Home brewing has become a popular pastime for brewmasters across the country. The art of mixing hops, malt, and yeast to produce a wide range of beer flavors mixes the best science, math, and home economics have to offer. If this list sounds like a roster for higher education courses, that is apparently what some community colleges have thought as well! This craze has moved to campuses, with more and more colleges offering classes in how to brew the perfect glass of ale. In 2026, the craft brewing industry continues to support careers in brewing, fermentation science, quality assurance, packaging, and brewery operations, prompting many colleges to expand certificate and workforce training opportunities. We have a listing of some of the colleges featuring beer brewing training, along with the details of the courses they offer.
Students interested in technical career pathways may also enjoy Community College Review's article, Licensing and Certification Opportunities at Community Colleges.
This video describes the craft brewing, packaging, and service operations certificate class at Grand Rapids Community College's Secchia Institute for Culinary Education.
Cabrillo College Gets into the Brewing Act
California resident Mark Taylor has a love of beer brewing that dates back more than a decade. This amateur brewmaster mixes a variety of ales at home, and he keeps four beers on tap in a converted refrigerator. Taylor decided he wanted to share his love of his craft with others and sent proposals for a home brewing course to four different community colleges nearby. According to a report at the Santa Cruz Sentinel, those first four offers fell short, but another community college eventually took Taylor up on his offer.
Cabrillo College in Aptos decided to give Taylor's beer brewing class a go. Seventeen students signed up for the first five-week course, just one shy of a full load. The course is now offered multiple times each year, with classes continuing to attract strong interest from students who want to learn both the science and the art of brewing. In addition to the basic brewing course, Taylor also teaches a one-day beer tasting course that allows students to sample microbrews from around the globe. Additional introductory brewing workshops have also been offered to meet continued interest.
While Taylor fully enjoys brewing beer at home, he has no plans to take his concoctions commercial at this time. He told the Sentinel, "At home it's fun, and you save money if you drink a lot of beer. Brewing commercially is work, but teaching is a blast."
In addition to his stint at Cabrillo College, Taylor takes his show on the road each winter to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, where he also teaches.
The Brewers Association continues to report strong consumer interest in independent craft brewing while providing educational resources for both home brewers and commercial breweries.
Appalachian State University Trying to Sell Its Own Brew
Beer brewing classes began going strong at Appalachian State University, and the university has continued building on its expertise in brewing science and fermentation. The school previously applied for the necessary permits to sell its concoctions at the Ivory Tower Brewery, located in the basement of the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center. According to an article in the Shelby Star, the beers are crafted by professors and students in brewery classes. The hope was that these specialty brews would become a mainstay on the North Carolina microbrew market, joining the many breweries that now call the state home.
This video provides a brief overview of the craft brewing movement that has swept across North Carolina in recent years. It shows North Carolina community colleges preparing people for work in the industry and underscores the importance of workforce training curriculum, including certificate programs and associate degree pathways in brewing, distillation, and fermentation.
The class at Appalachian State University, titled The Science, History and Business of Beer and Brewing, is offered to a limited number of upper-class students every semester. According to a report in The Appalachian, classes include instruction on evaluating beers, style categories used to identify flavor compounds, and tasting analysis. The idea for the course came in 2009 from chemistry professor Brett Taubman and biology professor Shea R. Tuberty.
Taubman told The Appalachian, "The main goal behind the course is to increase the appreciation of beer." By increasing appreciation, the school hopes to reduce binge drinking and alcohol abuse on campus while helping students understand the science and responsible production of fermented beverages.
Moving to the business end of brewing was uncharted territory for the school. However, Taubman told the Shelby Star, "With the production license, it is sort of untrodden territory. By getting the permitting, we'll be absolutely compliant in the eyes of the state and ABC. If we want to take it to the next level and sell the product, that's great because it makes it a self-sustaining program."
Students interested in related food-production and hospitality training may also enjoy Community College Review's article, Careers: Culinary Training.
The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau provides information about federal regulations governing breweries, permits, and beverage production for educational and commercial purposes.
This video discusses the exam preparation course for those who would like to earn the Institute of Brewing & Distilling General Certificate in Brewing at Central Oregon Community College.
Brewing Courses Considered at Clatsop Community College
Astoria, Oregon, is a microbrew hub. Consider Clatsop County, which boasts no less than three of its own microbreweries and a host of pubs serving local concoctions, according to a report by the Coast River Business Journal. The Bend Visitors' Center offers tourists a map of all the local beer destinations. A resident of the area, Dan Bartlett, is currently putting together a brochure to help visitors take a self-guided tour of the local beer district.
With a beer renaissance going on in Astoria, Clatsop Community College is considering getting into the act with courses in brewing, or even more. In the spirit of a true community college, this institution is looking at the industry of microbrewing in the area and determining how they could best meet the needs of their students with applicable training in this industry. Just like training in health care, auto maintenance, or other middle-skill training jobs, CCC could prepare students for a rewarding career right in their own community.
CCC President Larry Galizio told the Journal, "We talked about how Oregon is a state where microbrews are a big industry. I think the college should be looking at the potential to train people in the industry. We might offer a certificate. Who knows, maybe a program. This could be a signature program, unique to our college."
Today, many community colleges continue evaluating workforce needs and developing specialized certificate and career training programs that respond to regional industries. Brewing, fermentation science, and beverage production remain examples of career pathways that combine science, technology, business, and hands-on technical training. Students interested in career-focused learning may also enjoy Community College Review's article, Work-Based Learning and Apprenticeships at Community Colleges in 2025.
The Institute of Brewing & Distilling continues to provide internationally recognized qualifications and professional development opportunities for individuals pursuing careers in brewing and distilling.
Beer Brewing Continues to Grow as a Career Path
Beer brewing has now come to college, and students across the country are seizing the opportunity to learn more about this industry. Whether you want to brew for fun or profit, community colleges continue to expand career-focused programs that combine classroom instruction with practical, hands-on experience.
The craft brewing industry continues to support employment opportunities in brewing, quality control, laboratory science, packaging, hospitality, distribution, and entrepreneurship. Community colleges remain well positioned to meet these workforce needs by offering affordable programs that prepare students for careers in this growing sector.
Students interested in exploring additional high-demand career pathways may also enjoy Community College Review's article, Most In-Demand Community College Programs in 2026.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics continues to provide employment outlook information for occupations related to food and beverage manufacturing, helping prospective students better understand career opportunities throughout the brewing and fermentation industry.
Whether you want to brew for fun or profit, you may find a brewing program at a community college near you.
