In-person brewing courses in Pune, Delhi, Gurugram and Bengaluru

Some things you only learn standing next to a mash tun

Every brewing book tells you to mash at around 65 °C (149 °F). Few tell you that strike water has to go in several degrees hotter, because cold malt and a cold vessel pull the temperature down the moment they meet. Stand at a mash tun once, watch the thermometer drop and you will never forget it.

That is the case for learning in person. It is why we now run hands-on brewing courses in Pune, Delhi, Gurugram and Bengaluru (Bangalore). There are two to choose from: the 1-day course at ₹25,000 and the 1-month course at ₹1,25,000.

The 1-day course packs grain to glass into one full day

The 1-Day Super Intensive Craft Beer Course puts you in a real microbrewery for a full day. It runs from raw materials to a finished pour, condensed into one classroom-plus-brewery session. The fee is ₹25,000 per student. The 1-day prospectus has the plan for the day.

You will handle malt, hops and yeast, see the mash, lauter and boil and learn what happens in the fermenter afterwards. It suits beer lovers who want to understand what is in the glass, homebrewers who have only brewed from kits and anyone weighing up a brewing career before committing more time. Our guide on how beer is made, step by step is good reading before the day.

The 1-month course is for people who plan to brew seriously

The 1-Month Intensive Brewing Excellence Course takes you from homebrewer towards beer founder. It mixes classes and online study with lab work and hands-on brewing in partner microbreweries: 48 contact hours over four weeks, two to three hours a day, with no more than 20 students in a batch.

Week one covers brewing fundamentals and raw materials. Week two is brewhouse operations, week three fermentation and yeast management, week four quality control and a complete brew of your own. The lab sessions cover sensory evaluation, water analysis, micro analysis and CIP. You get a certificate of completion once you have attended at least 80% of sessions.

The fee is ₹1,25,000 per student, with no taxes applicable, paid in full at sign-up. Fees are not refundable, but a seat can be transferred to someone else with our approval. The 1-month prospectus has the full syllabus and terms. If you are thinking of turning pro, read our guide to going from homebrewer to pro alongside it.

How to choose between them

The choice usually comes down to one question: are you exploring or committing?

• Pick the 1-day course if you want the whole process in one go, are new to brewing or want a hands-on day out with real learning in it.
• Pick the 1-month course if you already brew, want to fix recurring faults or are planning a brewery, a brewpub or a brand.

Plenty of people take the one-day course first and come back for the month. Nothing in the 1-day course is wasted if you do.

If you are still unsure, tell us what you brew now and what you want to be brewing in a year. We will point you at the course that fits rather than the longer one.

Brewing in Indian heat is part of the syllabus

A recipe written for a cool climate assumes a cool room. In Pune, Delhi, Gurugram and Bengaluru, a garage or kitchen can sit above 30 °C (86 °F) for months, which is ten degrees or more over the 18 to 20 °C (64 to 68 °F) most ale yeasts want. Warm fermentation throws fruity esters and harsh fusel alcohols. It is one of the most common faults in first beers brewed in Indian heat.

So both courses spend time on control: how a glycol-jacketed fermenter holds temperature in a brewery, plus what a homebrewer can do with a fridge, a controller or a heat-tolerant yeast such as kveik. Our guide to brewing for India goes further.

Four cities and the same standard in each

Both courses run in Pune, Delhi, Gurugram and Bengaluru. Each city follows the same syllabus. Dates and venues are confirmed when you enquire, because sessions are scheduled around the brewing kit and the size of each group.

Tasting is part of both courses and is always opt-in. You must be of legal drinking age in the state where the course runs. That age differs between states, so bring ID. Anyone who prefers not to drink can still learn every step of the process.

What to bring and how to book

Bring closed shoes, a notebook and clothes you do not mind getting wet: brewhouses are hot, wet places. Everything else, from the malt to the kit, is supplied.

Your first step is the enquiry form. Choose the 1-day or the 1-month course and name your city. We will send the next dates and the venue.

Common questions

Where do the in-person courses run?

In Pune, Delhi, Gurugram and Bengaluru. Venues and dates for each city are confirmed on enquiry.

What is the difference between the two courses?

The 1-day course covers grain to glass in one full day in a microbrewery. The 1-month course is 48 contact hours over four weeks of classes, lab work and hands-on brewing.

How much do the courses cost?

The 1-day course costs ₹25,000 per student. The 1-Month Intensive Brewing Excellence Course costs ₹1,25,000 per student, with no taxes applicable. Meals, travel and accommodation are not included.

Is there a cheaper way to study the syllabus?

Yes. The Brewing Fundamentals Study Book (₹1,999) covers the 1-month syllabus as study notes with crosswords. It is study material only, with no classes.