Brewing Course

[irish_goat]

My work have informed me that I've got a "training" budget and my supervisor tells me that I can spend it on pretty much any course/qualification as long as it will further my career chances in some way. Anyone any experience with http://www.brewlab.co.uk ? Or any of the other ones out there?

[Tom]

Brewlab's great! I did the 3 day course, with the extra day at the brewery.

[DEMPSEY]

Hah your a wet week in the job and already your boss is impressed with you. He must have thought "he'll go far that lad".

[biertourist]

Brewlab's great! I did the 3 day course, with the extra day at the brewery.

I whole heartedly agree.  Definitely sign up immediately for the 4th day. -You should know that they will NOT cover the microbiology chapter any more despite it being in the syllabus on the web still; they've pulled that portion out of the curriculum.

Sunderland isn't great but it's SO easy to catch the train into Newcastle which has some really good places to eat and drink. (Including the Brewdog pub.)



The 3rd day visiting some small breweries in the surrounding area is quite interesting, too as you realize that you've already learned many lessons from the class that some professional brewers are still to learn (appropriately sizing brew house and fermentation vessels, for example). -If you don't come prepared to ask some pointed questions on this part you're short changing yourself.  Also learn from many of the interesting equipment trade-offs that the brewers you visit have made. (ALWAYS ask the instructor that accompanies you what THEY thought about the breweries you just visited --they'll point out subtle mistakes that you might not catch otherwise but are hugely practical and applicable if / when you start your own brewery. (Storing returned casks next to your fermenters is really, REALLY dumb...)


Adam

[irish_goat]

Cheers for replies. Currently awaiting confirmation from the funders upstairs.