What would people's thoughts be on an eduction section?
Stuff like what brewing courses are available, how much they cost, how easy/hard they are, what the exams are like? i.e. general reviews of those courses by ppl that have done them.
Maybe we could get a NHC members' rate on some of them. A 5% discount or something.
Also.... what I'd really like to see is definitive information (not a sprawling "megathread" of misinformation and hearsay), on starting a micro brewery, covering stuff like equipment costs, rental costs, rates, water costs, waste licences, planning permission, HSE requirements, insurance, and dealing with the Revenue. I think a lot of us here are aspiring micro brewery owners.
Maybe all this stuff then could be put into the wiki.
An education section is a good idea but could it not be done as a subset of the articles from the front page?
If someone does a course, they could do a write up afterwards! But I wouldn't be against a dedicated education section.
I would contribute. I did the Institute of Brewing and Distilling's General certificate of Brewing earlier this year and I'm currently studying for a Diploma in Brewing and Distilling at Heriot Watt University (which may turn into the MSc if I can arrange somewhere in Dublin to carry out a dissertation next summer). I should really have volunteered this earlier.
I'd be very interested in learning how you got on as well Andrew! I'm considering doing something brewing related in the new year, but I might just like a break from studying after my exam in December!
But it would be great to hear from someone who's done one of the courses!
QuoteWould you write a review of the IBD one, Andrew? How much it cost, how hard, material covered, exam type, useful/useless information, whether you felt it was worth it...
I'll get right on it. It shouldn't take too long to put together.
Just done the GCB exam today, I'll leave Andrew do the write up as he's at it all ready, then I can throw my tuppence worth into the mix as well :o
Down in Cork boi, Middleton to be exact.
There were 13 brewers, 4 microbreweries represented (Dingle, Dungarvan, Carlow and the Fran Well) A few soon to be micros and a clatter of homebrewers.
Says the examiner this morning, "where are you's all from, Heineken?"
GBD?
IBD (institute of brewing and distilling)
GCB (general certificate in brewing)
There was a link to the IBD page I thought it was in this thread. https://www.ibd.org.uk/
Just spotted that, thanks.
There are way too many TLAs these days!
QuoteJust done the GCB exam today, I'll leave Andrew do the write up as he's at it all ready, then I can throw my tuppence worth into the mix as well :o
Good stuff! How did it go?
Just looking at the site today. Am i right in sayingbyou have to become a member of the IBD before you can register to do the exam?
QuoteQuoteJust done the GCB exam today, I'll leave Andrew do the write up as he's at it all ready, then I can throw my tuppence worth into the mix as well :o
Good stuff! How did it go?
Pretty well I think.
You summed up the GCB nicely.
I'd just like to add from a homebrewers point some of the course is irrelevant (management systems and the likes) but it certainly makes you think about the what and the why of brewing.
I had a couple of eureka moments!
QuoteJust looking at the site today. Am i right in sayingbyou have to become a member of the IBD before you can register to do the exam?
No I don't think you do. I didn't become a member. You have to be a member to sit the higher exams, the diploma of brewing and the master of brewing examinations.
QuoteQuoteQuoteJust done the GCB exam today, I'll leave Andrew do the write up as he's at it all ready, then I can throw my tuppence worth into the mix as well :o
Good stuff! How did it go?
Pretty well I think.
You summed up the GCB nicely.
I'd just like to add from a homebrewers point some of the course is irrelevant (management systems and the likes) but it certainly makes you think about the what and the why of brewing.
I had a couple of eureka moments!
I agree that lots on the course is irrelevant for the home brewer. About half the course is not what I think of as brewing but cleanliness and sanitation, project management, quality control and that sort of thing. That's why I said I thought it had more of a focus on the industry side. It's still useful information.
I don't think it has made my beers any better though. I think a module on recipe construction might have been good, for example. I know you have to find out for yourself what you like, but that doesn't mean you can't benefit from others' advice.