Why Should I Get a Brewing Science Certificate?
Craft breweries seem to be popping up all over the place and have attracted many beer enthusiasts. Are you a beer fan interested in how exactly your favorite beers are crafted? Are you curious about turning your favorite pastime into a career?
No matter your level of expertise, there are many valuable skills that a brewing science certificate can offer. From studying beer styles and ingredient science to custom recipe design and practical professional equipment use, a brewing science certificate will provide you with everything you need to grow in the industry.
Read below to learn about the perks of earning a brewing science certificate and the answers to some questions you might be wondering about.
What does a brewing company do?
Brewing companies do anything and everything when it comes to beer production. Most house the processes of brewing operations, recipe development, quality control, marketing and many other industry standards. Many brewing companies have taprooms for customers to visit, sample various beers and make purchases. From grain to glass (or can), a brewing company hosts the entire process of brewing and selling.
How can I get hands-on experience in brewing science?
Brewers are scientists: they formulate recipes, stage trials, measure ingredients and additives, make incremental changes and try again! A recipe might look great on paper, but you never know until you taste the final product. This is why experience is so important, especially when learning the craft. Through hands-on experience, students are provided with the skills to not only test recipes, but to properly use the machinery as well.
Sacred Heart University’s brewing science certification program positions students to complete a semester-long internship at one of our partner breweries. These internships allow students to create relationships with employers and brewery stakeholders while gaining real-world experience.
SHU partners with several breweries, such as Two Roads Brewing Co., Athletic Brewing Co., Brewport Brewing Co. and New England Brewing Co. One of SHU’s brewing science courses is even taught in SHU’s Brew Lab, which is in the Area Two Experimental Brewery at Two Roads Brewing Co., named one of the 10 best breweries in the country.
What are possible career paths with a brewing science certificate?
There are so many moving parts in brewing production, and countless roles to go along with them. With the knowledge and experience that a brewing science certificate gives you, there are a variety of career paths that you can take. Here are examples of a few options:
- Assistant brewer
- Entrepreneur starting a brewery
- Small brewery head brewer
- Cellar person
- Quality assurance technician
- Quality control technician
- Laboratory technician
- Sensory analysis program manager
- Taproom manager
- Brand representative
Of course, these positions will give you the experience to move to higher positions in the industry. A certificate program is designed to advance the skills and bolster the resumes of people already in the industry or those who are looking for a strong start.
Sacred Heart University’s brewing science certificate program is designed to do just that. The curriculum provides a solid foundation and competitive resume-building skills for brewing industry roles. This makes students competitive candidates.
What is a master brewer? How do I become one?
A master brewer is the highest-ranked member in a brewing organization. They oversee the production of the beer from either new or traditional recipes and have prior experience in developing beer brands and recipes. Master brewers have extensive experience in the industry and generally have moved up through the ranks. Earning a brewing science certificate is a great way to get a head start on the path to becoming a master brewer.
Is a brewery career in demand?
Breweries are continuously popping up all over the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of breweries in the United States increased more than fivefold from 2010 to 2016. In September 2023, Connecticut Insider reported that there are approximately 120 breweries in CT. Total employment in the brewing industry increased by 126% between 2006 and 2016, which is faster than the growth rates of both the winery and distillery industries.
Think the Brewing Science Certificate Program at Sacred Heart University is right for you?
Curious about earning a brewing science certificate? Reach out to Pepper Lavoie at 203-396-6266 or lavoiec3@sacredheart.edu.
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