[MrDonde]

Hello,

Like many people on this site I have dreams of opening my own brewery. Through a random series of events I am able to go back to school for another degree at no cost and I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion on a bachelor's degree that would be beneficial for someone looking to open a brewery?

What has come to my mind is a business or management degree since that would help with actually running a business and keeping it a float. The other idea was a biology degree that dealt with microorganisms.

Thanks for any suggestions/tips.

p.s. I am looking at actual degree programs not the super specialized brewing programs or boot camp type stuff. I did those with my current profession and I regret it.

[tommymorris]

Chemical Engineering covers fermentation and distillation.

[a10t2]

I'd definitely go for something on the business side. The mechanics of brewing are simple, and since you don't need to pitch your resume to an employer, the actual degree doesn't matter. Get the most out of your free classes and study the brewing part on your own time.

[dmtaylor]

Business.

[hopfenundmalz]

Business.

With a minor in Sales.

[MrDonde]

Business.

With a minor in Sales.

Thanks for the suggestions thus far!

[majorvices]

Business.

With a minor in Sales.

Opposing argument: Depending on how big a business you are planning on growing or how much work you intend to leave for yourself you may actually want to have a professional sales and office manager and look at a degree in chemistry with a minor in biology. While I do agree that the mechanics of brewing are fairly easy to learn, being a head brewer in a growing business is a giant chunk of work alone, let alone having to be the GM and the Sales staff. In my case I am the head brewer of a brewery striving to put out 5000 bbls this year while one of the co-founders is the GM/business and sales manager. I can assure you there is no way in hell I could do his job and retain the mantle of head brewer.

As it too often happens, a brewer follows his passion to open a brewery and then suddenly realizes he has opened a business and the business side isn't always very much fun and doesn't have anything to do with brewing. So if you plan on actually running the business prepare yourself to hire a brewer. Or, if you want to be the brewer pair yourself with someone who knows how to run the business and sales side.

[Ellismr]

Well said Majorvice.  I retired 18 months ago.  I had business management experience from former career and an undergraduate degree in biology.  Not to mention I was a homebrewer for 20 years.  So I enrolled in the Craft Brewer Apprentice (CBA) program through the American Brewers Guild  and never regretted it.  I completed an internship at a brew pub and got to immerse myself in the day-to-day life of the head brewer and owner.  And as Majorvice said earlier you cannot efficiently function as both.  It's just too much for one person. 

I a side note I listen to a radio/tv personality named Clark Howard and he says before you delve into a new business you should work in the industry for at least 6 months to see how it suits you and serve as a litmus test for dedication to your goal.  That was another reason I completed the CBA and internship.  I wanted to make sure that my passion for my hobby could carry me into a new career.  On a personal note what I learned was I could open the nanobrewery but would need help in the brew house.  I'm 46 and heaving around 50 lb sacks of grain 4 days a week can make one pretty sore.

[hopfenundmalz]

Well said Majorvice.  I retired 18 months ago.  I had business management experience from former career and an undergraduate degree in biology.  Not to mention I was a homebrewer for 20 years.  So I enrolled in the Craft Brewer Apprentice (CBA) program through the American Brewers Guild  and never regretted it.  I completed an internship at a brew pub and got to immerse myself in the day-to-day life of the head brewer and owner.  And as Majorvice said earlier you cannot efficiently function as both.  It's just too much for one person. 

I a side note I listen to a radio/tv personality named Clark Howard and he says before you delve into a new business you should work in the industry for at least 6 months to see how it suits you and serve as a litmus test for dedication to your goal.  That was another reason I completed the CBA and internship.  I wanted to make sure that my passion for my hobby could carry me into a new career.  On a personal note what I learned was I could open the nanobrewery but would need help in the brew house.  I'm 46 and heaving around 50 lb sacks of grain 4 days a week can make one pretty sore.

46 and retired for 18 months? You have me beat. My feeling was why ruin a good hobby. Brewing is a young man's game. Well, unless you are at an automated brewery watching a display screen or two.

[Ellismr]

With a Nano I could brew larger batches to sell and support my experiments.  No desire to get big.


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[pete b]

Janitorial Science and a 12 Step Program 😎

[majorvices]

Janitorial Science and a 12 Step Program 😎

Ha! Too true! Planning on cutting my drinking in half this year. I drink far more now than I ever did before I opened the brewery.

[Alewyfe]

Janitorial Science and a 12 Step Program 😎

Ha! Too true! Planning on cutting my drinking in half this year. I drink far more now than I ever did before I opened the brewery.

Janitorial Science and a 12 Step Program 😎

Ha! Too true! Planning on cutting my drinking in half this year. I drink far more now than I ever did before I opened the brewery.

Smart move Major.
Let's step in the back Jack, have a little sip Chip, empty that tank Frank....there must be 50 ways to lose your liver.

[Slowbrew]

Janitorial Science and a 12 Step Program 😎

Ha! Too true! Planning on cutting my drinking in half this year. I drink far more now than I ever did before I opened the brewery.

Another good reason to not open a brewery.  If I drank any more I'd be a head brewer looking for AA meetings every night.  Of course, not working IT in a big bank might help lesson the "need" too.  Maybe.  Probably not.

Paul

[69franx]

Janitorial Science and a 12 Step Program 😎

Ha! Too true! Planning on cutting my drinking in half this year. I drink far more now than I ever did before I opened the brewery.

Janitorial Science and a 12 Step Program 😎

Ha! Too true! Planning on cutting my drinking in half this year. I drink far more now than I ever did before I opened the brewery.

Smart move Major.
Let's step in the back Jack, have a little sip Chip, empty that tank Frank....there must be 50 ways to lose your liver.

Well played

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