Hi homebrewing BAs, I just got back from a 4 month stint in the UK taking the Diploma in British Brewing Course at BrewLab Ltd. and completing an internship. I'm sure some folks are hardcore and proud to keep their homebrewing as homebrewing, which is totally great, I just want to extend a hand to anyone who has been interested in taking a few steps further into going professional or looking for brewing experience in the UK. Because of help from others I was able to make that leap, so I hope I can help other folks out too. Feel free to PM me if you've got specific questions, like internship sites and such.
How was the experience? I'm just stuffing the envelope now to send in my application to the UC Davis Master Brewer program. Unfortunately classes are already full through 2014, but hopefully I can get on the waiting list and people will drop... Any recommendations for someone willing to quit their job, move far away for a few months, and completely immerse themselves in brewing science?
Hmm, as I'm on the cusp of entering the industry I can't speak from a much experience from on-the-job or successful job hunting. What i know right now is how job-ready and prepared I feel. My advice for anyone considering school or going pro is to homebrew as much as possible and have goals with every beer (especially hitting your numbers), and to do an internship anywhere that will take you. Its not about getting an internship with the XYZ greatest brewery, its about boots on the floor grunt work and making sure that you can handle all the lifting and cleaning day in and day out. My internship was a great experience that will probably be just as important to my future as the brewing school. Carteravebrew, I don't know how much experience you've got, but sneak in an internship before the program starts if you can get away from your current work. I couldn't wait long enough for the UC Davis program and my side interest is in UK brewing practices anyway, though I'm sure their program is excellent. One would definitely need to brush up on chemistry and microbio before that. Reading current brewing books or the Journal of the Institute of Brewing (free online) is also good for seing what is top of the agenda for the brewing scientists. Looking into taking the IBD's General Certificate in Brewing exam is worthwhile, though as a qualification I'm not sure how important it is as a job qualification in US breweries compared to just a degree from UCD, given their reputation. As for my experience with BrewLab, it is a worthwhile program but one has to seize all opportunities to get the full experience. If someone going wasn't prepared to act like a professional and to treat brewing school like another undergraduate vacation then the instructors will let them; the instructors are there to teach people who put in the time and effort, not to babysit people. BrewLab has quite a few resources other than just their team of instructors as they have both a production brewery and a commercial brewing laboratory on-site in addition to its test batching equipment. Their aim is to be as well-rounded as possible with the 3-month program.
Great information, thank you. I just finished a microbiology course and am starting a physics course now. Although I've taken general chemistry, I may try refreshing myself with that one too. I've offered to volunteer free work at several breweries and haven't had any luck yet, but I'll keep trying. I'm very serious about going to school; even brushing up on the pre-reqs is a much different experience than going to class for my undergrad because I'm actually excited about this stuff. Thanks again for the words of advice and the sources to check out!
I had no luck getting an internship in my region either, I had to go all the way to England! You'll find something though, its helpful if you can talk to somebody face-to-face, such as at a beer fest. Another thing is to be able to describe what you are looking for with the internship rather than the open-ended "I'll do anything, please!" Greg Koch posted his requirements for a successful job candidate on BA some time ago, and being able to describe what you are looking for in a position was huge for him. Adapting his comments to an internship scenario, it shows drive to learn specific things and makes one look a lot less desperate.
In a lot of these courses one of the great benefits is that you meet a lot of people and make good contacts.Also you talk things through and learn things long after the formal day is over.
