One thing that will certainly help the craft beer revolution is to develop a solid farm system to supply well trained brewery folks. Education is key to developing new customers who only drink industrial water lagers and the way to get that education across is to get everyone educated who is working for you. Enough of my stance, here is what the press release says….
Oskar Blues Brewery and Blue Ridge Community College are collaborating on a course that will provide students with hands-on brewing training starting in January 2013.
Oskar Blues Brew School will alternate between the College’s Transylvania County Campus and the new Oskar Blues Brewery, both in Brevard, NC.
“We are thrilled to be working with Blue Ridge Community College on the Oskar Blues Brew School,” says Noah Tuttle, head brewer of the Brevard Oskar Blues Brewery. “This program will allow students to get the strong education and hands-on training they need to help them pursue careers in an incredibly fast growing industry.”
Gabe Mixson, the primary instructor, holds a master’s degree in microbial biotechnology and has training and experience in the area of industrial fermentation processes including commercial beer brewing.
Oskar Blues will provide regular guest speakers in addition to on-site training. Speakers will cover topics ranging from brewing to marketing to sales. Toward the end of the course, students will develop and brew a beer on Oskar Blues’ pilot system, which will be served in the brewery taproom.
At the completion of the course, students will be ready to take the General International Beer and Distribution Certification exam, an internationally recognized exam offered at centers throughout the U.S. by the United Kingdom’s Institute of Brewing and Distilling. Blue Ridge Community College will become an IBD examination center.
“This class is unique, given the mix of hands-on and classroom experience,” says Ben Kish, workforce training development director at Blue Ridge Community College. “Plus, it’s affordable.”