In this episode I’m joined by Natalya Watson to talk about beer education, tasting and judging.
Nat is an Advanced Cicerone, Beer Sommelier and WSET educator, as well as an experienced beer judge.
What do you actually learn when you study beer?
We talk about WSET and how a more structured approach to tasting can change the way you experience what’s in your glass.
Nat explains some of the biggest mistakes people make when tasting beer, why smell is so important and how to approach tasting more systematically.
We also talk about some of the beers used in WSET classes, including a Munich Dunkel
How do you actually become a beer judge?
Nat takes me through how she got started, what happens around the judging table and how judges separate personal preference from assessing a beer against competition criteria.
We also talk about different beer styles, developing your palate and how you might introduce someone who doesn't think they're a beer drinker to something they could actually enjoy.
Towards the end, we talk about Natalya’s own podcast, Cheers with Nat, and how it has evolved into conversations across the wider drinks world.
We finish with a few quick questions, including Natalya’s favourite beer, an underrated beer style and three breweries that have played an important part in her beer journey.
If you’ve ever thought about doing a WSET beer course, becoming a beer judge, improving your tasting skills or simply understanding more about what’s in your glass, there’s plenty here to get stuck into.
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/cheers_with_nat/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/beerwithnat
00:00 - 04:56 Natalya Watson's Journey into beer
04:57 - 08:24 What beer education teaches you
08:25 - 10:39 Does knowing more about beer ruin the fun?
10:40 - 15:24 What do you get from a WSET beer course?
15:25 - 18:35 The biggest mistake people make when tasting beer
18:36 - 25:30 How to taste six different beers
25:31 - 27:52 How do you become a beer judge?
27:53 - 32:05 What actually happens around a beer judging table?
32:06 - 37:10 Can a great beer be a bad example of its style?
37:11 - 39:44 Why beer gets pre-tasted before WSET classes
39:45 - 43:09 What beer would you give a non-beer drinker?
43:10 - Cheers With Nat, what's next & quick-fire questions
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