April 5th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

Allegany College of Maryland (ACM) is the first community college in the State of Maryland to offer a brewing operations certificate program. Program information sessions for prospective students will be held from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, April 12, and from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 15. The sessions will be held at the Gateway Center located at 110-114 Baltimore Street in downtown Cumberland.

 

Offered through its School of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts, the brewing operations certificate program is a one-year, 33 credit hours program designed to prepare graduates to seek employment in the brewing industry. Program students will learn the science and business behind brewing and gain hands-on production experience in a regional brewery. They’ll understand how to identify and evaluate the quality of beer, develop mechanical aptitude in working with brewing equipment and learn environmental sustainability techniques in modern beer production. The program includes an internship at a local brewery. After graduation, possible job positions include assistant brewer, brewing equipment operator and quality assurance technician.

 

Courses include, among others: Brewing History, the Microbiology of Beer, Brewing Methods and Production, Beverage Management, Purchasing and Receiving, and Hospitality Marketing. Students must be 21 or older prior to enrolling in the program’s Sensory Evaluation of Beer course. Prospective students may register for classes beginning on Monday, April 12 for the fall semester.

 

“Every employer wants highly skilled employees who know their business inside and out, and breweries are no exception. Designed with industry professionals, this program does just that,” said Debra Frank, program director. “We’re excited to help Western Maryland’s craft beer industry expand its footprint.”

 

The brewing operations certificate program is approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission, and is currently pending financial aid approval. The Gateway Center in downtown Cumberland is home to the college’s School of Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts and the Culinaire Café.

 

Interested students may also call 301-784-5406 or email mballou@allegany.edu for additional program information. Debra Frank, program director, may be reached at 301-784-5411 or via email at dfrank@allegany.edu.