Brewing is part art and part science. The need for skilled brewers who know how to properly balance the artistic and scientific sides of the equation has led to more universities offering degree programs in brewing and more veterans of the craft to support these educational endeavours. The latest to contribute to the future beer- making talents of America is Sierra Nevada Brewing founder Ken Grossman and his wife Katie Gonser who just announced a $2 million gift to the University of California- Davis and its brewing program.
This latest act of generosity will establish an endowment for a full- time brewing position at this prestigious university located about 20 minutes west of the state capital city of Sacramento. The first recipient of this endowment is Joseph Williams, a man who currently works at UC Davis as a brewing program staff researcher. As part of Williams’ role, he will mentor and manage students and teaching assistants while maintaining the campus brewery. Williams will also teach classes in the program.
Other universities presently offer brewing programs, but the one at UC Davis is special for several reasons. Chief among them is the unique approach that combines valuable hands- on training with traditional textbook- style education. Anheuser- Busch endowed professor of malting and brewing sciences Charlie Bamforth says this style of education is what sets UC Davis apart from others.
“This endowed brewer position will allow us to provide outstanding practical brewing experiences for our students as we continue to align hands-on training with the best theoretical education”, said Bamforth. “Students don’t get that combination in most other brewing programs.”
Ken Grossman has been a longstanding proponent of the UC Davis brewing program and is confident of the program’s ability to educate and train brewers to a level on par with the high standards he sets at his own brewery.
“My family and I have supported the brewing program at UC Davis for nearly two decades,” said Grossman. “Charlie Bamforth is not only an expert in brewing science, technology and engineering, but a frequent guest speaker at our brewery and a close, personal friend. The ideals that he and the rest of the staff instill in the students are the very same principles that have guided our success in craft brewing for the past 36 years.”
The UC Davis brewing science program educates students in chemistry, microbiology and other related sciences. The program takes care to teach students other important, non- technical skills to properly prepare them for the brewing profession. The program is one of the finest around and the generous gift from Ken Grossman and Katie Gonser will be put to great use as UC Davis strives to ready its young brewers for a successful future.