Natalya Watson
WSET's Business Development Manager - Beer and Beer Educator
Natalya is an award-winning beer educator passionate about sharing her knowledge of beer with others because she believes that beer is simply too delicious to remain undiscovered.
Her beer career began behind the bar at Mother Kelly's in Bethnal Green, then she took on the role of UK marketing manager for Duvel Moortgat for 3+ years, before achieving her qualifications and setting up her own business dedicated to beer education for which she was named 'Training Professional of the Year' at the British Institute of Innkeeping’s 2022 National Innovation in Training Awards.
Natalya is qualified as an IBD Beer Sommelier, Advanced Cicerone® and WSET beer educator and holds her WSET Level 2 Award in Beer. She is also the author of Beer: Taste the Evolution in 50 Styles (Kyle Books, 2020) and host of the 'Beer with Nat' podcast.
In September 2023, Natalya joined WSET as Business Development Manager to support the launch of the organisation’s new beer qualifications within Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
Natalya teaches both levels of beer qualifications at WSET School London.
Get to know Natalya Watson
1. How did you get into the beer industry?
Friends introduced me to good beer during graduate school, I became fascinated by the flavours and wanted to learn more. From there, I never stopped learning!
I got my foot in the door behind the bar at Mother Kelly’s in Bethnal Green. Then, through a women in beer meet-up group, I found out about an opportunity at Duvel Moortgat and was able to use my previous experience in communications to join as their UK marketing manager.
2. Do you have a favourite beer or style of beer?
I love a saison because – as I always teach my students – saison’s got it all going on! It’s a yeast-driven beer style with aromas of black pepper and citrus, but hop bitterness and aroma are important here, too, and it can be brewed with a range of grains as there’s a lot of room for interpretation in this style. I love that each of beer’s ingredients plays an important part in this style’s overall aroma and flavour profile.
3. Why do you think it’s important for people to learn more about beer
I think beer is one of the least understood alcoholic beverages, despite being one of the most widely consumed. Most people know that wine comes from grapes and cider comes from apples, but few people know what beer actually comes from – as it’s not one single ingredient, but four (malted grains, water, hops and yeast).
Once people know what beer is made from, they can begin to understand the different flavours that each ingredient can introduce. Then the whole world of beer starts to make much more sense, as you start to see how different combinations of ingredients can come together. I liken it to putting a puzzle together. I love helping people create those connections and see the big picture of how different ingredient and process choices can create totally different beer styles.
4. What do you enjoy most about teaching beer?
I truly believe that beer is simply too delicious to remain undiscovered, so, for me, the best thing about beer education is helping more people to discover and appreciate this wonderful beverage. I always say, if you think you don’t like beer, keep trying, as there are over a hundred different beer styles out there and there’s bound to be one for you.
5. What are your favourite topics to teach?
I really enjoy teaching people both theory and tasting. It’s so fun to teach people about beer’s ingredients so they better understand what flavours are even possible to find with in beer, then teaching tasting and watching them find those flavours is brilliant. Outside of drinks education, there really isn’t much focus on tasting training, but it’s such a helpful skill that enables us to better enjoy all kinds of different beverages and foods. I really love imparting people with a new skill that can be used in other aspects of their lives, as well.
6.Do you have any advice for people wishing to enter the drinks industry?
I think if someone is looking to get into the drinks industry, it’s important to remember that all kinds of different skills are needed. I’d say spend some time – in any industry – finding out what you do best (are you a great communicator, project manager, event organiser, accountant, etc.), then once you know your skill set, start looking for relevant roles within the drinks industry. Or, if you don’t quite know what you’re best at yet, get a job in hospitality and try out different roles to figure it out.
You may also find that a WSET qualification can be a great first step, as well. Way back in 2015, I pursued a career in beer because I was following a passion. Even though I hadn’t worked in the industry previously, I found it really helpful to have a qualification in beer, as it boosted my confidence when applying for roles and showed potential employers that I knew my stuff about the product I was so passionate about. Plus, who doesn’t love learning more about their favourite beverage!
7. Do you have any top tips for passing WSET exams?
Use the specification as your guide so you can know what the learning outcomes are going into the course and revise accordingly, knowing that everything you could be tested on is in your course materials and your course provider has done their best to bring it all to life for you.
8. In your opinion, what is the future of the beer industry?
In the future I envision that WSET’s beer courses and qualifications have improved the global standard of beer education and general level of knowledge about this brilliant beverage – which has led to beer being taken more seriously and more people discovering just how diverse and delicious it can be.
9. What is your dream job?
I’m doing it! Traveling around the world and teaching people about beer – how lucky am I?
10. What is your proudest achievement?
I’ve got two – writing my book on the history of beer (Beer: Taste the Evolution in 50 Styles) and being named ‘Training Professional of the Year’ by the British Institute of Innkeeping in 2022, for helping to support over 400 students through my own online beer education business during the pandemic.