Best Beer Brewing Classes

Designed with aspiring brewmasters in mind, this historic school takes students from any level through the steps of opening a brewery. 

Dr. John Siebel founded his eponymous school in 1872, and the institution has been honing and perfecting the craft of beer brewing ever since. The program is considered one of the pre-eminent beer educations in the country.

Consider it a course on building a brewery: The lessons prepare beer lovers who hope to open their own establishment one day.

The flagship course at the Chicago-based school, the WBA International Diploma in Brewing Technology Program, is a 12-week program on beer technology. Comprised of six modules, it tackles the dynamics of brewery operations. Students will learn about the malting process, the structure and morphology of chemicals in beer, the botany of hops, the steps for making beer, and more. The price is around $18,500.

An international program, parts of the studies are completed at Munich’s Doemens Academy, where students learn about and sample local beer styles. The course teaches students how to navigate the ever-changing beer industry.

That's not the only certificate the school offers, though. There are courses on beer styles and beer evaluation, executive-level overviews of the beer industry, and draft mastery courses. Beginner-level courses include a class on how to start a brewery, an overview of distilling operations, and a quality control course.

If students do not want to tackle these courses as a whole, each module is offered individually. There are plenty of courses to dig into, like brewing microbiology, masters of beer styles, and advanced brewing techniques. The school also offers online courses for virtual learners.

Portland or “Beervana” is an epi-center to learn the ins and outs of brewmaking, especially with the nearby proximity to breweries for hands-on lessons. 

Portland, Oregon, is often dubbed the beer capital of the world, and this popular online program at Portland State University gives beer fans the tools to join the buzzing market.

This resource, at about $2,800 for the full program, is focused on the business side of beer brewing. Built for brewers of all levels, the program is ideal for the home brewer looking to expand their practice or current beer industry members seeking to reach the next step of their career. Students leave the program with an investor-ready business plan and the skills to pitch their brewing concept.

In addition to the business side of craft brewing, coursework touches on distillation, cider production, and business models.

There are four credits required to earn a graduation certificate. Mandatory courses are the Basic Business for Craft Beverages and Craft Beverage Business Management. Students must also pick two of the following four courses: Strategic Craft Beverage Marketing, Pub and Tasting Room Management, Craft Beverage Distribution, Regulation and Compliance for Craft Brewers.

The program must be finished within three years but can be completed in two semesters, so students have a lot of flexibility. The best part is that you do not need prior experience to enroll.

Local breweries are involved in many lessons, and students walk away with the option to work at star local breweries like Rogue, Migration Brewing, and Bull Run Distillery, who have all partnered with the program.

If learning the science and craft of brewing beer is your goal, then studying at the highly regarded UC Davis Master program may be appealing.

The University of California, Davis is widely considered the premier school for all things wine and beer.

For serious brewers, the in-depth Master Brewer program costs about $16,000. It is held between March and June every year and prepares students to enter the upper echelons of the brewing industry through a full-time, 15-week program. Graduates have gone on to start successful brewing companies like Third Space Brewing in Milwaukee.

Although a range of topics are covered, the program focuses on brewing science and brewery engineering. On the science level, the course hones in on malting, mashing, brewing, fermentation, and finishing, as well as fluid flow, yeast fermentation, heat and mass transfers, and solid-liquid separation.

Other topics range from brewing chemistry to courses on identifying the quality of beer just based on the foam. In addition to these tactical and technical beer courses, there are webinars on craft beer law, with tips on navigating alcohol regulations and setting up a craft brewery.

Obtain hands-on experience learning the craft of making beer and the science behind it, with an opportunity to intern at a local brewery. 

This one-year program at Central Michigan University is run with the help of local breweries Mountain Town Brewing Company and Hunter’s Ale House. The course of study is designed to build a student’s knowledge of beer in both the laboratory and the brewery. Students here have crafted some of the best beers in the country and consistently earn top accolades at national student brewing competitions like the U.S. Open College Beer Championship.

The first semester lays the groundwork, tackling the science of brewing, focusing on the biochemistry and microbiology involved in the process of brewing beer. Students will also review laboratory analysis of brewing ingredients, processes, and products.

