Beer Schools
If you want to further your appreciation of craft beer by completing more serious studies, here are some of the classes and schools that will help you achieve the level of craft beer education you desire.
Online Courses
The "Better Beer Scores" online prep course provides aspiring beer judges with a 12-week series of live, interactive, two-hour weekly webinars designed to assist participants in effectively studying for (and ultimately passing) the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) Examination. All instructors are experienced, BJCP certified judges and professional educators - culling experiences from public and private education institutions and business coaching environments.
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CraftBeer.com's Beer 101 Course
This narrated online course for the beer beginner takes approximately one-hour to complete and is $15. Upon successful completion, you will receive a printable certificate from the Brewers Association.
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Cicerone® Certified Beer Server
To begin your Cicerone® certification, you must start with this exam. This course requires, "competent knowledge of beer storage and service issues, as well as modest knowledge of currently popular beer styles and culture, and basic familiarity with beer tasting and flavors as well as brewing process and ingredients."
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This website has tons of resources for the new craft beer lover. Learn about the history of beer, brewing process, and gain tips on how to taste. Once you think you're ready, take the 20-question Great Beer Test or step up to the GBT-100. The site also provides a beer glossary, explanations of funky beer, and profit calculator for those who are running their own better beer establishments.
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This free online course features several 10-15 minute presentations on topics such as the history of beer, beer-off flavors, and pairing basics. The user friendly interface and the topics presented makes this course is perfect for the beer beginner.
Schools to Attend
American Brewers Guild
1001 Maple Street
Salisbury, VT 05769
Phone: 802.352.4200
The ABG offers two courses; the Craft Brewers Apprenticeship (CBA) and the Intensive Brewing Science and Engineering Course. These courses are taught though a mix of web-based classes, text books, videos and at home lab experiments. Completion of these courses requires one week onsite at a working brewpub and, for the CBA participants, a five-week apprenticeship at a brewery.
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Beer Judge Certification Program
5115 Excelsior Blvd., #326
St. Louis Park, MN 55416
The purpose of this program is to "to promote beer literacy and the appreciation of real beer, and to recognize beer tasting and evaluation skills." This program covers 23 different beer styles and has been around since 1985. There are currently 3,660 active judges in the program.
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The Beer Steward Program of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas
3340 Pilot Knob Road
St. Paul, MN 55121-2097
Phone: 651.454.7250
From delivery to serving, attendees will receive an overview on how to properly handle, store, and present a variety of beers to maintain flavor and freshness. Presenters will highlight the history of beer, as well as the diversity of beer styles. Attendees will also learn how to showcase beer styles using food pairings and proper glassware.
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Brewlab
18/19 Bridge House
Bridge Street
Sunderland
Tyne & Wear
SR 1 1TE
United Kingdom
Brewlab teaches five courses that range in length from one day classes to 3-month courses where students receive a diploma in British Brewing Technology. Class sizes are kept small so that students may get the help and attention they need.
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Central Washington University: Craft Beer Trade Certificate
400 E. University Way
Barge 204
Ellensburg, WA 98926
Phone: 509.963.1504
This 16-credit Certificate Course is designed to prepare graduates for many different areas of the beer industry. Courses include Brewing Microbiology, Principles of Merchandising Management for Micro Brewing, and Brew Process Technology. Students will be taught using a variety of approaches such as lab work, field trips, and guest lecturers from industry professionals.
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The Centre for Malting and Brewing Science
Centre for Malting and Brewing Science
Kasteelpark Arenberg 22
3001 Heverlee (Leuven)
Belgium
The objective of this course is to provide a theory basis and to update your knowledge of malting and brewing technology, provide you with up to date information about the state of the important processing steps and improve your skills in designing and trouble-shooting malting and brewing processes.
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Cicerone® Certification Program
4659 N. Ravenswood Ave, #105
Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: 773.769.1300
Run by Ray Daniels, author of Designing Great Beers, this certification program has three stages; Certified Beer Server, Cicerone, and Master Cicerone. The word Cicerone (pronounced sis-uh-rohn) has been chosen to designate those with proven expertise in selecting, acquiring and serving today's wide range of beers. For more information see CraftBeer.com post on: "Cicerone's are Experts at What?"
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Colorado State University: Beverage Business Institute
1201 Campus Delivery
Fort Collins, CO 80523
Phone: 970.491.6265
This institute offers workshops, certificates, and specialized MBAs in Brewing Operations Management or Wholesale Distribution Management through an ‘hybrid program' offering a combination of live classes and online "distance" courses.
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Colorado State University: Zymurgy Institute
Colorado State University-Pueblo Continuing Education
Attn: Holly Nordholm
730 Citadel Dr. East, Suite 300
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
Phone: 719.442.2264
CSU's Continuing Education Program, in partnership with Bristol Brewing Co., gives students the chance to learn about the art and business of beer through a series of lectures over a 5-month period. Presentations include Biotechnology of Beer, Medical Physiology of Beer, and Beer Economics.
