Brewing Science Academy 10-week, Certificate of Completion Program (noncredit)
Point Park University is proud to once again offer our Brewing Science Academy, a ten-week, on-ground course designed for current and aspiring brewers, to help provide a trained workforce to beer breweries. The first brewing academy – offered in summer 2021 – was made possible through a grant from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, as recommended by the appointed Pennsylvania Malt and Brewed Beverage Industry Promotion Board.
This is the only program of its kind in Western Pennsylvania.
Housed in the University’s Natural Sciences, Engineering and Technology Department, our program will run two days a week from May 15 to July 17, 2023. This year's Brewing Science Academy is made possible with collaborations between Point Park faculty, Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA) members and beer industry experts. Cheers!
Registration for the 2023 Academy opens on
March 8, 2023 at 9:00 AM EST:
Click here to access our registration page!
Please note that University Policy states that all students are required to be fully vaccinated (meaning a person has received their primary series of COVID-19 vaccines) in order to participate in our program.
If you'd like to join our waitlist to be notified of future programs, please email SCPS@PointPark.Edu -Thanks for your continued support!
Course Overview
The Brewing Science Academy course will be broken into four fundamental parts. The first section is a hands-on science course, specifically focused on the science behind beer brewing, taught by Point Park University scientists in a lab setting. The second part will be designated as our brewing week. Students will be grouped into teams and work diligently with professional brewing mentors, designing and brewing beer to be entered into our competition. Part three will focus on the art and craft of brewing. For this section, instructors will be beer industry professionals primarily from the Pittsburgh area with a strong representation from MBAA District Pittsburgh. The Brewing Science Academy will close with our brewing competition judging event where each team's beer will be judged by our pros, and a best brew will be selected.
This class will be limited to 20 students. No pre-requisites are required to participate. Students must be at least 21 years of age by the start of the program and have a strong passion to learn.
Class Schedule and Topics
Dates: May 15th - July 17th | Time: Mondays & Wednesdays, 5:00 - 8:00pm
- Fundamentals of Chemistry for Brewers
- Carbon Chemistry
- Brewing Water
- Barley, Malting and Mashing
- Hops and the Boil
- Yeast and Fermentation
- Brewhouse Operations
- Beer Design I
- Sensory Analysis
- Yeast Management
- Cellaring and Packaging
- Brewery Mechanics and Physics
- Brewery Cleaning and Sanitizing
Brewing Week
Date: Week of June 12th | Time: TBA
- Teams Collaborate with Professional Brewing Mentors
- Design and Brew Competition Beer
* Days and times may vary depending on the availability of our professional partners. Also note that some classes will meet at area breweries.
The brewing academy is a continuing education opportunity with a focus on promoting brewing as a career by fostering an intense interest in the science and art of brewing.
2023 Scholarship Applications: OPEN.
The District Pittsburgh Chapter MBAA is proud to continue the Point Park University Brewing Academy Diversity Scholarship. The District Pittsburgh Chapter has partnered with Point Park University to offer two (2) full-tuition, single-use scholarships for the Brewing Science Academy.
In addition, through a state grant funded by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB), two (2) additional full-tuition scholarships are available for 2023.
To apply and learn more, please CLICK HERE.
Students are urged to purchase a ticket in full if they wish to guarantee a spot in the program, due to the limited number of scholarship opportunities. Students are allowed to purchase a ticket and apply for a scholarship. If a student is selected for a scholarship and has purchased a ticket in advance, their ticket payment will be refunded.
Participants are responsible for all transportation and parking fees.
Total Cost: $1,599.99
- Tuition Fees: $1,497.70
- Eventbrite Fees: $102.29 (Service and Processing)
- Includes a Certificate of Completion, T-Shirt and Growler
Media Highlights:
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: this-black-brewer-plans-to-go-pro.
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: point-park-master-brewers-launching-brewing-academy
- KDKA (live with Megan Schiller): point-park-university-launches-brewing
- KDKA: archived video (tveyes.com)
- WPXI: point-park-university-launches-brewing-science-academy
- WPXI (with Commencement mention): archived video (tveyes.com)
- Pittsburgh Business Times: point-park-university-launches-brewing-academy
- Craft Brewing Business: point-park-launches-brewing-science-academy-pilot-brewery
- Beer Advocate: point-park-offering-pittsburgh-regions-first-brewing-science-academy
- Pro Brewer: brewing-education/park-point-pittsburg-offers-new-brewing-science-course
Testimonies from 2021 Participants:
How has this program helped you?
"I am currently in negotiations to take over a local brewery. The knowledge gained helped immensely."
"The science of brewing was well presented."
"This program helped me understand what certain adjuncts add to your finished product."
"I got a better understanding of science and its importance."
Would you recommend this program to others?
"Yes. I gained real insight and made great connections in the industry."
"Yes. Anyone wanting to learn the science behind brewing would be well served."
"Yes. Anyone who is interested in brewing should take this class to know the behind the scene steps."
"Yes. Very interesting class and great experience."
"Yes. I think they would get a better understanding of the science and how it relates and is important to brewing."
"Yes. I found the science aspect of the course very interesting and informative. I feel like that knowledge is what separates people who brew good beer from people who brew great beer."