Live-online class taught by veteran brewmaster begins Sept. 18

Lots of people in this world love the laid-back charms of a good brewpub. They even love the idea of making their own beer, or working in a real brewery, turning a few simple ingredients into thirst-quenching gold. 

This fall, aspiring brewmasters will get a chance to chase their adult-beverage dreams in a 10-week live-online course, Foundations of Brewing Science and Brewery Operations, which starts Sept. 18. 

Offered by the University of Delaware’s Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (UD PCS), the course gives aspiring brewery workers the foundational knowledge needed to enter the brewing industry, or just fine-tune their own home brewing skills. 

“Here, you gain knowledge that you actually get to use and make something with,” said Brad Adelson, the veteran brewmaster who teaches the course. “I think people love that.” 

Students will learn about beer styles and guidelines, raw materials, hot-side and cold-side operations, safety and chemical use, equipment, packaging, and quality control. The course puts a special focus on the skills needed for cellar operations, crucial for entry-level job candidates. 

Ultimately, students will get to craft their own beer recipe, as well as see brewing theories put into practice at a local microbrewery. Graduates of the course have gone on to work at some of the 35-plus microbreweries now operating in Delaware.  

The course is designed to suit busy schedules: Live-online classes run from 7-9 p.m., and each session is recorded. The class meets on Wednesdays, Sept. 18-Nov. 20. Participants must be at least 21 years old.  

For more information, visit the course home page, www.pcs.udel.edu/brewing, email continuing-ed@udel.edu, or call 302-831-7600.