Beer brewing classes in Calgary pull back the curtain on one of the most satisfying DIY food skills there is. You work through the brewing process from grain to fermenter with a brewer who explains every decision along the way. Calgary's craft beer scene is strong, and a brewing class gives you a new lens for everything you drink from that point forward.
What It's Like
What to Expect
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Mashing and extracting sugars
You'll learn how grain is mashed in hot water to extract fermentable sugars. This is the foundation of every beer.
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Hops and bitterness
You'll smell and handle hops and learn how timing and variety affect the bitterness and aroma of the finished beer.
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Yeast and fermentation
The instructor explains how yeast converts sugars into alcohol and how different strains create wildly different flavours.
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Taste finished examples
You'll taste examples of the style you're brewing alongside the class. It gives context for the decisions you're making.
Insider Advice
Tips for Your First Beer Brewing Event
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1
Clean everything obsessively. Off-flavours in beer almost always come from contamination at some point in the process.
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2
Keep temperature steady during fermentation. Wild temperature swings stress the yeast and affect flavour.
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3
Calgary has an excellent craft beer scene. Visiting local breweries after a brewing class makes for a genuinely richer experience.
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4
Start with an extract kit if you want to practice at home before moving to all-grain. It's much more forgiving.
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5
Mixler lists beer brewing events in Calgary when they come up. Join the waitlist and we'll email you when one is on.
Common Questions
FAQ
Do I need any brewing experience? +
No. Beginner classes start from scratch and explain every step of the process.
Do I get to take beer home? +
Brewing takes weeks to ferment, so you won't take home finished beer the same day. Many classes provide a tasting of finished examples alongside the brewing session.
What style of beer will we make? +
It depends on the class. Common choices include pale ales, IPAs, stouts, and lagers. The event listing will specify.
Is brewing hard to learn? +
The basic process is surprisingly approachable. The instructor handles the more technical aspects and explains the science as you go.