Craft Brewing
The Craft Brewing Short-Term Certificate Program at Wayne County Community College District (WCCCD) prepares students for careers in the rapidly growing craft beer brewing industry. The program combines classroom instruction with hands-on laboratory work to educate students in key areas of the brewing process. Coursework includes brewing and fermentation, safety and sanitation, brewing equipment, marketing, management, and the agriculture and microbiology of craft beer. Graduates of the program will be fully prepared to sit for certification exams offered by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) and pursue employment in local and national brewing establishments.
What Do Craft Brewers Do?
Craft brewers are responsible for every step of the brewing process. They set up, operate, and maintain the equipment used to produce beer, including filter presses, centrifuges, fermenting tanks, and batch stills. These machines help extract and separate materials to produce the final product. Brewers also maintain the brewing process's quality, safety, and sanitation.
Where Do Craft Brewers Work?
Craft brewers typically work in microbreweries or craft breweries, which are small-scale, independently owned-operations. These breweries focus on producing high-quality, flavorful beer and often emphasize unique brewing techniques. Craft brewers produce, bottle, and pack beer in these smaller, specialized settings.
Job Outlook for Craft Brewers
Employment in craft brewing, particularly in beer sales and retail, is projected to decline by 1% from 2022 to 2032. As the number of craft breweries increases and financial regulations become stricter, there will be a greater demand for workers to maintain books and provide accounting services within the industry.
How long does it take to earn a Craft Brewing Certificate?
It takes 2 semesters, or one year, to earn a Craft Brewing Certificate.
What will I learn in the Craft Brewing Program?
In this program, you will learn how to brew and ferment beer; best practices in safety and sanitation; operation, marketing, and management best practices; what equipment you need to bottle, produce and package beer, and the specifics of craft beer microbiology.
What courses do I need to take to complete the program?
To earn a certificate, you’ll need to take 21 credit hours worth of courses. A recommended course sequence can be found below:
Recommended course sequencing
Semester 1 Total: 9 Credits
- BRW 101 - Craft Beer Brewing and Beer Styles 3 Credit(s)
- BRW 210 - Raw Materials, Soil, and Malting 3 Credit(s)
- ENT 100 - Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3 Credit(s)
Semester 2 Total: 12 Credits
- BRW 200 - Brewing Science 4 Credit(s)
- BRW 240 - Recipe Formulation 5 Credit(s)
- BRW 260 - Brewing Internship I 3 Credit(s)
Where is the Craft Brewing Certificate offered?
The Craft Brewing Certificate program is offered at our Ted Scott campus.
As a WCCCD student, you can take courses, use facilities, and get involved at any of our six locations.
It is the policy of WCCCD that no person, on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, marital status, disability, or political affiliation or belief, shall be discriminated against, excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination in employment or in any program or activity for which it is responsible or for which it receives financial assistance from the U.S. Department of Education.
