Classroom Syllabus for Craft Beer Sensorik Training Seminar - Weihenstephan Research Brewery 2025
Class Day 1 - Tuesday 10 June
- 9:00 – Noon (Morning Session)
- Welcome to Weihenstephan Brauerei
- German Beer & Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot)
- PRACTICE: Basic Tastes
- THEORY: Odor
- PRACTICE: Aromatic Substances
- BREAK
- THEORY: Taste
- PRACTICE: Threshold determination
- Noon – 2pm
- Lunch Break – (Gasthof Lerner)
- 2:00 – 6:00 (Afternoon Session)
- THEORY: Odor
- PRACTICE: Aromatic Substances
- THEORY: Odor
- PRACTICE: Aromatic Substances
- BREAK
- PRACTICE: Odor
- PRACTICE: Aromatic Substances
- THEORY: Odor
- PRACTICE: Aromatic Substances
- 7:00 Dinner (Bräustüberl Weihenstephan)
Class Day 2 - Wednesday 11 June
- 9:00 – Noon (Morning Session)
- PRACTICE: Basic Tastes
- PRACTICE: Aromatic Substances
- PRACTICE: Ranking test
- PRACTICE: Threshold determination
- BREAK
- THEORY: Beer Aging
- PRACTICE: Beer Aging
- EXAMINATION
- THEORY: Taste
- PRACTICE: Threshold determination
- Noon – 2pm
- Lunch Break – (Gasthof Lerner)
- 2:00 – 6:00 (Afternoon Session)
- THEORY: German Bier Styles
- PRACTICE: German Bier Styles
- BREAK
- PRACTICE: Bier Tasting
- TUM – Certificate to Students
- 7:00 Dinner (Free time in Freising)
Detailed Trip Itinerary for Craft Beer Sensorik Training Seminar - Weihenstephan Research Brewery 2025
Sunday 8 June
- Leave USA to arrive in MUC on Monday, June 9, 2025
Monday 9 June
- Arrive MUC before 11am
- Group transported to Freising and Gasthof Lerner*
- This is our hotel for the week
- Lunch at Gasthof Lerner*
- 2 – 4 PM VIP tour or Weihenstephan Brauerei (World Oldest Brewery)*
- 5PM Biers and Dinner Welcome Reception at Weihenstephan*
- Suggest early evening
Tuesday 10 June (See Seminar syllabus for details)
- 9AM – 6PM Sensorik Classes at Weihenstephan Brauerei
- 7PM Dinner at Weihenstephan*
Wednesday 11 June (See Seminar syllabus for details)
- 9AM – 6PM Sensorik Classes at Weihenstephan Brauerei
- Receive TUM Sensorik Certificate
- 7PM Evening free in Freising
Thursday 12 June (*all day)
- 9AM – 11:30AM VIP tour of Bavarian Hops Research Center - Hüll
- Noon – 2PM Lunch Gasthaus Siebler – Wolnzach
- 2:30 – 4:30 VIP tour of Hallertau Hops Grading & Processing – St. Johann
- 6PM Dinner Gasthaus Lerner
- Evening Free in Freising
Friday 13 June (*all day)
- 9AM Leave for IREKS Bavarian Craft Malt Facility Kulmbach
- Lunch at IREKS
- 2 – 4:30 PM VIP Tour IREKS Craft Malting Facilities
- 4:30 – 6PM Free time in Kulmbach
- 6-8:30 Dinner in Kulmbach (hosted by IREKS)
- 8:30 – 10PM Transport back to Freising
- 10PM Goodbye Biers at Weihenstephan Brauerei
Saturday 14 June
- 8:30 AM transportation back to MUC*
NOTE
- I have suggested Companion Day activities during Sensorik Classes Tuesday and Wednesday.
- If you would like to arrive in Freising before June 9 or want to stay after June 14, I can arrange for suggestions on where to stay in Freising, or other locations in Munich.
Stuff You Should Know for Craft Beer Sensorik Training Seminar - Weihenstephan Research Brewery 2025
Take with you (all are a MUST)
- Current Passport
- If your current passport expires in 2025 it will NOT be valid for this trip. UPDATE IT NOW
- You will need the NEW starting in 2025 EU Travel Voucher
- Driver License (US)
- No more than 2 Credit Cards
- European power converter (1 for each person)
- available @ Best Buy or AAA
- Any Medicines/vitamins you take
- Sunglasses, extra reading glasses
- Business Cards
Make a list
(3 copies: 1 to stay @ home with access from trusted person, 1 to keep on your phone, 1 to keep in your suitcase but not on your person)
- Your Passport & Driver’s license #’s, appropriate medical records
- Credit Card(s) #’s
-
Important people to contact @ home in case of emergency (their
phone and email addresses) -
Any medical conditions that you may have requiring special
attention, food allergies, etc.
Notify your credit card company that you will be traveling in Germany. The # is on the back of the credit card(s) you will be taking.
- If you are a premium member for your credit card, you will not have to pay Europe transaction fees.
- Double check your ATM card to be sure you qualify for no transaction fees
Consider bringing 100 Euro’s before you arrive in Munich. No need to bring more, we will stop at a bank ATM soon after arrival. These give the best rates for withdrawing cash.
- We discuss how to use your credit card in Europe when we get there.
Phone and iPad prep
-
Call your phone service to have them walk you thru on how to TURN OFF the data function of your phone
- This is VERY IMPORTANT as it will save you lots of $$
- Ask your phone company for a SHORT-TERM International Call plan (Germany) from June 8 - 14, 2025
-
If you have an iPad you may want to see if it is associated with a
Phone # and you may have to do same set up with phone company -
I am bringing my computer. Nothing needs to be done to prepare.
You will need a power converter that can plug in anywhere there is internet connection.
CLOTHES
- Bring casual comfortable warm clothes and closed toe shoes. We will be doing quite a bit of walking.
- The weather is like ours this time of the year, but evenings may be colder, so I suggest layers including a jacket, sweater, and long sleeve shirts as well as a light windbreaker that is also water resistant.
- You may want to consider bringing some traditional Bavarian clothes (lederhosen etc.) and look like a native.
EXTRA FUN STUFF!
- Bring your CAMERA during the daytime we will be enjoying lots of local Hallertau Hops Growing Region attractions including Bavarian Hops Research Center, St. Johann Hops Processing Center, IREKS Bavarian Malts Facilities, and several brewery tours.
- Local Bavarian beer, food, and traditions.
-
To avoid jet lag
- Try to sleep on plane over
- Drink plenty of water (there is lots of beer once you arrive)
- Wear loose shoes on the plane
Consider Travel Insurance (Ask me for a quote and what it covers)
-
You are responsible for ANY expenses if you are hurt, detained or
unable to remain on the proscribed itinerary. -
You can purchase a policy yourself, or I can assist you in getting the
travel insurance coverage you desire.
We will all meet just outside customs at the Munich Airport.
- Clear Customs before noon Monday, June 9, 2025
- We will head directly into Freising and check into hotel
- Light Lunch
- Weihenstephan Brauerei Tour
- TUM Welcome Dinner and drinks
For anyone not attending Sensorik Classes
- I will have suggested itineraries for local activities
- All in the group WILL be included on all Field Excursions