2026-09-09
The Chartered Institute of Brewers and Distillers has opened registration for its 2027 General Certificate and Diploma programs, giving brewing and distilling professionals an early chance to plan technical study for next year’s exam cycle.
In an update issued Wednesday, the UK-based professional body said registrations are now open for the March and May 2027 General Certificate exams. The institute said the certificate is aimed at people already working in the industry who want more structured technical training in production processes, operations, and best practice. It said the courses are delivered online through self-directed study and include technical illustrations, video material, and multiple-choice questions.
The General Certificate is being offered in brewing, distilling, packaging spirits, packaging beer, malting, and cider making. For brewing and distilling candidates, the institute said exam support is available through its “Set for Success” program. The Diploma, which is positioned as the next step for people who have completed the certificate or are ready for more advanced study, is available in brewing, distilling, and packaging. Diploma students in those subjects can also access tutor-guided learning support.
The announcement comes as breweries and distilleries face continued pressure to improve technical capability, product consistency, and operational efficiency while responding to changing consumer demand. The institute did not release enrollment figures, but the broad range of certificate and diploma offerings suggests it is continuing to target both established brewing disciplines and specialized parts of the supply chain such as malting, cider making, and beverage packaging.
The institute also launched a new short course, “Maths for Brewers and Distillers,” which it said is designed to build confidence with the calculations used in brewing and distilling work. According to the institute, the course begins with basic calculations and moves to more advanced formulas, with the goal of supporting practical work, further study, and professional development. It also said learners will now receive 180 days of access from the date of enrollment, an increase from the previous 90-day access period used for individual short courses.
Alongside its education programs, the institute is promoting several in-person and online events over the next year. One of the most prominent is the BFBi No and Low Beverage Seminar, scheduled for October 14 and 15 at the Holywell Park Conference Centre in Loughborough. The event will include a networking dinner on the first day and a full day of technical sessions on the second. The institute said the seminar will examine key production issues in no- and low-alcohol drinks, including controlled fermentation, trace alcohol measurement, dealcoholization, flavor and aroma optimization, functional ingredients, process design, and hygiene. Current CIBD exam candidates can attend at a reduced rate of £49.99 plus VAT.
The focus on no- and low-alcohol beverages reflects one of the fastest-growing technical areas in the broader drinks industry. Producers have been investing in methods that preserve flavor while meeting alcohol targets and regulatory requirements, and the seminar’s agenda indicates the institute sees that work as an important area for technical education.
The institute said its 2026 annual general meeting will be held September 15 at 10 a.m. GMT on Zoom. CIBD members will be able to attend, submit questions, and vote on matters affecting the organization. The institute used the notice to encourage non-members to join, linking membership to voting rights, professional resources, and access to the global brewing and distilling network.
It also said its online resource hub continues to expand, with new technical material added on a regular basis. Members can access webinars, conference recordings, articles, the digital version of Brewer and Distiller International, and the Journal of the Institute of Brewing. The latest addition is access to recordings from WDSC 2026.
The institute used the update to push its continuing professional development system as well. It gave examples of CPD activity reported by members, including academic study through a dry hopping short course, attendance at the Scottish Section Lifelong Learning Day, and self-study through reading Brewer and Distiller International. Members were reminded that they can log CPD activity through the MyCIBD platform.
Looking further ahead, the institute said the 39th Asia Pacific Convention will take place in Brisbane from March 15 through March 18, 2027. The event will be held under the theme “Brewing & Distilling the Adaptive Future — Resilience. Relevance. Reinvention.” According to the institute, the convention will bring together brewing, distilling, and wider drinks professionals from across the Asia Pacific region and other markets to discuss technologies, ideas, and practices that can help businesses respond to change. Early bird registration is open until November 29, 2026, and the institute said members can save $250 on the early bird rate.
The convention pitch, like the new qualifications and short courses, points to a wider effort by the institute to position itself as both an education provider and a professional hub at a time when the drinks sector is dealing with cost pressure, shifting consumer tastes, and increased demand for technical specialization.
The institute’s event calendar for the coming weeks includes a Southern Section tour and talk on British hop quality and environmentally focused farming on September 10, an ASBC webinar on managing geosmin risk from grain on September 15, a Great Northern Section fresh hop harvest and brew day on September 16, and an Asia Pacific sensory session on preventing off-flavors in non-alcoholic beers on September 17. Later events include a Scottish Section site visit focused on distilling, coopering, and warehousing on September 24, a Midlands brewery and pub tour on September 26, a beer and beverage technology seminar on October 8, and a Northumberland lecture day for distillers on October 9. The institute also listed a “Professor Charlie Bamforth Tour 2026 - ‘Beer is Good for You’” running from October 21 through October 29.
Several annual dinners are also on the schedule, including the Scottish Section Annual Dinner in Glasgow on October 2, the Great Northern Section Dinner in Leeds on October 23, and the Southern Section Annual Dinner in Bath on November 20. The Midlands Section Annual Dinner is planned for February 26, 2027, and the Irish Section Annual Dinner is set for February 19, 2027.
In a separate operational notice, the institute said printing of the September edition of Brewer and Distiller International had been delayed because of circumstances beyond its control. It said distribution is expected to begin shortly, with copies likely to arrive about two weeks later than usual.