Course Instructor · Master Brewer
Ankur Napa
A Master Brewer from R&D at United Breweries, SABMiller and AB InBev who went on to build AI and GenAI as a data scientist for AB InBev's global business units.
About Ganesh
Ganesh is the most senior mentor at Craft Beer School. He has spent more than 38 years in brewing across Germany, the UK, New Zealand, Singapore and India. His last role was Assistant Vice President, Technical.
He has run every stage of the brewery: brewhouse, fermentation, lagering, filtration and bottling. He has brewed ales, stouts, dark ales, festival brews and flavoured beers to the quality standards of leading global brands. He led brewery expansions, plant modernisations and restarts. He also brought production methods and quality benchmarks into line across sites.
He led the project that developed and launched malt-based non-alcoholic drinks. He has worked on recipes and plant efficiency for flagship brands at international sites.
Teaching has run through his whole career. He has designed technical programmes for brewers and pub teams. He has presented at CFTRI, HBTI and PES College. Today he mentors postgraduate students at VSI in Pune.
Teaches
- Brewery operations
- Fermentation and lagering
- Filtration and bottling
- Specialty and festival beers
- Non-alcoholic malt drinks
- Sensory evaluation
- Brewery expansions and restarts
Courses
Career
- Assistant Vice President, TechnicalLast position
- 38+ yearsBrewing in Germany, the UK, New Zealand, Singapore and India
- NowMentor to postgraduate studentsVSI, Pune
Education
- Master Brewer ExaminationThe Institute of Brewing and Distilling, UK
- Malting and Brewing courseInternational Centre for Brewing and Distilling, Heriot-Watt University, held at CFTRI
- Formal sensory trainingBrewing Research Foundation, UK
- PG Diploma in Business AdministrationBharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bengaluru
- Executive Development ProgrammeIIM Bangalore
- Developing Leaders ProgrammeIIM Calcutta
- German language, levels GI and GIIMax Mueller Bhavan, Bengaluru
Your mentors
Meet the rest of the team.
Beer Podcaster · Creative Strategist
Chatty Girija
30+ years in advertising and a deep passion for craft beer. Brings the stories, the branding and the business of beer to every session.
Head of Strategy & Operations · Culinary Expert
Anu Rao
15+ years across social responsibility, education and operations, keeping every cohort running smoothly, grain to glass.
Brewing Science Instructor · Delhi & North India
Rahul Baliyan
German-style Brewmaster trained at Weihenstephan, TU Munich, with an M.Tech. in Food Biotechnology. A decade as Consultant Brew Master for JW Marriott Chandigarh and Rockmann Beer Island, India's first German brewery, from start-up and excise to yield and sourcing.
Beer Educator · National Beer Judge
Kenneth
A WSET and Cicerone Beer Educator, accredited National Beer Judge and member of the British Guild of Beer Writers. He works to raise beer education standards across Asia and Greater China.