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 Kinart-Short
New Belgium - Technical Brewer
Chris Lowe
Sierra Nevada - Brewer Technician III
John Wammes
Water Works - Senior Business Advisor
Chris White
White Labs - Founder and CEO
Devin Tani
Analytical & Technical Programs Manager
Mike White
White Labs - Vice President of Customer Technology
Pablo Gomez
White Labs - Technical Account Manager Southeast & Latin America
Kevin Sondey
White Labs - Operations Manager
New Belgium - Technical Brewer
Ashley Kinart-Short
Ash discovered her love for beer when bartending her way through a University of Wisconsin-Madison. Soon after graduation, decided to pursue Siebel's brewing diploma in lieu of the originally intended college direction. She spent the first 9 years of her career as brewer and then brewmaster of Capital Brewery, one of Wisconsin's oldest craft breweries. Looking for new challenges, she moved to the southeast to oversee construction and of a brewpub and startup brewery production facility. In early 2024, she moved to Asheville to take the Technical Brewer position at New Belgium b to focus on what she is truly passionate about, the science of brewing beer.
Sierra Nevada - Brewer Technician III
Chris Lowe
Chris Lowe is a Brewer Technician III with more than 15 years of brewing experience, including over a decade at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company in Mills River. During his time at Sierra Nevada, Chris has specialized in yeast management and cellaring best practices, playing a key role in advancing the brewery’s quality and efficiency standards.
He has optimized yeast propagation, harvesting, and handling processes, and has developed new procedures that improved both yeast performance and cellar operations. His expertise in fermentation science and hands‑on process improvement has made him a trusted resource for yeast handling techniques and cellaring best practices across the team. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, watching sports, and spending time with his wife and two kids.
Water Works - Senior Business Advisor
John Wammes
John is a certified Master Water Specialist (International Water Quality Association) with over 20 years experience in municipal and industrial water treatment and extensive experience in membrane purification processes. He is a speaker and teacher of high purity water system design, installation and maintenance for the life science industry. John is Certified by the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineers as a Pharmaceutical Industry Professional and currently serves on the board of directors for ISPE.
White Labs - Founder and CEO
Chris White
Chris White lives in San Diego, Calif., USA, where he serves as CEO of White Labs Inc. Chris founded White Labs in 1995 to manufacture yeast cultures and provide fermentation services to the brewing, wine, and distilling industries. Chris has a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of California, San Diego and a B.S. in Biochemistry from the University of California, Davis. While at Davis, Chris interned at Genentech Inc., the world's first biotechnology company. White is coauthor of Yeast: The Practical Guide To Beer Fermentation, co-designer of BrewMaster: The Craft Beer Game, and has published numerous articles on yeast, beer, and fermentation.
Chris White was a lecturer in the Chemistry and Biochemistry Department at U.C. San Diego from 1999-2007, and is currently teaching in the Brewing Certificate Program at U.C. San Diego Extension. Chris was awarded the 2013 Recognition Award from the American Homebrewers Association.
Analytical & Technical Programs Manager
Devin Tani
Devin Tani received a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of California, Irvine, as well as a Professional Certificate in Brewing from the University of California, San Diego Extension. Devin has had various roles at White Labs previously working in both the R&D and Analytical Lab, now becoming the Education & Marketing Engagement Coordinator. He now hopes to spread his scientific knowledge to others. Devin loves teaching about the nuances and scientific importance of fermentation.
White Labs - Vice President of Customer Technology
Mike White
Mike White joined White Labs in 2006 after working as a reporter in California and Alaska. He helps run online orders and customer technology tools.
White Labs - Technical Account Manager Southeast & Latin America
Pablo Gomez
Pablo is the Technical Account Manager for the Southeast and Latin America at White Labs Inc., where he supports customers with expert guidance and solutions tailored to their fermentation and brewing needs. With a strong technical background and a passion for building relationships, Pablo serves as a trusted partner to breweries and producers across his region, helping them achieve consistent, high-quality results.
White Labs - Operations Manager
Kevin Sondey
Kevin Sondey is the Operations Manager of White Labs in Asheville, overseeing Production, Shipping, Lab, and Brewing. He brings extensive leadership experience, having scaled production at Fed Up Foods from 4,400 to over 175,000 cases per month while leading a 60+ person team, and previously growing brewery operations across multiple cities with Catawba Brewing Company.
2026 Classes
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.