Cost:
Certificate: $2,700*
Courses: $675 each*
*Save with Early Bird Pricing
Webinars & Workshops: please check the schedule
Completion Time:
Business of Craft Beer Certificate: 6 months (60 Instructional Hours)
Course: 8-10 weeks
Learning Formats:
In-person / Face-to-Face / Campus Course
Online with Real-Time Classes
Self-Paced On-Demand
Do you love beer?
If you do, you aren't alone. The Pacific Northwest has long been an epicenter for craft breweries. Some of our students have gone on to launch new breweries or take on important roles at established businesses.
You'll benefit from the experience and insights of course instructors who are leading craft brewing professionals and network with a distinguished peer group of brewing professionals, making contacts you'll value throughout your career.
Who would benefit from this certificate program and courses?
Anyone with an interest in beer. Brewery owners, distributors, servers, restaurant owners, and entrepreneurs are just some of the people who have benefited from these courses.
What You Will Learn
• History of Craft Beer and Brewing
• Styles and Tastes of Craft Beer
• Proper Beer Serving Techniques
• Brewing Equipment Needs for Scaled Production
• Strategic Business Planning
• Financial Planning and Management
• Marketing for Craft Beer
• Legal Compliance
• Human Resources
Recommended Qualifications
No application is required. Must be 21 years of age or older.
Anyone with an interest in craft brewing whether you are looking for the skills to start working in a brewery or launching your own business.
Mastering Beer Styles or similar professional experience is recommended for the Craft Beer Certificate.
Fundamentals of Commercial Brewing Systems or similar professional experience is highly recommended for the Business of Craft Beer Certificate.
Career Outlook
2022 Craft Brewery Trends for Sales & Growth from the Brewing Association
CERTIFICATE PROGRAM
The Business of Craft Beer Certificate is a 20-week program that focuses on what it really takes to start a Craft Brewery. While not required at this time, we highly recommend taking the standalone courses in Mastering Beer Styles and Fundamentals of Commercial Brewing Systems in preparation. Read more about certificates.
CERTIFICATE / STAND-ALONE COURSES
*Early Bird prices are available on selected courses.
The Fundamentals of Commercial Brewing Systems will introduce you to the world of commercial brewing. You will be exposed to the equipment, processes and technologies that professional brewers use currently to manage and run breweries of varying sizes. The primary focus will remain on production management and brewery material flow.
This 10-week beer tasting course is designed to take students on an exploration through the world of beer.
This course will introduce you to the world of commercial brewing. You will be exposed to the equipment, processes and technologies that professional brewers use currently to manage and run breweries of varying sizes. The primary focus will remain on production management and brewery material flow.
Part 1 of 2. In this first 10-weeks you will get the foundations of the industry from a business owners perspective as you start working towards your business plan.
WEBINARS & WORKSHOPS
Beer Server Certification Boot Camp
This 4-hour boot camp teaches the fundamental skills to properly showcase beer as the brewer intended and to help prepare people for the Cicerone Certified Beer Server exam - which is included.
SELF-PACED ON-DEMAND COURSES
Provided by our education partner, MindEdge, we recommend these courses as supplemental for general business education and for those who learn at a different pace. However, they are not specific to the particular challenges of the craft beer industry.
Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurs can grow their seedling ideas into fully-fledged businesses. Some think it's magic, while others understand that entrepreneurial practices and philosophies can be learned. This course teaches anyone with an adventurous spirit how to navigate the waters of entrepreneurship, from ideology to business planning.
Small Business Management
Managing a small business is no small task. Learn the critical skills for managing a small business's finances, human resource challenges, and marketing efforts. These small business courses give you the opportunity to identify your current and future goals, and thrive in your community.
FEATURED INSTUCTOR
Heather McClung
Heather McClung is the instructor for Business of Craft Beer, where she brings her expertise as the founder of Schooner EXACT brewing and the former president of the Washington Brewers Guild.
FEATURED INSTRUCTOR
Dean Priebe
Brewmaster and brewery consultant Dean Priebe teaches the updated Fundamentals of Commerical Brewing Systems course. With his passion for teaching, experience instructing our Mastering Beer Styles course, and over 20 years of experience with Icicle Brewing in Leavenworth, Dean is eager to show you "how the beer flows through the factory."
Business of Craft Beer and our other craft beer programs are developed in cooperation with industry professionals from:
7 Seas Brewing, Lowercase Brewing, Icicle Brewing, Briess Malt & Ingredients Co., Counterbalance Brewing, Farallon Consulting, Georgetown Brewing, Miller Nash Graham & Dunn, Odom Corporation, Pacific Brewing & Malting, PicoBrew, Portland Kettle Works, Skagit Valley Malting, WA Brewers Guild, WA State Liquor and Cannabis Board, Wingman Brewers and many more.
We are proud members of:
Frequently Asked Questions
You can find more information about this program by viewing a recorded Info Session.
Give us a call at 253-692-4618, e-mail us at uwtpdc@uw.edu or stop by our office at 1551 Broadway, Tacoma. Our office is open from 8:00 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.