Classroom Syllabus for Craft Beer Sensorik Training Seminar - Weihenstephan Research Brewery 2026
Class Day 1 - Tuesday 9 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 10 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 2026
Sunday 7 June
- Leave USA to arrive in MUC on Monday, June 8
Monday 8 June
- Arrive MUC before 11am
- Group transported to Freising and Gasthof Lerner
- This is our hotel for the week
- Lunch at Weihenstephan Bräustüber
- 1 – 3 PM VIP tour or Weihenstephan Brauerei Caves
- 3pm Lerner Gasthaus check-in and free time downtown
- 5/6PM Biers and Dinner Welcome Reception at Lerner
- Suggest early evening
Tuesday 9 June (See Seminar syllabus for details)
- 9AM – 6PM Sensorik Classes at Weihenstephan Brauerei
- 7PM Dinner at Augustiner Downtown Freising
Wednesday 10 June (See Seminar syllabus for details)
- 9AM – 6PM Sensorik Classes at Weihenstephan Brauerei
- Receive TUM Sensorik Certificate
- 7PM Evening free in Freising dinner Huber
Thursday 11 June
- 7:45AM Leave for IREKS Bavarian Craft Malt Facility Kulmbach
- 10:30 – 11:15 Welcome
- 11:15 - 12:30 PM VIP Tour of IREKS Craft Malting Facilities
- 12:30 – 13:15 Lunch
- 13:15 – 14:00 Company Tour Specialty Malt Produktion
- 14:00 – 15:45 Museum tour
- 16:00 Return Freising
- 19:00 Dinner at Local Pub
Friday 12 June
- 10:00 – 11:45 Haus of Hops - Wolnzach
- 12:00 – 2PM Lunch Gasthaus Siebler – Wolnzach
- 13:35 – 16:00 VIP tour of Bavarian Hops Research Center - Hüll
- 16:00 – Tour Large Hop Field
- 7PM Dinner Weihenstephan Goodbye
Saturday 13 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 8 or want to stay after June 13, 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 2026
Take with you (all are a MUST)
- Current Passport
- If your current passport expires before 2027 it will NOT be valid for this trip. UPDATE IT NOW
- You will need the NEW starting in 2026 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
- 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 7 - 13
-
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. - Add the WhatsApp app to your phone. Free calls and messaging. I will be using this in Europe for communicating with the group
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.
EXTRA FUN STUFF!
- Great picture taking opportunities through the day. We will be enjoying lots of local Hallertau Hops Growing Region attractions including Bavarian Hops Research Center, Local Hops Farm, 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)
- Neither Trip’s Beer Trips nor I personally are responsible for any expenses any individual incurs that may affect them from staying on or participating on the scheduled trip.
-
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 11:00 Monday, June 8
- 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