Beer Academy launches beer and food course

The Beer Academy has launched a new beer and food matching course. 'Making Beer and Food Dance' is a half day course that has been developed as a result of positive feedback on the beer and food element of the Beer Academy's foundation course.

The aim is to help anyone interested in food to choose specific beer styles to accompany a dish.

Organisers hope to run the courses throughout the UK - depending on sufficient demand for between 15-20 students per course.

The half day event costs £75 plus VAT and the full day foundation course is £125 plus VAT, with special rates for groups. Courses can be held in pubs, clubs, on ocean liners or in private homes - or for corporate days.

The Beer Academy's chief executive Dr George Philliskirk said: "Don't get me wrong - I often enjoy a glass of wine with a meal, but the range of flavours available in beers lend themselves to matching with almost any food. A big favourite of mine is combining beers with cheese. Cheese, like beer, has a rich diversity of flavours (and textures) and in combination with a well-chosen beer, the subtleties of both the beer and cheese work together to deliver great taste, as well as leaving a palate that is clean and refreshed. Why not try Stilton cheese with a strong and malt-rich traditional British ale? - it beats wine or Port hands-down. Or a mature cheddar with a hoppier ale or bitter.

"For dark chocolate pudding, what better than a Belgian cherry beer, a wonderful combination of tartness and fruit which does wonders for the chocolate? Or for your smoked-fish starters, why not tempt customers with cool wheat beer, or lemony pale ale to 'help the fish swim', get the idea? It doesn't need a fancy menu to put together successful beer and food combos, just a willingness to learn and experiment and bring together chefs and bar staff to create a beer and food menu that will amaze your friends - and maybe make them dance!"

The Beer Academy has also launched a half-day 'Introduction to Beer' course is aimed at anyone interested in beer. The course covers beer's raw materials and its brewing process, whilst emphasis is also given to the many styles and colours of beers worldwide. The course concludes with a short session on beer and food matching.

For further information, contact Rupert Ponsonby of R&R Teamwork on

02073841333 ehcreg@enaqe.pb.hx​