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WEBINARS

EBCU Webinars

The European Beer Consumers’ Union (EBCU) hosts a regular series of 45-minute online presentations covering various aspects of beer and brewing. Launched in 2020, these sessions are frequently presented by notable figures from the beer industry and consumer movement, drawing 100 or more live participants alongside recorded viewership.

The webinars focus on three main themes:

  • Generic: Beer news and campaigning, tasting, food matching and more

  • All About… Beer: In-depth looks at specific beer styles, ingredients, and brewing topics.

  • A Continent of Beer: Overviews of national beer cultures, traditions, and venues aimed at beer travellers.

Access & Registration:

  • Live Sessions: Organised for EBCU delegates and individual members, but open to the public. Registration is free, though small donations are encouraged to help support the program.

  • Past Recordings: All previous webinars are recorded and publicly available on the EBCU YouTube Channel.

  • Start time: All Webinars start at 20:00 Central European Time

Details on upcoming topics and registration links are available at ebcu.org/webinars.

Do you wish to suggest a future webinar?

The webinars are run by the European Beer Consumers Union (EBCU) and are open to members of all affiliated organisations.

50 Shades of Pink with Michela Cimatoribus

23 November 2026 – Register

Join speaker Michela Cimatoribus for 50 Shades of Pink, an insightful webinar exploring the impactful mission of Le Donne della Birra (Women of Beer). Founded in 2015 as the first—and currently only—Italian organization inspired by America’s Pink Boots Society, the group advocates for gender equality across the brewing industry while engaging enthusiasts through vibrant cultural activities. Now an inclusive Social Promotion Association open to all genders, the movement champions equal opportunity across every step of the beer value chain.

In this dynamic session, participants will dive into three core areas:

  • Media Representation: Key research examining how women are portrayed in contemporary beer marketing and communication.
  • 2026 Industry Survey: Fresh data revealing current statistics on female workforce presence in the Italian beer sector.
  • Creative Formats: A look into the organization’s signature beer-tasting events designed to inspire similar initiatives worldwide.

This webinar offers a valuable perspective on reshaping a historically male-dominated industry into a more diverse, inclusive community, providing a unique opportunity to help build an equal-opportunity future for beer.

Michela Cimatoribus is a Wine and Beer sommelier; she has her own business in food and beverage communication, and she has been a Board member of Le Donne della Birra since 2019.

All About Czech Lager with Radim Zvánovec

22 October 2026 – Watch

“In the Land of Foam and Patience”, provides an introduction to the history, culture and brewing traditions of Czech lager, exploring how ingredients such as Czech malt, Saaz hops, soft water and traditional lager yeast, together with techniques such as decoction mashing, cold fermentation and extended lagering, shape the character of Czech beer. The webinar also highlights the cultural importance of the Czech hospoda (pub) and the role of the výčepní (beertender), with particular focus on the art of the pour and the functional role of foam in influencing aroma, flavour, mouthfeel and freshness.

Radim Zvánovec is a Global Brand Ambassador for Budweiser Budvar, brewer, quality specialist, beer sommelier, and international beer judge dedicated to brewing, beverage education, and food culture. As a passionate and certified beer professional committed to continuous learning, he brings expertise to the table alongside a personal love for and world exploring.

A Continent of Beer – The United Kingdom

14 September 2026 – Watch

The United Kingdom offers one of the most rewarding and authentic drinking experiences in the world. As the birthplace of the modern pub and home to a brewing tradition stretching back centuries, the UK boasts thousands of unique venues—from historic coaching inns and cosy village locals to vibrant city taverns.

Come and discover an unparalleled range of cask-conditioned ales, craft beers, and regional specialities, all served in characterful surroundings steeped in history. With its bustling beer festivals, historic breweries, and a thriving community of passionate brewers and drinkers, the UK provides a rich culture that makes British beer and pubs famous worldwide.

Peter and Brett will cover:

  • Beer History: An overview of the British brewing scene and its rich historical roots.
  • British Beer Styles: A deep dive into iconic styles, the vital importance of cask-conditioned beer, and the role of CAMRA.
  • Places to Visit: A curated guide to key destinations for beer enthusiasts, including award-winning heritage pubs and must-visit beer festivals.
  • Traveller Essentials: Practical tips, insider advice, and resources for planning your British beer trip.

Peter Harris lives at the edge of Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire 320 km north of London. A member of CAMRA since 1974 he has judged the National Beer of England, and is an active member of the Brewery History Society.

Brett Laniosh lives in Worcestershire and has been active in CAMRA since 1977. He has run training at local breweries and pub companies for bar staff and licensees. He has organised tours for European beer enthusiasts to Birmingham and the Black Country.

