Our in-person Craft Beer Essentials course will return to local breweries during Virginia Craft Beer Month, in August 2022. We invite you to indicate your interest under Stay Connected so that we can add you to our email list for updates.

What we have on tap

VCU Continuing and Professional Education offers noncredit craft beer courses, which provide an exciting opportunity for knowledge expansion of the craft beer industry.

• In the Craft Beer Essentials course, you will learn about the types and styles of craft beer, the history of each, and the regional history of craft beer. The course is offered with options for live online or in-person learning, and we are pleased to provide you with a shopping list of beers to purchase, if you'd like to take part in the opportunity to taste a variety of types and styles of beer in a virtual course. After two evenings, you will walk away with a new understanding and love for craft beer. As an added bonus, every registrant will receive a copy of instructor Lee Graves' latest book, "Virginia Beer: A Guide from Colonial Days to Craft's Golden Age".

• Virginia's craft beer scene is alive and well with more than 300 breweries and brewpubs around the state. In The History of Virginia Craft Beer, you will learn how this vibrant scene evolved-from the earliest days of settlers in Jamestown to the aftermath of Prohibition and the passage of game-changing legislation in 2012. Relax at home and sample suggested beers from some of Virginia's iconic craft breweries as the class follows the path of creative brewing in the Old Dominion.

• Interested in knowing more about specific beer styles? In The Evolution of Beer Styles, you can learn how IPAs, pilsners, stouts and other beers evolved from international origins to find niches in today's marketplace. In addition to history, the class will look at the stylistic guidelines that define beers in the eyes of modern brewers, aficionados and competition judges. The virtual format allows you to relax at home and sample some of the world's iconic beers as you gain new appreciation for the complexity and backgrounds of these styles and the creativity of the brewing arts.
  

Courses and events are limited to participants who are 21 years of age and over. A valid state-issued driver's license or identification card will be required to participate.

Discounts are available on individual courses for VCU alumni, VCU and VCU Health employees, active-duty military, reservists, Guard members, veterans, and military spouses. Please note, coupon codes cannot be combined with other discounts/coupons or waivers, and will not be retroactively applied.

Take advantage of our summer Craft Beer Package Deal*, which includes all three courses, for unique gift-giving!

For enrollment assistance, or applicable coupon codes, please email: ocpe@vcu.edu or call (804) 828-1322.

*This offering is ineligible for coupon use.

Request a custom course

Create a unique learning opportunity for your customers, or advance the knowledge and skills of your employees! VCU offers customized courses for a wide variety of businesses, including those in the craft beer industry. If you would like to schedule one of our craft beer courses, or discuss a custom program for your brewery or other hospitality business, please send a request to ocpe@vcu.edu.