This fall, VLB Berlin, one of the world leaders in brewing and beverage technology, consulting, and education, holds its first brewing conference in North America. Conducted from September 15th & 16th, 2026, VLB Berlin brings its team of experts and affiliated scientists to the 1st VLB North American Brewing Conference at the Holiday Inn Toronto International Airport in Toronto, Canada.

Topics

Over the last 20 years, VLB Berlin has held technical conferences in locations around the world. For their first offering in North America, presenters will cover a wide range of topics including:

• The latest findings from VLB Berlin research projects relevant to the malting and brewing industries.
• Emerging technologies from leading industry suppliers, supported by practical examples and ROI analyses that demonstrate their benefits.
• Detailed case studies of real-world installations and processes.
• Solutions used by leading breweries and beverage producers to meet sustainability and regulatory requirements while minimizing capital expenditures, supply chain disruptions, and unintended impacts on product quality.
• An overview of VLB Berlin’s extensive capabilities in education, contract research, consulting. 

Confirmed Presenters

• Dr. Björn Ch. Klotzbücher (Managing Director VLB)
  Fields of research work, objectives & services of VLB Berlin since 1883, beyond brewer education
• Jan Biering (VLB, Head of Research Institute for Beer and Beverage Production)
  Development of a hybrid measurement system for the online monitoring of characteristic flavors during beer fermentation
• Florian Heukäufer (VLB, Head of Testing Laboratory of Packaging)
  Beverage packaging: Quality issues and how to prevent them
• Alexandra Mușat (VLB, Researc Assiciate, Research Institute for Biotechnology and Water)
  Premature Yeast Flocculation - Background, Impact, Prevention
• Matt Giffen (Bench Brewing Company, Founder & President)
  The Future of Sustainability: Integrating Purpose with Profit in a Changing World
• Brian Ettkin (Numerator, Account Specialist)
  Canadian Consumer 2026: Demand reset signals for beverage alcohol

Sensory Workshop on Wednesday, 16 September 2026:

Beyond the Numbers: Sensory Analysis for improved Product Quality Understanding

Sensory analysis can offer a valuable perspective alongside chemical and instrumental analysis, helping brewers understand how analytical and technological changes ultimately manifest themselves in the finished beer.
This workshop is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of the fundamentals and key requirements of sensory analysis. It offers valuable insights into the process of selecting tasters and establishing a tasting panel. Through guided tastings, interactive exercises, and case studies, participants will learn about various sensory methods and the applications of sensory analysis. The workshop will teach participants how sensory analysis can complement analytical approaches in characterizing beverage profiles, product development, shelf-life and quality control, and the evaluation of how packaging and product interact to affect sensory quality.

The workshop is aimed at professionals in the fields of quality assurance, product development, or sensory evaluation in the brewing and beverage industries, as well as in the food industry. It offers practical insights into integrating sensory analysis into existing analytical approaches to promote quality, consistency, and excellence in brewing.

About Toronto

Toronto: A Canadian Jewel! The conference venue, near Toronto Pearson International Airport, is approximately a 40-minute drive from downtown Toronto and is also accessible by public transit. Attendees are encouraged to explore Canada’s largest city, which offers a wide range of restaurants, stores, bars, clubs, and cultural attractions. Baseball fans may also have an opportunity to see the Toronto Blue Jays in action between September 11 and 16.

Attendance fees

• Participants from breweries
  Conference only: 990 USD* ≈ 1,370 CAD*
  Conference + Sensory Workshop: 1,040 USD* ≈ 1,460 CAD*
• Participants from supplier companies (incl. maltings):
  Conference only: 1,860 USD* ≈ 2,580 CAD*
  Conference + Sensory Workshop: 1,910 USD* ≈ 2,685 CAD*
• Students of brewing or beverage technology 
  (proof required):
  Conference only: 120 USD* ≈ 168 CAD*

*all prices plus local taxes

Invoices are issued in Euros €. The amount is converted using the current daily US Dollar/Euro exchange rate.

Discounts

• Group discount: 25% for 5 or more registrations from the same organization (please contact d.alonso@vlb-berlin.org before)