From Followers to Fans – How to Build an Online Beer Community

8 June 2026 – Watch Now

As the classical social media platforms start to decline it’s getting harder and harder to build and maintain a beer community. Breweries worldwide are struggling to get the attention of their audience. Newer platforms like TikTok and Snapchat don’t seem the way to go, as alcohol might be prohibited there and the right audience is just not there.

Ferry Wijnhoven has built a beer community on Facebook called ‘Beer Geeks’. After more then 13 years this is still an active community, and with over 18.000 members this is the largest beer community of the Netherlands and Belgium. It’s not only about beertalk and posting a picture of beer, it’s actually so much more then that. Ferry will take you along in how to build and maintain such a community and will share some insights in the annual charity event for the group, which might be the largest collab in beer worldwide.

Ferry Wijnhoven is the founder and administrator of the largest online beer community in the Netherlands and Belgium, Beer Geeks, active since 2013. With over 18,000 members, he brings the entire beer community together. Since 2022, he has been a certified international beer sommelier. With his company ‘the Beerenthusiast’ he hosts beertastings and bottleshares all over the Netherlands. Ferry has been an international beerjudge for over 5 years, judging competitions like the Dutch Beer challenge and Brussels Beer Challenge.

A Continent of Beer – Flanders, presented by Liselot Caura and Andrew Daines

11 May 2026 – Watch Now

We look forward to welcoming you to this webinar exploring the vibrant beer scene of Flanders. We’ll guide you through the breweries you absolutely shouldn’t miss, from historic family breweries that have been crafting beer for more than 200 years to the new generation of creative, trendy microbreweries shaping today’s culture. You’ll also discover how the Flemish beer landscape has evolved since the strong growth of our rich beer tradition in the 1980s, blending heritage with innovation. Finally, we’ll share tips on the most interesting times of the year to visit, when festivals, seasonal brews, and local traditions bring the region’s beer culture to life. Cheers and enjoy the journey!

 

Liselot Caura is the founder and passionate guide of BeerSecret, a tour operator active in Belgium, with a focus on Ghent, Brussels and Bruges. BeerSecret offers carefully crafted Belgian beer tasting experiences and tours. These tours are designed to help our guests get a taste of the authentic Belgian culture, through our love and passion for “all-things-beer”.

 

Andrew Daines is VisitFlanders’ director for the UK and Ireland, a role that requires him to convince people to travel to Flanders and have a jolly good time. For some, that might involve cycling up steep cobbled hills, whilst for others it might mean whiling away the hours in an art gallery. But whatever people might do whilst they’re in Flanders, there’s no excuse to visit and not experience the renowned and unique beer culture, one way or another. And as a beer lover, Andrew takes this aspect of his role very seriously…

Biotransformation – Fundamentals and Practical Tips for Better IPAs with Carlos de la Barra

27 April 2026 – Watch Now

This workshop introduces the fundamentals of biotransformation and how yeast–hop/malt interactions shape the aroma and flavor profile of modern IPAs. Drawing from Lallemand Brewing’s Biotransformation program, we will explore what biotransformation is, why it matters, and how brewers can use ingredient selection and timing, and specific yeast strains to enhance tropical, citrus, and stone‑fruit expression in their beers. We will also look at actionable brewing techniques, including fermentation timing, dry‑hop strategies, and process parameters that enable brewers to unlock more expressive hop character. Whether you are new to the concept or already experimenting with hazy and hop‑forward styles, this session provides clear, practical takeaways to improve flavor outcomes in your IPAs.

 

Key content covered:

  • The basics of biotransformation: how yeast chemically modifies hop compounds during fermentation
  • Hop selection and key addition points (e.g., whirlpool, early dry hop) to maximize flavor release
  • Choosing yeast strains with strong biotransformation capability and how different strains influence specific aroma compounds
  • Practical brewery actions to influence flavor expression, including fermentation timing and process adjustments
  • Q&A with applied insights from real‑world brewing scenarios

 

Carlos de la Barra is a Technical Sales Manager at Lallemand Brewing, where he supports brewers across Central Europe with fermentation strategy, recipe development, and sensory training. With over 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, he has worked in brewing and winemaking roles in the UK, Sweden, and New Zealand, including positions such as Head Brewer at Beer52 and Quality & Technical Brewing Manager at Omnipollo. His background includes production leadership, R&D, and sensory evaluation.

Looking for past webinars? Browse the full archive of recordings → All recordings are also available on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@ebcu_official.

To register for an online event, please go to https://www.ebcu.org/events

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