Hi! My name is Charles Nouwen. I am a Belgian Master Brewer and Beer Sommelier.
I grew up in Belgium “beer paradise” and as far as I can remember…my first beer experience (beside being baptized in the Abbey of Orval) was sometime when I was 4 or 5, dipping my finger in the chalice of my grandfather to taste the foam of the beer from that same abbey.
I found my passion for beer during a summer internship in the brewery of Orval. As I was biking down the valley for a 4am brew, I realized brewing was surrounded with history, respect and a fair amount of magic.
So I went on studying bio-industrial engineering followed by a Master in malting and brewing science and technology at the UCL in Belgium. I was on track to make it happen, I mean, a brewmaster, not a monk.
I left Uni in 2001 and the next 20 years were all about beer at brewing giant ABInbev. Sour beers (Belle-Vue), Wheat beers (Hoegaarden), Big beers (Budweiser, Stella Artois..), Small beers, Homebrewing, Innovation, R&D, Education.
My career took me to relocate from Belgium to Wales to US while travelling to all continents. I’ve had the chance to meet and work with some of the best experts of the beer ecosystem! So much to learn!
Over years I became an hybrid of a technical brewmaster and a beer Sommelier keeping one foot in the deep science of brewing and the other in the magic.
In March 2022 I decided to start my own business to make the best use of all I had learned. Peer to Beer LLC was born, a platform for advices, partnership and consultancy!
Today I live in NJ with my lovely wife and my 3 boys. We like to think we should open our own brewpub one day or hit the road in a Beer & Food truck…but first Peer to Beer!
Learn, love, live beer
Credits
- Engineer in Malting and Brewing Science & Technology
- Advanced Cicerone
- Professional taster
- Knight of the Knighthood of the Brewers Mash Staff
- Homebrewer
- Judge and coach in TV show BeerMasters
- Certified Bourbon Steward
- Barista Hustle Coffee Certification
- Spirit Professional Exam (USBG)
