Has brewing beer always been your dream, or do you just want to learn more about beer? Saint Louis University and STLBEER (the public face of the St. Louis Brewers Heritage Foundation) have teamed up to offer a Brewing Science and Operations certificate, the “first program of its kind in the country to be created and facilitated in partnership with an entire city’s beer scene,” says STLBEER executive director Troika Brodsky.
The year-long program comprises six 8-week segments, with weekly online courses. Students also brew their own beers and visit breweries and labs. Industry experts—brewers, biologists, and entrepreneurs—teach the courses. John Witte, director of beverage operations at Square One Brewery & Distillery, is among the instructors. He sees the program as “a way to give back to the brewing community.” Among other topics, instructors address brewing basics, various styles, the science behind brewing and fermentation, the operational components of running a brewery, and the history of beer.
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“Since its inception,” says James Ottolini, Brew Hub’s chief of brewing operations and a course instructor, “beer has always been about community.”
