Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management Program

Program Overview

Niagara College's Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management Program is a 2-year Diploma that equips students with the knowledge and skills to become certified brewmasters and excel in the brewing industry. The program emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning in the on-campus Teaching Brewery, led by award-winning brewmaster faculty. Graduates are well-prepared for a variety of careers in the brewing industry, including brewmaster, brewery operator, and quality manager. The program has been recognized with numerous awards, including the OCB Centre of Excellence and the Golden Tap Outstanding Achievement in Beer.

Program Outline

Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management Program at Niagara College

Degree Overview:

This program is a 2-year Diploma offered at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus of Niagara College. It is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to become certified brewmasters and excel in the ever-expanding brewery, microbrewery, and brewpub industries.

Objectives:

The program aims to provide students with:

• Specialized education in brewing technology, sensory evaluation, quality control, brewery operations, sales management, and advanced business applications.
• Hands-on, experiential learning in NC's on-campus Teaching Brewery led by award-winning brewmaster faculty.
• Opportunities to compete and manage events such as Caps, Corks and Forks and the Project Brew craft beer festival competition.
• Access to an on-site hop yard and local farm products, enabling students to brew a full range of beer styles.
• Eligibility to obtain Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) certification.

Outline:

The program is structured over 4 terms, with a total of 24 courses. The course schedule and descriptions are as follows:

Term one (2024 Fall):

| Code | Course Name | Credits | |---|---|---| | BREW1100 | Introduction to Brewing | 3 | | BREW1101 | Basic Practical Brewing | 3 | | BREW1103 | Sensory Evaluation of Beer | 3 | | BREW1207 | Packaging | 3 | | BREW1300 | Brewing Ingredients & Quality Fundamentals | 3 | | CAPL1199 | Computer Applications | 3 | | COMM1101 | Language and Communications | 3 |

Term two (2025 Winter):

| Code | Course Name | Credits | |---|---|---| | BREW1104 | History of Brewing and Beer | 3 | | BREW1201 | Practical Brewing | 3 | | BREW1203 | Sensory Evaluation of World Beers | 3 | | BREW1205 | Brewery Equipment and Technology | 3 | | BREW1206 | Brewing Science 1 - Quality Control in the Brewery | 4 | | COMM1208 | Strategic Communications | 3 | | MATH1206 | Mathematics of Finance | 3 |

Term three (2025 Spring):

| Code | Course Name | Credits | |---|---|---| | BREW1200 | Brewing Science 2 - Quality Assurance in the Brewery | 4 | | BREW1294 | Sensory Evaluation of Beer, Wine and Spirits | 3 | | BREW1301 | Practical Brewing II | 3 | | BREW1304 | Brewhouse Calculations and Recipe Formulation | 3 | | BREW1306 | Filtration, Carbonation and Finishing | 3 | | BREW1400 | The Brewing Industry | 3 |

Term four (2025 Fall):

| Code | Course Name | Credits | |---|---|---| | BREW1302 | Specialty Brewing | 3 | | BREW1305 | Quality Assurance and Product Evaluation | 3 | | BREW1401 | Brewery Management | 3 | | BREW1402 | Beer Positioning and Promotion | 4 | | BUSN1133 | Professionalism and Business Ethics | 3 | | PERS1226 | Fundamentals of Human Resources | 3 | Completion of two additional General Education elective courses is required.

Assessment:

The program utilizes a variety of assessment methods, including:

• Practical assessments in the Teaching Brewery
• Written exams
• Research projects
• Presentations
• Case studies
• Sensory evaluations

Teaching:

The program emphasizes hands-on, experiential learning, with a strong focus on practical skills development. Students work closely with award-winning brewmaster faculty in the Teaching Brewery, gaining real-world experience in all aspects of brewing.

Careers:

Graduates of the program are well-prepared for a variety of careers in the brewing industry, including:

• Assistant brewer
• Brewmaster
• Brew pub or brewery operator
• Compliance manager
• Event coordinator or manager
• Packaging technician or manager
• Production manager
• Quality manager

Other:

• Students and faculty have been awarded more than 38 awards at national and international industry competitions, including 9 gold medals and the title of North America's Best Brewing Program.
• The program is recognized with the following awards: OCB Centre of Excellence, Golden Tap Outstanding Achievement in Beer, Colleges & Institutes Canada Gold Program Excellence, and the Minister's Award of Excellence for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
• Students have the opportunity to participate in industry events and competitions, gaining valuable experience and networking opportunities.
• The program provides a strong foundation for entrepreneurship, with many graduates starting their own breweries or brewpubs.