Correspondence (Distance Education)
Diploma Brewing Programs

Intensive Brewing Science and Engineering (IBS & E)

• 22 weeks

• 28 weeks

Course Descriptions

These state-of-the-art correspondence or distance education programs use videos, texts, extensive written materials and the Guild’s proprietary World Wide Web (WWW) site created exclusively for and accessible only by students in the Guild’s diploma programs. Unlike traditional correspondence programs, the Guild programs are built on years of experience working with on-site students and make extensive use of videos and the WWW to provide ongoing and timely support for the course. This support on the web includes: on-line updates and support material, message boards for instructor-to-student and student-to-student discussions, streaming audio, real-time chat sessions, weekly reviews and quizzes, and much more as technology allows! The unique combination offers students the only learning experience of this type in the nation.

The correspondence diploma programs like all of the Guild’s diploma programs combine lectures and instruction in brewing science and engineering with practical information and advice for the craft brewing professional. Topics include: raw materials, malting biochemistry, malt storage and milling, mash technology and biochemistry, a variety of practical brewery engineering issues and problems, hops, wort boiling, fermentation technology and biochemistry, beer maturation and clarification, beer formulation, dispense and much, much more.

 The correspondence diploma programs differ from the residential programs, in that the first four weeks of the Guild’s CBA or IBS&E course is replaced with a 21-week distance-education program.

Weeks 1-21 (IBS&E and CBA)

At your home or brewery computer you will watch 6 hours of taped lecture weekly, read course texts and supplemental material, log on to the web site for information, updates and informative discussion.

Week 22 (IBS&E and CBA)

The last week of the Intensive Brewing Science and Engineering Program is spent in the Guild’s brewery, brewing laboratory and classrooms. The student will perform the hands-on brewing and laboratory work, participate in a comprehensive review session and take their final examination.

Weeks 23-27 (CBA)

Students who continue with the Craftbrewers Apprenticeship Program will join a regular diploma class for a 5-week internship at a Guild-approved brewery. The apprenticeship can be done at one of the Guild’s local mentor sites or in your home state.

**Call to discuss extending the apprenticeship. The apprenticeship can be extended from five-weeks (4-5 days per week) to 20 weeks (1 day per week) if this is necessary for your circumstances. Students who opt for the extended apprenticeship join the next scheduled correspondence class for the final week of the CBA. (See below)

Week 28 (CBA)

Students return to the Guild’s site for the final week of instruction. Instruction includes structured review and tour, business of brewing, sales and distribution, regulatory compliance and finding and securing employment in the brewing industry.

Who should attend?

The programs are perfectly suited to the working professional brewer or the candidate who is serious about making a career transition to professional brewing. The programs allow a dedicated individual the option of working at their regular job as brewer or other profession, while engaging in the correspondence program. Students should allow 10-12 hours per week for course study. (Time includes 6 hours of taped lecture, reading, interaction via the WWW, study and problem solving)

**We encourage brewers to approach their employers for assistance with this work-friendly program. Employers may contribute to tuition, computer support, WWW access accounts etc.

Applicants to the correspondence programs must have the same academic and brewing backgrounds as applicants to the residential diploma programs.

• All brewing texts 

• Weekly video-taped lectures from the Guild’s respected brewing faculty

As you know, most courses delivered via the world-wide-web consist strictly of reading materials sent to the student, discussing them via the web and taking examinations at the end of the course. The Guild’s Diploma course uses 34 video lectures in the CBA/IBS&E Diploma Course and they represent over 100 hours of classroom lecture material on brewing chemistry, microbiology and engineering. These valuable videos are an integral part of the learning process and a tremendous asset to the student of brewing. All these materials and the web-site described below serve to enhance the learning experience for the off-site student.

• Supplemental lecture notes, diagrams, outlines and explanations, that accompany each taped lecture

Diploma course graduates leave the course with three to four binders of course readings and supplemental material on each topic, which have been custom developed by Guild instructors and tailored to compliment each video. In addition, students add their own detailed course notes. These materials are some of our graduate’s most valuable resource and reference materials. These materials are delivered via the mail with your videos and additional topical and updated information is delivered via the Web and downloaded with software provided by the Guild.

• The WWW site (The Guild has created an exclusive site on the WWW, which is accessible only to students of the correspondence program)

The use of the site allows students to have constant access to the Guild including:

• Weekly Logs

This is an extremely important area of the web site and one, which you will use on a weekly or even daily basis. This is the area where you will confirm and /or download the following:

• Weekly Video lecture explanations and supplemental material
• Weekly readings from texts, readings binder and special readings
• Supplemental instructions, materials, calculations and illustrations
• Weekly quizzes
• Links to updated information on:
• Message board
• Real-audio site
• Chat room
• Resources area

• Chat Room

The chat room is an area where real-time conversation takes place between individuals who are logged onto the site. Because the chat room is real-time, it means that we must impose on the schedules of all students (on both coasts) to meet for a scheduled pre-determined time. Because of conflicting work and personal schedules, this area is used at most on a weekly basis. The chat room will augment the message board and this site will be available for changing instructor and student needs. Two can also use the chat room or more students at any time students choose to meet and discuss course issues or material.

• Resources

This area of the site is reserved for links to other useful resources, which are of benefit to students during the diploma course. These resources include Internet links to brewing information sites, brewing associations, the sites of manufacturers of brewing equipment and suppliers of grain, yeast, etc. The resources area also hosts an area where we ask students to submit informal biographies and information about themselves. This will allow you to get to know your fellow students long before you meet each other the last week of the course.

• Real-Audio

Another tremendous advantage of the American Brewers Guild site is the addition of the real audio site. We use this site to deliver 5-50 minute audio spots recorded by Guild faculty. The audio recordings update important information, respond to questions being asked by students on the message board, elaborate on concepts of interest, and in general respond to the individual needs of this class. We are open to any other suggestions you have for this innovative feature of the diploma course site.

• Quizzes and review sessions on-line

Quizzes are administered weekly and answers are posted the following week. Review sessions take place in real time, on the message boards, and are designed to meet student’s changing needs. Exams are administered via the Web and a Final Exam is taken on site at the Guild during the final week of the course.

• Instructor feedback on-line
• Administration and Information Page

This page contains general program information including:

• Course descriptions and details
• Scholarship information
• Payment schedules
• Lots of background information
• Information about quizzes and exams
• Questions and Answers

Tuition:

Intensive Brewing Science and Engineering (IBS&E) $5,750

Craftbrewers Apprenticeship Program (CBA) $7,950

(Tuition includes all books, materials and non-computer-related equipment needed for the final week of the IBS&E or the final 6 weeks of the CBA)

Location:

• Your home or brewery computer (21 weeks)
• The American Brewers Guild (IBS&E – 1 week, CBA 2 weeks)
• Host or Mentor Brewery – (CBA – 5 weeks)

Would you like more information?

Call the Guild at (800) 636-1331 for updates, e-mail at abg@abgbrew.com, or check out our website at: http://www.abgbrew.com