CSU also offers an advanced course that allows attendees to gain refreshing hands-on experience in advanced brewing techniques. Brew with some of the area's most successful production craft brewers on the Brew-Magic brewing system. The course is held every other Saturday in the Colorado State University-Pueblo Chemistry Building. Tuition is $299 for each 2-month, 3-batch, and 5-lab series.
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Doemens Academy
PO Box 1325 / Stefanusstrasse 8
Grafelfing / Munich
D 82166 Germany
Phone: +49 89.858.050
Doemans offers classes at the Academy for Brewing and Beverage Technology, which includes a school for brewmasters. They also have pilot facilities including a brewery, malt house, and packaging facility for student to learn on and practice their skills.
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The Institute of Brewing and Distilling
33 Clarges Street, Mayfair, London
W1J 7EE
Phone: +44 (0) 20.7499.8144
"To provide the most respected and most widely recognized qualifications, training and development in Brewing and Distilling globally," is the mission of this school that is celebrating 125+ years of brewing education.
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International Center for Brewing and Distilling
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh EH14 4AS, Scotland, U.K.
Phone: 44(0) 131.451.3184
This is a unique research and learning facility that is the only place in the UK where you can receive your Honors and Masters in Brewing and Distilling.
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Master Brewers Association of America
3340 Pilot Knob Road
St. Paul, MN 55121-2097
Phone: 651.454.7250
The MBAA currently holds two, 2-week courses at the University of Wisconsin-Madison; Brewing and Malting Science and Brewery Packaging Technology. Tuition includes food and lodging as well as all of the needed course materials.
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Niagara College: Brewmaster and Brewery Operations
135 Taylor Road
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario L0S 1J0
Phone: 905-641-2252 ext. 440
This 2-year program partnered with the Ontario Craft Brewers Association prepares students for various fields in the craft beer industry. Students will receive hands on learning experience in Canada's only teaching brewery. Courses include Brewery Equipment and Technology, Brewhouse Calculations and Recipe Formulation, and Beer Sales and Promotions.
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Oregon State University: Fermentation Science
100 Wiegand Hall
Corvallis, OR 97331-6602
Phone: 541.737.6486
This undergraduate science program features courses that address the biological, chemical and physical principles of fermentation, as well as the "the engineering, processing, preservation, quality evaluation, public health aspects and use of beer, wine, and fermented food product".
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Scandinavian School of Brewing
Gl. Carlsberg vej 16, 1799
Copenhagen, Denmark
Phone: +011 45 33 27 24 00
Since 1925, 626 master brewers from around the globe have received their diplomas here. Not only does the school have a permanent staff, but it also hosts guest lecturers from around the country.
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Siebel Institute of Technology & World Brewing Academy
1777 North Clybourn Ave., Suite 2F
Chicago, IL. 60614-5520 USA
Phone: 312.255.0705
With over 20 courses and programs including Master Brewer, International Diploma in Brewing Technology, and Associate in Brewing Technology, the Siebel Institute offers more brewery specific courses than anyone else in the world. They have over 140 years of experience in helping brewers achieve their dream.
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Sierra Nevada Beer Camp
1075 East 20th Street
Chico, CA 95928
Phone: 530.893.3520
This ultimate hands-on experience gets you behind the scenes at Sierra Nevada. You'll learn all about beer from grain to glass and even get the chance to brew your own beer with the other campers. However, this isn't something you can sign up for. Only industry professionals and lucky contest winners who submit a video will have a chance to attend. So get your camera out and start editing!
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Technical University of Munich (TUM Weihenstephan)
Hochschule Weihenstephan - Triesdorf
Fakultät Biotechnologie und Bioinformatik
Am Hofgarten 10, 85354 Freising
Tel.: 08161/ 71 - 4059
bb @ hswt.de
www.hswt.de
The degrees offered at Weihenstephan are some of the most comprehensive available, including a braumeister degree. No other brewing school offers courses in science and engineering pertaining to brewing and beverage production to the depth that Weihenstephan does - with the exception of the VLB in Berlin. Attendance is, however, limited to those who can understand, speak and write German.
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University of California - Davis
1333 Research Park Drive
Davis, CA 95616 USA
Phone: 530.757.8691
The UC-Davis extension program is the only program in North America, and one of three in the world, that provides university-level qualification in brewing science and brewery engineering. This world-renowned program will set you on the right track for a career in the beer industry.
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VLB Berlin
Seestrasse 13
13353 Berlin, Germany
Phone: +49 (30) 45.080.0
Since the opening of VLB Berlin in 1883, it has also been a brewing school. Their 6-month course provides the basic knowledge for the technical management of a brewery and includes practical lab work. They also have other week-long courses in Brewing Technology and Craft Brewing Practice.
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West Virginia University: Barley to Beer
PO Box 6108
Morgantown, WV 26506-6108
Phone: 304-293-2944
This 3-credit hour course, taught by West Virginia University Associate Professor Sven Verlinden, will teach you the history and complexities of beer and beer brewing.
If you know of any additional beer schools or classes that were not listed, please email cbp_asst@brewersassociation.org to have them added to our list.
