Speakers Profile - Brian Watson


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Travels From:
Sydney

Fee Range: B


Boardroom dinner, gourmet restaurant, tastings, appraisals or trivia, Brian has a format to entertain and enlighten your delegates.

Brian Watson, one of Australasia's most experience brewmasters, believes that beer is the new wine.

Delicate, individual flavours can be detected on the nose and palate, it can be paired with different foods, and you can cook with it to bring out sensational flavours in fish, seafood, game and even sorbets. And the best news yet, like wine, it is being recognised for its' medicinal qualities as it contains important antioxidants.

Watson has always had a passion for the brewing industry.

His career started with DB Breweries/Heineken in New Zealand which lead to his appointment as Head Brewer at Monteiths. He graduated with a Diploma of Brewing from the prestigious Institute of Brewing in the UK.

Travelling to Europe, Brian discovered the wonders of both European beers and microbrewing, introducing fabulous taste sensations to make for a highly individualised beer.

He sharpened his expertise through consulting on a global scale and can boast that he has created more than 50 breweries and beer styles around the world including The Freedom Brewing Company in London, Waimea Brewing Company in Hawaii, The Emerald Brewing Company in Ireland, the first craft brewery for the Irish, UK and US Markets plus he was involved in the set up of the Little Creatures Brewery in Western Australia.

Back in New Zealand, Watson and a couple of mates started the now high profile St Arnou brewery named after the patron saint of brewers. They produced a broad range of white wheat beers, pale ales and Pilsners with the original brewery/café specialising in beer and food matching with some of New Zealand's most widely acclaimed chefs.

With St Arnou at its height in New Zealand, Watson introduced the brand to Australia when he moved here in 2000. This led to the opening of two beer cafes in Melbourne and Brisbane and a brand new concept of putting breweries in-house in hotels, which was also launched in Queensland.

At a time when the Australian beer market is continuing to enjoy a renaissance in premium and designer beers, Watson is “bubbling” over with new ideas. He prides himself on thinking outside the square to produce new and exciting flavours such as herbaceous hops, chocolate malt, fresh cut grass, rich caramel, dried orange peel and ground coriander seed. And he gets excited by creating beers of high quality and diversity with over 30 awards in the last five years alone.

Watson hosts beer appreciation dinners, beer trivia nights and conducts tastings for groups who are looking at moving beyond the more traditional team building events and speak to media and the trade as an expert spokesperson.

As Watson fills an unquenchable interest to not only drink great, fresh beer but to know more about it. His hands on expertise and amazing knowledge of the industry have earned him the title: Guru of Brew.