Beers clinking together for a cheers. Photo courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Company.
Lakewood Brewing Co., a local brewery based out of Lakewood is collaborating with The University of Texas at Arlington to draft up the next generation of “brewmasters” through a new four-course Brewing and Fermentation Science certificate program.
Dylan Parks, Ph.D., biology assistant professor of instruction at UTA and former Lakewood Brewing lab technician, has developed a curriculum to teach the science of brewing, fermentation science, brewing lab and sensory evaluation.
The four-course program, which launched Spring 2024 at the university, will be led by Parks.
In addition to certification, individuals participating will be required to complete a 16-hour internship at local fermentation or brewing facilities in the metroplex, for which Lakewood is one of the first to participate.
“Hands-on experience is critical to anyone that is going to go on and work in a production facility, whether it be a winery, brewery, cidery, or distillery,” president of Lakewood Brewing Wim Bens said in a statement. “It’s important to have an educated workforce, or to even power someone’s future hobby – that’s how I started, and I’m stoked to help others go that path.”
