Beginning in the fall semester Kent State University at Ashtabula will offer a certificate program in brewing technology, providing education and hands-on learning for those interested in the growing craft beer industry.
“Growth in the brewing industry has been expediential in last 10 years, particularly in Ohio,” said Lori Lee, Kent State Ashtabula viticulture and enology program liaison. “This is a natural extension of the enology program because much of the chemistry and biology are similar in brewing and winemaking.”
According to the Ohio Craft Brewers Association (ohiocraftbeer.org), Ohio ranked fifth nationally in craft beer production in 2020 and the craft beer industry had a total economic impact of over $3.4 billion in 2019.
The certificate includes 21 credit hours of course work including courses like sensory evaluation, sanitation, microbiology and molecular principles. There are several crossover courses with those in the enology certificate and degree programs.
It also connects to the hospitality management major, as 18 of the 21 credit hours are transferrable to that bachelor’s degree.
“The certificate in brewing technology will prepare and enhance the workforce for the existing industries,” Lee said. “Not just brew pubs and breweries but across food and beverage businesses. Graduates can also impact other areas related to hospitality and tourism like resorts, restaurants and conferences. It can be a big boost to our region’s growing workforce in these industries.”
Home to Ohio’s first wine degree programs, Kent State Ashtabula’s brewing technology certificate will mirror that of the viticulture and enology programs by offering a hybrid plan of study - online courses and lectures combined with on-campus lab experiences. Learn more at www.kent.edu/ashtabula/wine.
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