The next semester moves into making beers, with students trying out their newfound technical knowledge by creating a beer for Mountain Town Brewing Company’s tap program. This semester also runs through practical knowledge, such as how to choose the right equipment for a brewery and tips on day-to-day-operations.

Class sizes are small, giving students plenty of one-on-one time with professors and industry experts.

The cost of the program will set students back a single year’s tuition at the university, which is around $10,560. Courses are open to students who are currently working on a degree at CMU and students who are only seeking the brewing certification. The program is centered around hands-on training, so a remote option isn't available.

The program also provides opportunities for internships, during which students can apply their skills in situ at a local brewery of their choice.

This school offers several levels of learning, including certificates and degrees, with a curriculum that covers beer and food pairings, production, and hospitality law. 

Named one of the top schools at the U.S. Open College Beer Championship in 2018, there are three different brewing-focused courses of study at the Central New Mexico College, all starting at about $63 per credit hour.

The Beverage Management Certification program covers leadership skills, human relations, food pairing, and safety—useful tools for those looking to open a brewery.

Second, the Beverage Production and Management program takes this foundation a few steps further. Over the course of four terms, students learn brewing technology, beer recipe formulation, and cellaring techniques. On the front-of-house side, students learn purchasing techniques, cost controls, marketing, and business/hospitality law, as well as skills for managing a business such as guest services, sanitation, and menu management.

Finally, the Brewing Technology Certificate is designed for entry-level beer fanatics looking to follow a career working at a brewery. Course materials cover beer production, styles, brewhouse and cellar operations, and brewery maintenance. This certificate emphasizes the knowledge of equipment, technology, and skills required of entry-level employees at commercial-scale breweries.

Full-time students can complete the course in two terms. To enter the program, students must be at least 21 years old and be able to lift 55 pounds.

Students get to learn hands-on at a new state of the art brewery located on the campus. 

With a range of degree and non-degree options, students at the Metropolitan State University of Denver learn in a $3.7 million beer lab and get hands-on training at Tivoli Brewery on campus. A microbiological fermentation lab, packaging lab, and draft training centers are also available to students.

Dedicated brewers can commit to the Bachelor of Science or Arts in Brewery Operations, or a Bachelor of Science in Craft Brewing and Pub Operations. Both take 66 to 70 credits to complete.

The Bachelor of Science or Arts in Brewery Operations covers the breadth of beer making, from the brewing process and beer analysis to quality control, packaging, sales, and distribution. Courses run the gamut of beverage promotions, beers of the world, and fermentation, but there are also broader courses like macroeconomics and molecular chemistry.

The Bachelor of Science in Craft Brewing and Pub Operations starts at a cellular, scientific level, teaching students about the process behind crafting beers. The program still covers everything beginning brewers need to start a craft brewery, the tricks and trades of the industry.

Graduates of both courses go on to become brewers, cellar operators, brewery managers, or sales agents. There are also less rigorous programs that include minor and certificate programs in brewery operations.

Notable faculty includes Scott Kerkmans, an acclaimed beer judge and one of the first five certified cicerones in the world (a rank in the beer world that's comparable to a master sommelier certification in the wine world).

Offering four levels of education programs and certificates, as well as a few online options, students will learn the history of beer, serving techniques, and beer and food pairings.  

Prud’homme is a comprehensive beer education program specifically intended to walk students through brewing essentials. Founded by Labatt’s Roger Mittag, Prud’homme offers four levels, two of which are available online.

Level One is a primer on the world of beer, venturing through ingredients, brewing processes, sensory evaluation, beer history, draft beer, beer and food pairings, and pouring & serving standards. The in-person course costs $385 and can be completed in 12 hours of modules.

Level Two, at $885, covers brewing processes plus beer history, styles, and sensory evaluation. It also functions as an introduction to different draft setups such as tap systems and kegerators. The course requires about 30 hours of study. An online exam is given at the end.

Level Three, at $1,385, prepares participants to earn the title of Beer Sommelier through extensive courses on beer education, beer design, and development. Level Four, at $2,500, is the final level where students develop the skills of beer portfolio analysis to become a Master Sommelier.

Some levels of the Canadian-founded program must be taken in-person, but there are self-directed online courses that let students complete the lessons at their own pace as well.