Assistant Brewer Training Certificate
About the Program
The certificate program is designed to train and prepare individuals who are seeking to pursue a career in the brewing industry, and with the right combination of education, hands-on experience, and skills, participants from this training will stand out among other candidates in a competitive job market.
The Assistant Brewer Training Program allows participants to first learn about the basics of brewery operations, and then train as an intern at Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½'s brewery, Innovation Brew Works. Participants will use the University's signature "Learn‐by‐Doing" approach—tailored here into “Learn-by-Brewing” to gain the hands-on skills and experience needed to become a successful Assistant Brewer in the industry. Learned skill sets are based on actual commercial brewery SOPs, and participants will receive a unique and one-of-a-kind opportunity to be involved in the production and handling of the finished beer served to the public at IBW.
Participants' performance is evaluated by supervising industry professionals to monitor the progress of the participants through their trial/error and success.
At A Glance
What You Will Learn
- Foundations of the craft beer industry and brewing process, from grain to glass
- How ingredients impact flavor, aroma, and beer quality
- Brewery safety practices, chemical handling, and sanitation standards
- Identification and use of key brewing equipment and systems
- Core brewing tasks, including milling, wort production, fermentation, and quality control
- Hands-on experience with kegging, bottling, and draft system maintenance
- Cleaning, sanitizing, and maintaining tanks and brewery equipment
- Real-world brewery operations through guided internship experience
Who Should Enroll
- Adults aged 21+ who want to learn about the production of craft beer
- Individuals who are interested in learning about commercial brewing operations
- Individuals with home‐brewing experience who want to refine their skills
- Individuals seeking employment in a production brewing facility
- Individuals seeking an immersive and practical experience in brewing and
to expand upon personal/professional knowledge in the craft beer industry.
Program Outline
Online Component of the Assistant Brewer Training Program (BRW200):
- Introduction to the craft beer industry and its components
- Brewing ingredients and their effects on flavors
- Safety and chemical use in the brewery
- Overview of the brewing process from grain to glass
- Brewery equipment and parts
- Instruction and video resources of common brewery procedures
- Provide a solid foundation for a successful internship in the Assistant Brewer Internship Program.
Internship Component of the Assistant Brewer Training Program (BRW200):
- Introduces participants to the brewing environment through hands‐on participation
- Brewery safety, chemical handling, cleaning, and maintenance
- Keg cleaning and operation of commercial keg washer
- Packaging beer into kegs and bottles
- Milling grain and preparation of brewing ingredients
- Assisting brewers with wort production
- Fermentation and quality control procedures
- Cleaning and sanitization of fermentation and brite tanks
- Transferring and handling of finished beer
- Draft line cleaning and maintenance
Eric Bassett is the Brewery Manager at Innovation Brew Works (IBW), and also an instructor for the College of Professional and Global Education (CPGE) at Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Hospitality Management from the ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ in ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. His culinary arts experience enhances his creative skills in producing beers that include a variety of agricultural crops grown on campus at Cal Poly ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½. Through Eric’s dedication, expertise and efforts, IBW received medals at the San Diego International Beer Competition and the Los Angeles Beer Competition in 2018.
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