Alumnus Bas 2nd place at Dutch Championship Biersommelier 2023

Beer Sommelier Championships

The 2023 Dutch Beer Sommelier Championships followed a set format, similar to previous years. Participants were tested on blind tasting six different beer styles, recognising and naming flavour deviations in beer, and a comprehensive knowledge test on brewing, beer culture and the gastronomic potential of beer.

The six best contestants qualified for the final round, in which they had to give an inspiring ten-minute presentation on an unknown beer, with minimal preparation time. They had to convince not only the expert jury, but also the audience.

Role of beer sommeliers

The Dutch Guild of Beer Sommeliers (NGBS) organised this third edition of the Dutch Beer Sommelier Championships. This guild consists of professional beer connoisseurs and enthusiasts who have obtained an internationally recognised accreditation as ‘Diplom Biersommelier’ through the Dutch Foundation for Beer Education (StiBON, Stichting Bieropleiding Nederland).

Beer sommeliers play a valuable role in the hospitality and gastronomy sector by bridging the gap between speciality beer brewers and consumers. They also bear responsibility by providing education on responsible alcohol consumption. Currently, more than 400 course participants have successfully completed the beer sommelier training programme through StiBON.

Beer talent

Bas also offers training courses through his training company BierTalent. This company provides beer training for Dutch hospitality companies, focusing on distinctiveness, hospitality, practicality and contemporaneity. BierTalent aims to create a learning environment for motivated employees, optimising guest satisfaction and profitability.

Beer training courses at Hotel and Facility Management

In addition to the regular beer lectures belonging to our Hotel Management study programme, Bas has developed a special training course for BUas based on BeerTalent’s hospitality training courses. This extracurricular training course is offered once a semester to Hotel and Facility Management students. In this Hospitality Beer Talent course, course participants delve deeper into the brewing process of different types of beer, tasting and recognising them and pairing them with dishes. The course, which ends with a test, is an excellent starting point for the StiBon beer sommelier training programme.

Want to read more about Bas’ experiences during the championships? Read his blog here (in Dutch only).