Drink Expert

Matt Simpson

Craft beer expert with over 20 years of experience, including as a BJCP Certified Judge, Siebel/Doemens Bier Sommelier, and award-winning homebrewer.

Matt Simpson has been involved with craft beer, in one regard or another, for well over two decades. He taught Beer Education 101 at Emory University, is a BJCP (www.bjcp.org) Certified Judge, Siebel/Doemens Bier Sommelier Certified, has been invited to judge the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) five years and counting, was an Administrator for RateBeer.com (arguably, the largest beer website in the world, with over 450,000 members and growing - having created their trading site policy and sanctions for negligent traders), was co-founder and Managing Editor of TheBeerCellar.com (now defunct), was the President of Ale Atlanta (once one of the largest, organized groups of craft beer aficionados in the U.S.), is an award-winning homebrewer, with multiple ribbons won (including two in the AHA’s National Homebrew Competition), and owner of one of the largest, most robust and comprehensive beer cellars in the world...

...all starting long before there was such a thing as the "Craft Beer Revolution."

He's even a Kansas City BBQ Society (KCBS) certified BBQ judge!

Additionally, he wrote the “Ask Beer” column for BEER magazine, "Beer Talk...From the Wings," for Hooters magazine and the seasonal beer column for In The Mix magazine, a beverage-oriented publication that reaches such hospitality industry giants as The Four Seasons and Four Points Sheraton.

Mr. Simpson has been studying, traveling, brewing, writing and hosting craft beer tastings for decades, and is truly privileged to call some of the most accomplished industry professionals, brewers and beer aficionados in the world, friends.

With a broadcasting background as well, Mr. Simpson is also available to act as print or on-air “Beer Expert.” As reliable as he is personable, he is able to inform and educate, all while allowing his personal passion for beer to shine through to any audience. Whether speaking to laypeople or aficionados, Simpson educates, using language catered to his listeners, with an enlighteningly conversational style.

Related course

An introduction to Craft Beer

£45
Level: Peer






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Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between PEER and EXPERT options?

At Peer and Expert level, you get access to the same core content and features:

  • Video lesson tutorials led by your expert tutor
  • Downloadable lesson notes
  • Option to practise what you learn with lesson assignments
  • Group learning within an online interactive classroom of up to 20 classmates
  • Lifetime access to videos, notes and classroom

If you choose Expert level, you get all of the above plus the following:

  • Personalised assignment feedback and coaching from your expert tutor
  • Opportunity to interact with your expert tutor through a private messaging system
  • Certificate of completion.
What is an online classroom?

Our online classroom has been developed to allow you to learn from our experts in a sociable environment alongside up to 20 other students. After each video tutorial led by your expert, you will be encouraged to practice what you have learned with optional assignments - these can be seen by the other students in your class, who are free to share their own thoughts and questions with you.

You will be encouraged to take part in an ongoing class discussion where you can discuss ideas, post images or work, and comment on each other’s assignments. It’s a great way to learn from other like-minded people who share your passion from all over the world.

This means not only do you benefit from people who are outstanding in their field, but also from a close-knit group of like-minded people whom you can learn alongside. Group learning has shown to greatly improve not just the experience of studying, but also how well you retain the knowledge, and we have built our classroom experience around this fact.
When can I start my course and how long will it take?

You can start your course any time within 12 months after receipt of your purchase confirmation email. Once you start, you’ll have lifetime access — meaning you can revisit the lesson videos and notes whenever you want.

Our courses are designed so that you can study at your own pace, some prefer to binge learn while others like to spread their studying over a longer period of time - it’s completely up to you. To give you a rough time frame, each lesson video is approximately 30-40 minutes long, and we recommend that you spend around an hour on each assignment.
How often can I speak with the Expert?

If you opt for the Expert version of your course, the time you have to interact with your tutor is limited to course length. You will have one week per lesson to chat to your tutor and to have your assignments marked, and during this period you can ask them as many questions as you would like.

To find out the length of each course, head to the product page and look at the Course outline to see how many lessons it contains. e.g. a four lesson course assumes that you will have completed the assignments within four weeks.

Your tutor interaction period will start as soon as you enter the classroom. If you find that you are struggling to complete the assignments in the allocated time or you wish to put this function on hold, just get in contact with one of the team via the support button and we will help you out.
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If you need any help with a course, be it one you’ve started already, or one you are looking to purchase, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Support email address, or view the full FAQ’s here.

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Awards & accreditiations