This year marks the 20th anniversary of the VLB Certified Brewmaster Course. Since 2006, 670 graduates from 78 nations have received their well-deserved certificates. Since Wednesday, 7 January 2026, 27 more participants have joined the VLB and are working hard so that they too can celebrate their graduation in the summer.

A colourful group of 27 participants from 14 countries took their seats in the Singha Room of the VLB Training and Education Centre on the morning of 7 January 2026. After a brief course instructor Burghard Meyer welcomed everyone and appealed to the participants' diligence, without which the course would not be possible. ‘The VLB Certified Brewmaster course is demanding – you will reach your limits,’ Meyer predicted. In the afternoon, the new VLB Managing Director Dr. Björn Ch. Klotzbücher welcomed the cheerful class. For the first time in this role, Klotzbücher welcomed all participants in their native language and introduced each individual. "Together with the German-language brewing master course, the Certified Brewmaster is the VLB's flagship training programme.

You can expect an extremely interesting and varied, but also very demanding and intensive timetable,‘ explained the new VLB Managing Director. ’I wish you a good time with us at the VLB and say: “Cheers and good luck!”" After three weeks of theory, the first practical modules will take place at the beginning of February. As usual, internal and external lecturers will teach their protégés with a great deal of commitment and expertise in the in-house laboratories and the pilot brewery at the Wilfried Rinke Technical Centre. After the final examinations in mid-June, there will be another excursion this year. And on Friday, 26 June 2026, the coveted certificates will be awarded for the 20th time – in
the hope that the number of successful graduates will then rise to 697. 

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the VLB Certified Brewmaster programme. Twenty-seven participants began their training on 7 January 2026.