Oskar Blues teams up with Auburn University to create brewing science program

Oskar Blues Brewery and Auburn University have forged a historic partnership to create a new graduate-level certificate in Brewing Science and Operations. The new program is a collaborative effort between the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management and the colleges of veterinary medicine, business and agriculture at Auburn. Courses cover topics such as soils, malting, mashing, fermentation, brewing, business and beverages.

“It feels really special to be creating this brewing science program in the place where I brewed my first batch of home brew,” said Dale Katechis, founder of Oskar Blues, who is a legacy alumnus of Auburn. Dale, his dad and his older brother all matriculated at the Alabama university. “It’s like coming home.” Dale’s first ever beer, which would eventually become the award-winning, best-selling Dale’s Pale Ale, was brewed in a bathtub during his time at Auburn.

Martin O’Neill, head of the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Hospitality Management in the College of Human Sciences, expects the university and state to benefit greatly from addressing the popularity of craft brewing across the Southeast and the country.

“The interest in craft brewing is exploding right now, much like the wine industry,” he said. “Tourism is even being linked to beer breweries because of a growing demand for better beer by a better traveled public.”

According to the Brewer’s Association, craft brewers provide more than 100,000 jobs in the United States and the industry is growing by double digits each year. Up until now, students and professionals interested in learning about the science of brewing and best operations had to travel to California, Chicago or overseas.

“Our program is designed to provide people, who already have a bachelor’s degree and an interest in brewing, with the necessary educational background to develop their skill base and upon graduation, to sit for the professional certification exams with the industry’s lead certification agency, the Institute of Brewing and Distilling,” Martin said.

“When I look five years down the road, I see this as the premiere brewing school in the nation” — Noah Tuttle, head brewer at Oskar Blues North Carolina breweryWhile courses are offered entirely online, Martin said teaming up with one of the nation’s leading craft breweries will bridge the gap between traditional online learning and the real world of brewing. Noah Tuttle, head brewer at Oskar Blues North Carolina brewery, is helping develop the brew science teaching team curriculum.

“We want to offer the practical, hands-on side of brewing. They need real experienced brewers to make the program successful,” he said. “Part of the plan will be to offer students a three-day intensive training at the brewery.”

The doors of Oskar Blues will be open always in order to expose students to best brewing practices, as well as to the brewery’s unique and innovative business approach.

Since January 2013, Oskar Blues Brewery has partnered with Blue Ridge Community College on a series of brewing courses that include extensive hands-on, in-brewery learning and cover all aspects of the business. Five current employees of the brewery were hired after completing one of the Blue Ridge Brew School classes.

The idea behind the brewing certificate at Auburn isn’t to promote craft brewing among undergraduates — in fact they can’t even enroll in the courses — but Martin said it’s rather to teach commercial beer brewers and others interested in joining the growing business sector how to develop higher quality products and how to market and distribute them successfully.

The course will be ready to roll out by the fall of 2014.

“When I look five years down the road, I see this as the premiere brewing school in the nation,” Noah said.