those who are unable to study on weekdays
Browse Saturday courses
- Where: Online via WSET’s Online Classroom, with exam in London or online*
- Duration: Five weeks self-guided study to be completed around your schedule
- Private study: At least six hours a week
- Samples: Beers not included. We recommend you taste a minimum of 25 beers and you‘ll get guidance on what styles to taste
- Includes: Access to WSET's Online Classroom for one year (where you can participate in online lessons, activities, tests and forums), a dedicated online tutor who is available to answer your questions during the course, your examination, and exclusive offers via our Student Deals Card
- Enhanced features: Revision videos, flash cards and exam tips
- Who: Those who need a flexible study option, international students or those far away from our classroom centres
- Technology requirements: We recommend that you use a laptop or desktop device and have a reliable internet connection. To sit your examination online you will also need one additional smart device such as a smartphone or tablet
*More information on how online examinations work will be shared with you once you enrol. If you are a student in Mainland China or the UAE, it’s not possible for you to take the exam online due to technological restrictions.
Browse online coursesCourse dates
| Start date | Study option | Location | Price | Booking deadline | Availability | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Friday 10 May 2024 | Day Release | WSET School London | £560 | Wednesday 01 May 2024 | 10+ | Book Now | |
| Monday 13 May 2024 | Online | Online (exam via Remote Invigilation) | £395 | Friday 03 May 2024 | 10+ | Book Now | |
| Monday 27 May 2024 | Online | Online (exam via Remote Invigilation) | £395 | Friday 17 May 2024 | 10+ | Book Now | |
| Saturday 08 Jun 2024 | Saturdays | WSET School London | £560 | Friday 31 May 2024 | 10 | Book Now | |
| Monday 10 Jun 2024 | Online | Online (exam via Remote Invigilation) | £395 | Friday 31 May 2024 | 10+ | Book Now | |
| Monday 17 Jun 2024 | Consecutive | WSET School London | £560 | Friday 31 May 2024 | 6 | Book Now | |
| Monday 24 Jun 2024 | Online | Online (exam via Remote Invigilation) | £395 | Friday 14 Jun 2024 | 10+ | Book Now | |
| Monday 08 Jul 2024 | Online | Online (exam via Remote Invigilation) | £395 | Friday 28 Jun 2024 | 10+ | Book Now | |
| Wednesday 17 Jul 2024 | Consecutive | WSET School London | £560 | Tuesday 02 Jul 2024 | 10 | Book Now | |
| Monday 22 Jul 2024 | Online | Online (exam via Remote Invigilation) | £395 | Friday 12 Jul 2024 | 10+ | Book Now |
This course was a real highlight of my year and some of the best three days well-spent in my beer career. I found the Systematic Approach to Tasting a very useful and relevant way of tasting beer. I now have fresh perspective in describing beer aromas and flavours and can talk about all areas of beer and brewing at a higher level than before.
Natasha, Level 2 Award in Beer (pilot) student