How do you get into pro-brewing?

Discussion in 'Beer Talk' started by Lucas_Druid, Dec 15, 2015.

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  1. Lucas_Druid

    Lucas_Druid Initiate (0) Nov 7, 2015 Cyprus

    Honestly, how do you get started on brewing? I know you could start with home-brewing, but how exactly can you learn brewing on a more professional level? Are there institutes or colleges that offer Zythology courses in the same style as Oenology?
     
  2. ClavisAurea

    ClavisAurea Initiate (0) Jul 4, 2008 New York

    It's a great question. I'm a home brewer and would argue that most professional brewers started out as home brewers too; you could just ask the ones local to you. The two big professional schools that come to mind are:

    UC Davis
    https://extension.ucdavis.edu/areas-study/brewing

    Siebel Institute
    https://www.siebelinstitute.com/

    I'd have to say that most brewers got a massive amount of experience working at an already established brewery to hone their skills and develop new ones.
     
    AngryDutchman likes this.
  3. SCW

    SCW Initiate (0) Jul 25, 2004 New York

    Drank my first beer at 2 years old; drank my first "craft" beer at 14 years old. The genie was out of the bottle at that point.

    Started homebrewing at 19; worked at a homebrew supply store until I was 20, and got hired as a brewer's apprentice one month before I turned 21 years old, started Sixpoint at 25.

    Read every single homebrewing book that was available to me at the time; favorites include The New Complete Joy of Homebrewing and also loved Designing Great Beers.

    If you're really motivated, a combination of reading, experimenting with homebrewing, and apprenticing at a local brewery will be a sufficient entree for you into the brewing community.

    cheers
     
  4. NeroFiddled

    NeroFiddled Grand High Pooh-Bah (7,276) Jul 8, 2002 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'll second everything that's been said and add a few notes. Noonan's "Brewing Lager Beer" is also excellent and touches on pH which is something that most craft brewers don't even bother with although it's extremely important.

    Also learn your basics first, meaning don't just rely on hops or some other additive to prduce a brew, there are too many breweries doing that these days. Learn to make simple ales and lagers first (which can be very hard when you want to experiment and do your own thing). Learn balance!!! Learn your ingredients - only by truly being familiar with your materials will you know how they'll work in the finished beer. And learn to be detail oriented.
     
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  5. PatrickCT

    PatrickCT Grand Pooh-Bah (3,776) Feb 18, 2015 Connecticut

    It sounds like dedication and hard work also played a part in your success. Cheers.
     
    BrotherDylan likes this.
  6. SCW

    SCW Initiate (0) Jul 25, 2004 New York

    don't forget luck ;-)
     
  7. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Luck favors the prepared!!

    Cheers!
     
    dennis3951, zestd, LeRose and 2 others like this.
  8. monkeybeerbelly

    monkeybeerbelly Initiate (0) Dec 6, 2012 New York

    Ph is handled in depth by John Palmer in How to Brew. there is a whole section on the mash ph.
    definite must read fro anyone who wants to start brewing
     
    bluehende likes this.
  9. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    What you don't do: after couple years of homebrewing, open up a brewery with a 10 or 15 BBL brewhouse with no commercial brewing experience, put out some crappy beer because you need cash flow, make a bad first impression in a crowded market, and then go belly up because you are over-extended financially.

    After reading the back stories on a bunch of the new breweries opening/being planned in PA, I expect a lot of flameouts in next couple of years.
     
    AngryDutchman, rkarimi, dauss and 5 others like this.
  10. bluehende

    bluehende Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2010 Delaware

    Take the advice of the people who have done it and succeeded. The only source for info I haven't seen mentioned is homebrewtalk.com. Take stuff there with a grain of salt as it is the internet, but that is my go to source info if Palmer's book doesn't completely satisfy me.
     
  11. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    Hmm, no love for the BA homebrewing forum!?!:rolling_eyes:

    Cheers!
     
  12. bluehende

    bluehende Initiate (0) Dec 10, 2010 Delaware

    Sorry but the other one mentioned is much more active.:flushed:
     
  13. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    The free online version has be re-vamped http://www.howtobrew.com/
     
  14. 203PH

    203PH Initiate (0) Jun 25, 2014 Connecticut

    BYO (Brew Your Own) Magazine recently did a piece on getting a certification/brewing degree. It has a ton of information on programs across the globe. Too many to list in this thread. Easy enough to Google the article.
     
  15. monkeybeerbelly

    monkeybeerbelly Initiate (0) Dec 6, 2012 New York

    true, but the quality of the brewers who post here, as well as how receptive they are to new brewers makes it much easier for a beginner to get started
     
  16. zestd

    zestd Savant (1,071) Jan 18, 2013 Idaho

    There's a brewing program at Central Washington University I believe.
     
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  17. SailIntoTheStout

    SailIntoTheStout Initiate (0) Aug 29, 2015 Michigan

    The year I graduated from college, my university started offering a Sustainable Brewing bachelor's degree... I was so close:slight_frown:
     
  18. rather

    rather Initiate (0) May 31, 2013 California

    you're allowed to go again and get another degree
     
  19. afrokaze

    afrokaze Pooh-Bah (1,962) Jun 12, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I started home brewing, got lucky enough to get an assistant position at a local brewpub, then took the full on site Craft Brewers Apprenticeship program at the American Brewers Guild. Work experience is great, but having a brewing education will set you assist from all the homebrewers asking for jobs (not that it's wrong, I started there too!)
     
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  20. Starkbier

    Starkbier Initiate (0) Sep 19, 2002 Maryland

    Since you are in Europe, you might consider a degree based program there. Here are a few notable ones:

    If you want to brew in the US, a degree is not required but is helpful. In other countries its required.

    More options here:

    https://www.brewersassociation.org/resources/schools-organizations/
     
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