Yavapai Community College to offer craft-beer production certificate on Verde Campus in the fall
A story by reporter Vyto Starinskas in the March 7, 2021 Verde Independent highlighted the new Brewery Technology Certificate offered the fall of 2021 by Yavapai Community College. A certificate in Brewery Technology can be obtained by successfully completing four eight-week courses worth 16 credits. (See academic sequence below.)
In the article by Mr. Starinskas, Michael Pierce told the reporter that he had been working with the head brewer and owner of “That Brewery” in Cottonwood to develop the new program.
The Community College is setting up an industry-standard pilot-brewery similar to those used by breweries to make small batches of beer for experimentation. Pierce was quoted as saying “we won’t be doing a tap” as the focus is on training students who are employable.
According to the interview, the students will have the small pilot-brewery, a series of fermenters, a brew station, and some smaller brew kettles to make beer on their own.
The Community College does not intend to grow hops or other crops on its vacant 80 acres of land on the Campus. Rather, it will purchase hops in Camp Verde. Pierce believes that the craft-beer program will be popular.
Sources: Yavapai Community College Fall 2021 course offerings; Vyto Starinskas, March 7, 2021 Verde Independent, p. 5.
