Discover the Art of Brewing
Craft a flourishing future in artisan beverages.
Turn your passion for craft beverages into a dynamic career in the brewing industry.
This 31-credit certificate program provides a comprehensive introduction to the world of artisan beverages. You’ll explore the history of beverages, ingredient selection, flavor profiles, production methods, quality control and professional service standards. The curriculum begins with foundational knowledge and progresses to techniques in brewing and beverage management.
By graduation, you’ll be prepared to sit for the Cicerone® Certified Beer Server exam—an industry-recognized credential that demonstrates expertise in beer styles, service and food pairings.
Whether you’re interested in working in breweries, wineries, taprooms or beverage distribution, this program equips you with the skills and knowledge to thrive in the growing craft beverage industry.
Small Classes. Expert Guidance.
Our instructors are experts who take pride in your success. Combined with our small class sizes, you’ll get one-on-one mentorship and precise technical feedback tailored to your goals.
Award Type
Technical Certificate
Department
Department of Food, Nutrition and Hospitality
Required Credit Hours
31
What to Expect
21
Years (age requirement)
3
Core brewing and distilling courses
Grain to Glass: Command the Process
Go from enthusiast to craft beverage professional by exploring every facet of the artisan beverage industry. You’ll begin by studying ingredient selection, flavor development, fermentation science and quality assurance, gaining a deep understanding of how beverages are crafted and evaluated.
Through this curriculum, you’ll become both creator and curator—developing advanced tasting skills to identify flavor profiles and faults, guide customers through engaging tasting experiences and design beverage programs for restaurants, taprooms and retail environments.
The program culminates in a 150-hour internship within a craft brewing establishment, where you’ll apply classroom knowledge in a real-world setting and gain valuable industry experience.
Age requirement: Due to legal and industry regulations surrounding alcohol, students must be 21 years of age or older to enroll in the three core brewing courses.
Career Outcomes
Turn your passion for craft beverages into a rewarding profession. Graduates of the Craft Brewing Certificate program are prepared for employment in craft breweries, boutique wineries, small-batch distilleries and other beverage-focused operations across the country.
With specialized training in fermentation science, flavor development, quality control and professional service, you’ll be equipped to contribute to every stage of the production and service process.
Career opportunities include:
- Leading production teams in brewing or winemaking environments
- Ensuring product quality through sensory evaluation and quality assurance practices
- Driving sales and customer engagement through tastings, education and retail strategy
- Managing bottling and packaging operations using modern equipment and safety protocols
Join a growing industry where tradition meets innovation, and where your skills can shape the future of craft beverages.
Explore the employment data to understand trends in our area.
In Their Words
“College is a big step, and launching into a world filled with adventure can seem a little daunting. After our years at Owens we are prepared for whatever comes next.”
Lucy Ross, Food, Nutrition, Hospitality, ’23
Getting Started at Owens
Begin your high-quality education at an affordable price today!
Enrollment is easy—just fill out an online admissions application to get started. We’ll ask you to submit your transcripts for course placement and college credit.
Upon acceptance, schedule a meeting with your admissions advisor to register for classes. Next, attend an on-campus orientation and meet with your student financial services advisor to discuss ways to pay for college.