Golden Key Beer Academy Virtual Learning Winter Session

So you’re interested in checking in with me and unlocking your path to beer education and becoming a better taster. I am a Certified Cicerone who is here and eager to help you succeed, however you’re measuring that success!

Here’s what to expect from my six lesson virtual beer school:

1. Learning how to build a beer vocabulary that’s personal to you.
2. A deep dive into the classic styles including history, brewing processes, tasting notes, and food pairings.
3. Beer tasting exercises to strengthen your palate and build your sensory knowledge.
4. An interactive format meant to engage you with others who are beer curious and thirsting to learn more.
5. Making this course what you need. While I have a built out lesson plan, there is wiggle room to adapt it to what you need, and the chance for individualized attention as needed.I am offering this at a rate of $40 per session. If you can’t make each date that’s fine you can pay per class you attend. However if you’re able to commit to all six, I’ll throw in a course free. So for 6 classes that would be $200 total!

Syllabus

Lesson One: January 20th, 2026

The Lobby: Let’s Check In

• Introductions and class takeaways
• How to understand and elevate your beer vocabulary
• Ingredients pt 1: Hops & Yeast
• Proper Glassware
• Tasting Techniques.

Lesson Two: February 3rd, 2026

The Lager Lounge

• Lager History
• Ingredients pt 2: Water & Malt
• Diving into the Brewing Process
• Style Side By Side Tasting

Lesson Three: February 17th, 2026

Into The Cellar

• Belgian Beer overview
• Trappist Ale History
• Stouts, Spontaneous Fermentation & Barrel Aging
• How Wild yeast & microbes affect beer

Lesson Four: March 3rd, 2026

The Banquet Hall

• All things food & beer pairing.
• How to pair, how to write pairings, best practices and pratfalls.
• Beer Pairing Vocabulary
• Cooking with Beer
• Beer service - From proper storage temperatures to corks vs caps to what’s in the walk in

Lesson Five: March 17th, 2026

Sensory Suite

• Learn how to become a better blind taster
• Really learn how taste and smell go hand in hand
• Swirl, Sniff, Repeat Method
• Possible Guest speaker TBA

Lesson Six: March 24th, 2026

Checking Out

• Off flavor analysis
• Beer Jeopardy Final Review
• Graduation