Education Section?

[admin]

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.

[Padraic]

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.

[UpsidedownA (Andrew)]

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.

[Padraic]

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!

[UpsidedownA (Andrew)]

Would 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.

[Spud395]

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 

[Spud395]

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?"

[johnrm]

GBD?

[Spud395]

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/

[johnrm]

Just spotted that, thanks.
There are way too many TLAs these days!

[UpsidedownA (Andrew)]

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 

Good stuff! How did it go?

[Cathal O D]

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?

[Spud395]

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 

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!

[UpsidedownA (Andrew)]

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?

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.

[UpsidedownA (Andrew)]

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 

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.