Elevate Beer & Optimize Yeast Performance

Step beyond the basics and dive deep into the science of fermentation in our practical, hands-on 3-day Yeast Essentials Workshop, designed for all beverage-makers serious about upping their game. Whether you're refining your yeast harvesting practices or starting a quality control program, this workshop delivers powerful tools and advanced techniques to elevate your fermentation operations.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Yeast handling best practices from industry experts
  • Troubleshooting fermentation issues with confidence
  • Yeast cell counting, viability testing, and microbiological plating
  • Real-world QA/QC methodologies and guidelines
  • Technical Brewhouse Demos

Ticket Price Includes

  • 3 Days of Lectures ranging from How to Choose A House Yeast Strain to Reducing your Yeast COGs
  • In-Person Lab Practice & Live Brewhouse Demo
  • Breakfast Snacks, Coffee & Lunches
  • A Social Happy Hour & Brewery Visit
Sign up now! Bring your team and save 10% on 2+ seats or 20% on 5+—no code needed.
Limited spots available—let’s unlock the full potential of your yeast handling!

*We reserve the right to cancel or modify classes 30 days + prior to commencement in the rare cases enrollment goals are not met or for other reasons. We recommend that you not pay or reserve travel arrangements until 30 days prior to a class to avoid change fees or other expenses. We will issue full attendee refunds for any reason.

White Labs will refund enrollment costs but not other expenses (such as airline cancellation or change fees) for canceled classes

Schedule

Day 1 - March 11, 2026

Location: Asheville, NC

9:00–9:45
Coffee & Breakfast Snacks Provided
Welcome & Introduction to Yeast
Presented by Mike White & Pablo Gomez


9:45–10:45
Strain Selection and Flavor
Presented by Chris White
- Strain Selection Parameters to Consider
- Yeast Flavor and Aroma Contribution
- Sensory and Flavor Descriptors

10:45–11:00
BREAK

11:00–12:00
Keys to a Healthy Fermentation
Presented by guest speaker:
Ashley Kinart-Short, Technical Brewer, New Belgium
- How off-flavors can be a sign of poor yeast health
- Avoiding issues through recipe design and fermentation control

12:00–1:15
WORKSHOP LUNCHEON
Lunch provided by White Labs Brewing Co.

1:15–2:30
Setting Up a Brewery Lab
Presented by Devin Tani
- Why and how to start a QC program
- Overview of testing and required materials
- Media Types

2:30–4:00
Lab Techniques
Hands-on Lab Demos with White Labs Analytical Team
- Aseptic technique
- Media preparation and microbiological plating
- Dilutions and cell counting
- Determining how much to pitch

4:00–6:00
Happy Hour
Beverages provided by White Labs Brewing Co.

Day 2 - March 12, 2026

Location: Asheville, NC

9:00–10:00
Coffee & Breakfast Snacks Provided
Fermentation Considerations by Beer Style
Presented by Chris White
- Exploring Lagers
- IPAs
- High Gravity Beers
- Non- and Low-Alcohol Beers
- Biotransformation

10:00–11:00
Yeast Handling
Presented by Chris White
- Collecting, Harvesting and Repitching Yeast
- Optimal Yeast Storage Conditions
- Planning & Managing Yeast

11:00–11:15
BREAK

11:15–12:15
Tips on Extending Your Yeast
Presented by guest speaker
Chris Lowe, Brewer Technician III, Sierra Nevada
- Yeast cropping
- Maximizing initial propagation of yeast

12:15–1:00
WORKSHOP LUNCHEON
Lunch provided by White Labs Brewing Co.

1:00–1:45
Brewing Water
Presented by Guest Speaker:
John Wammes, Senior Business Advisor, WaterWorks
- Understanding optimal water profiles for brewing
- Water adjustments by beer style

1:45–2:30
Brew Lab Demo
Cellaring & Fermentation Demos with Kevin Sondey
- Yeast Collection
- Pitching Yeast
- Brewery QC Checks

3:00–4:00
Happy Hour and Tour of New Belgium

Day 3 - March 13, 2026

Location: Asheville, NC

9:00–10:00
Coffee & Breakfast Snacks Provided
Brewing Troubleshooting
Presented by Kevin Sonday
- Yeast health, viability, and proper pitching rates
- Oxygen management and temperature control
- Preventing contamination and attenuation issues
- Troubleshooting off-flavors (esters, sulfur, etc.)
- Practical tools for consistent, reliable fermentations


10:00–12:00
Lab Practicum
Hands-on Lab Practicum White Labs Analytical Lab
- QA/QC Level 1 Lab Practice
- Forced Fermentation
- Forced Diacetyl
- Colony Growth / Gram Staining

12:00
Summary, Q&A and Certificates

Location

Speakers

Ashley YE-1

Ashley Kinart-Short

New Belgium - Technical Brewer

Ash discovered her love for beer when bartending her way through a University of… Read More
Chris Lowe YE

Chris Lowe

Sierra Nevada - Brewer Technician III

Chris Lowe is a Brewer Technician III with more than 15 years of brewing experience,… Read More
John Wammes YE

John Wammes

Water Works - Senior Business Advisor

John is a certified Master Water Specialist (International Water Quality Association) with… Read More
Chris White YE

Chris White

White Labs - Founder and CEO

Chris White lives in San Diego, Calif., USA, where he serves as CEO of White Labs Inc.… Read More
devin YE

Devin Tani

Analytical & Technical Programs Manager

Devin Tani received a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of California, Irvine,… Read More
Mike YE

Mike White

White Labs - Vice President of Customer Technology

Mike White joined White Labs in 2006 after working as a reporter in California and Alaska.… Read More
190819_SNC_WhiteLabsKTHeadsho-1600800188

Pablo Gomez

White Labs - Technical Account Manager Southeast & Latin America

Pablo is the Technical Account Manager for the Southeast and Latin America at White Labs… Read More
Kevin YE

Kevin Sondey

White Labs - Operations Manager

Kevin Sondey is the Operations Manager of White Labs in Asheville, overseeing Production,… Read More
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White Labs Asheville

2026 Classes

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Accommodations

For lodging, we recommend the Cambria Downtown Asheville which is about a 15-minute walk from White Labs and surrounding breweries, bars, and restaurants. The link below includes a discounted corporate rate.