Beer. It’s more than a drink: it’s a cultural mirror and a time machine in a glass. From ancient rituals to the taps of your local indie brewery, beer has long played a role that goes beyond mere refreshment.
But what if your relationship with beer could go deeper?
What if you could not only enjoy a pint, but truly understand it - its ingredients, heritage, and structure? That’s exactly what the WSET Level 2 Award in Beer offers. Whether you're a drinks trade professional, aspiring beer sommelier, or just someone who gets a bit misty-eyed over a perfectly pulled pint, this beer qualification is a gateway to a richer, more informed experience of the world’s favourite beverage.
Here are six reasons you might want to take the next step in your beer education.
Learn to speak beer fluently
Let’s be honest: most of us have, at some point, stood at the bar trying to describe what we like using a vocabulary of about four words: “fruity,” “hoppy,” “bitter,” and “malty.”
The WSET Level 2 in Beer gives you the language to move beyond the basics. You’ll learn how to articulate what you’re tasting with precision, talking confidently about citrus hop aromas, fruity esters, mouthfeel and more. Whether you're writing a tasting note, guiding a customer, or just chatting with friends, you'll sound like you know what you’re doing—because you will.
This isn’t about snobbery. It’s about speaking the language of beer fluently, the way you would with wine or coffee or any other craft.
Elevate your beer experience
You probably love beer already. But there’s a certain magic in discovering why you love it.
WSET Level 2 gives you the tools to identify what’s going on in your glass: you'll be able to link coffee and chocolate aromas to the presence of roasted malt, a beer's bitterness level to the the timing of the hop additions, or its fruity and spicy notes to the use of certain strains of ale yeast. You’ll learn how to taste beer methodically, analysing aroma, flavour, and structure. This transforms every pint into a mini adventure.
You’ll start recognising quality. You’ll notice when something is off. And you’ll unlock whole new categories of beer that you might never have appreciated before. It’s like switching from black-and-white to colour.
Explore the world through beer
Beer is one of the most global drinks out there. It’s brewed in almost every country on Earth, and each culture brings something unique to the glass.
From Belgian Trappist ales, brewed in abbeys according to centuries-old tradition, to the crisp rice lagers of Japan or the hop-forward IPAs of the American West Coast, beer reflects the landscape and people who made it. With this course, you’re not just learning styles. You’re also exploring stories, climates, ingredients, and traditions.
In that sense, WSET Level 2 isn’t just a beer tasting course—it’s a world tour.
Read more: Five beer destinations you can't miss
A beer pub in the Mala Strana district of Prague.
Boost your confidence in any setting
Imagine this: You’re at a dinner party. Someone hands you a Saison. Instead of going straight in for a sip, you pause for a moment to swirl, then sniff the beer and think to yourself: ‘Yep, there are those lemon and black pepper notes from the yeast, and some bread dough and water cracker aromas from the malt bill.’
Now imagine you’re behind the bar, and a customer says they usually prefer a Pilsner but would like to try something different. You can now confidently recommend an American IPA, since you know that both styles are hop-driven with a notable presence of hop bitterness – but you’ll be introducing them to a new range of hop aromas.
Whether it’s personal or professional, knowing your stuff feels good. This beer knowledge course helps you get there.
Future-proof your drinks career
Let’s talk career. The drinks industry is evolving fast. Beer menus are expanding. Customer expectations are rising. Whether you are a sommelier, bartender, brewer, or retail buyer, understanding beer is no longer optional. It’s a competitive edge.
With the WSET Level 2 Award in Beer, you get a globally recognised professional beer certification that adds weight to your CV. It shows not just enthusiasm, but expertise. And with the credibility of WSET behind it, you’re sending a clear message: “I take this seriously.”
The Level 2 Award in Beer offers complete beer sommelier training in just one qualification, from beer and food pairing, beer storage and service to exploring beer styles and flavours. This isn’t just education. It’s career development with flavour.
It’s more accessible than you think
Worried you’ll be out of your depth? Don’t be. You don’t need to be a brewer, a bartender, or a beer blogger to sign up.
This course is designed for anyone with an interest in beer, whether you're a total beginner or a seasoned enthusiast. You can learn online or in person, at your own pace, with a clear, structured syllabus and plenty of support along the way.
It’s not a dry, academic slog. It’s enjoyable, engaging and often, dare we say it, fun. Learning about beer shouldn’t feel like work. It should feel like discovery.
A final sip
Beer is in a golden age. There’s more variety, creativity and cultural relevance in beer than at any other point in history, and yet most people still underestimate just how deep and rewarding beer can be when you really start to look at it.
Whether you want to become a beer expert, grow your career, or simply squeeze more joy from every sip, the WSET Level 2 Award in Beer is a smart and satisfying step forward.
So why not take it?
Jamie Percival is a WSET certified beer educator at ThirtyFifty, bringing over 20 years of experience in the beer industry. Today, Jamie works closely with the drinks and hospitality sectors in specialist and consultancy roles, offering expert training and support to breweries, bars and beer enthusiasts alike.
