Growing consumer interest in beer styles and heritage, along with ever-higher expectations of quality, are prompting more pub and bar operators to sign up their staff to training courses run by the Beer Academy.
Along with a 20% year-on-year uplift in bookings onto its range of beer appreciation courses, the leading global beer education body is increasingly responding to requests from operators to run bespoke training courses tailored to their specific beer range and service style.
Bespoke training courses
Alex Barlow, Beer Academy director of training, said, “Our courses follow a structured training ladder, from the Foundation course, through the Advanced and How to Judge Beer programmes, right through to the prestigious Beer Sommelier qualification.
“From within these courses, it’s straightforward for us to select the elements most relevant to a particular operator, supplemented by bespoke elements as required, For example, an operator who specialises in a particular beer style or region will want to ensure their staff have the knowledge to discuss those beers with customers and serve them correctly.”
Duck & Rice
Duck & Rice on Soho, the new Chinese gastropub venture by restaurateur Alan Yau, offers an impressive range of bottled, draught and even brewery-fresh tank beer. Key staff undertook bespoke Beer Academy training prior to the venue’s opening, and further courses are planned as the bar team expands.
Duck & Rice bar director George Matzaridis says, “The Beer Academy provided great in-depth training about beer taste, production and methodology across a variety of products. It helped to enthuse an appreciation for beer styles including, IPAs, stout and ale in staff who previously had very little knowledge. I’d highly recommend it for businesses where beer is a core product who want to improve staff knowledge of beer.”
Barworks
London based Barworks operates many of the capital’s most on-trend pubs, including the Well & Bucket in Bethnal Green and the Earl of Essex in Islington. Mike Harrington, operations manager, says, “Customer interest in all styles of beer is increasing, and we pride ourselves on serving the best and most interesting beers, from brewers both locally and around the world, in our bars. A big part of the enjoyment for customers is being able to talk about the beers, in terms of the style, flavour and provenance.
“We’re now working with the Beer Academy to give our staff a planned training programme. All of them will have a sound knowledge of beer as well as the skills to serve it well, which will enable them to talk confidently with customers, and enhance the reputation of our bars. For those who want to progress, the structured programme of Beer Academy courses will allow them to develop.”
Beer Academy courses are held frequently in London and a number of centres around the country, and can also be delivered at operators’ own sites.
For more information and to book courses click here