About this program

  • Credential Awarded: 2 Year Diploma
  • Campus: Niagara-on-the-Lake
  • Code: 0780 P0780
  • Delivery Length: 2 Years
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Overview

Are you looking to tap into brewery operations management and want to become a certified brewmaster?

As a graduate of Canada’s first Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program, you are ready to be at the forefront of the ever-expanding brewery, microbrewery and brewpub industries.

Highlights
  • Students and faculty have been awarded more than 38 awards at national and international industry competitions, including 9 gold medals and the title of North America’s Best Brewing Program.

  • Recognized with the following awards: OCB Centre of Excellence, Golden Tap Outstanding Achievement in Beer, Colleges & Institutes Canada Gold Program Excellence and the Minister’s Award of Excellence for Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

  • Specialized education in brewing technology, sensory evaluation, quality control, brewery operations, sales management, and advanced business applications.

  • Hands-on, experiential learning in NC’s on-campus Teaching Brewery led by award-winning brewmaster faculty.

  • Students compete and manage events such as Caps, Corks and Forks and the Project Brew craft beer festival competition.

  • On-site hop yard and local farm products enable students to brew a full range of beer styles with students eligible to obtain Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) certification.

Career Opportunities
  • Assistant brewer
  • Brewmaster
  • Brew pub or brewery operator
  • Compliance manager
  • Event coordinator or manager
  • Packaging technician or manager
  • Production manager
  • Quality manager
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Courses

Term one (2024 Spring)
Code Course Name Credits
BREW1100 Introduction to Brewing 3
BREW1101 Basic Practical Brewing 3
BREW1103 Sensory Evaluation of Beer 3
BREW1207 Packaging 3
BREW1300 Brewing Ingredients & Quality Fundamentals 3
CAPL1199 Computer Applications 3
COMM1101 Language and Communications 3
Term two (2024 Fall)
Code Course Name Credits
BREW1104 History of Brewing and Beer 3
BREW1201 Practical Brewing 3
BREW1203 Sensory Evaluation of World Beers 3
BREW1205 Brewery Equipment and Technology 3
BREW1206 Brewing Science 1 - Quality Control in the Brewery 4
COMM1208 Strategic Communications 3
MATH1206 Mathematics of Finance 3
Term three (2025 Winter)
Code Course Name Credits
BREW1200 Brewing Science 2 - Quality Assurance in the Brewery 4
BREW1294 Sensory Evaluation of Beer, Wine and Spirits 3
BREW1301 Practical Brewing II 3
BREW1304 Brewhouse Calculations and Recipe Formulation 3
BREW1306 Filtration, Carbonation and Finishing 3
BREW1400 The Brewing Industry 3
Elective Information

Completion of additional General Education elective 1 course required

Term four (2025 Spring)
Code Course Name Credits
BREW1302 Specialty Brewing 3
BREW1305 Quality Assurance and Product Evaluation 3
BREW1401 Brewery Management 3
BREW1402 Beer Positioning and Promotion 4
BUSN1133 Professionalism and Business Ethics 3
PERS1226 Fundamentals of Human Resources 3
Elective Information

Completion of additional General Education elective 1 course required

Program Outcomes Term: 1242
  1. Apply the fundamentals of beer making.

  2. Apply the fundamental beer analysis required in a brewery.

  3. Position products appropriately in the market using established techniques in merchandising, product pricing, labeling, branding, advertising, promotions, marketing, public relations, media relations consumer behaviour in the beer industry

  4. Understand and discuss the history of the beer industry from its earliest beginnings to today’s market.

  5. Apply advanced techniques in the beer making process.

  6. Apply process technology practices in brewery operations, packaging and handling.

  7. Apply sensory analysis skills to determine beer style and characteristics while evaluating consistency and quality.

  8. Apply brewery business principles & strategies related to accounting, budget planning, costing, government reporting and pricing structures in the beer industry

  9. Administer and develop Human Resources in a Brewery business, resolve labour relations issues and manage related challenges and responsibilities

  10. Formulate and develop a beer recipe for the market place.

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Admission Requirements

Domestic Students: Important Admissions Dates and Deadlines
This program is
competitive
and has important application deadlines, which can be found at niagaracollege.ca/deadlines/.
Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD), or equivalent including the following required course(s):
  • English – any Grade 12 (C) or (U), or equivalent
  • Mathematics – any Grade 12 (C) or (U), or equivalent
  • Biology – Grade 11 (C) or (U) or Grade 12 (U) or
  • Chemistry – Grade 11 (U) or Grade 12 (C) or (U)
Additional requirements for admission
  • Students are required to be a minimum of 19 years of age by the start of classes.
Selection and Ranking

Applications are evaluated based on the published admission requirements. When the applicant provides proof of meeting the requirements, an offer of admission can be issued, provided space is available in the program.

Learn more about admission decisions.

Pre-Admission Requirements

As part of the admissions process some programs have pre-admission requirements.

International Applicants:
  • Students are required to be a minimum of 19 years of age by the start of classes.

Detailed pre-admission requirements for international applicants can be found at international.niagaracollege.ca/pre-admission/.

Computer/Technology Requirements

Students are responsible for ensuring that they have a Microsoft Windows 10 based desktop or laptop system that meets or exceeds the following general personal computer technology requirements:

  • A desktop or laptop system running on an updated Microsoft Windows 10 operating system.
  • Minimum 256GB SSD storage and 8 GB memory.
  • An integrated or peripheral video camera, microphone and speaker system.
  • Reliable internet connectivity with Broadband capabilities (a minimum download speed of 5 Mbps) is recommended.

Niagara College will not be able to provide support for systems different than the above specifications. Any provided software may not operate properly. Academic software for your courses (supported under the Microsoft Windows 10 operating system) will be made available for download and remote use. Access will also be provided to remote high performance computer labs if software downloads are not feasible.

Note: There is no support for Chromebooks or Apple products for this program. (learn more)

Computer/technology requirements may be subject to change without notice.

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Availability

Domestic Students: Important Admissions Dates and Deadlines
This program is
competitive
and has important application deadlines, which can be found at niagaracollege.ca/deadlines/.
Domestic Applicants Apply
International Applicants Apply
Legendfor intake status table
Open

Accepting applications

Waitlisted

Eligible applications will be placed on a waiting list

Closed

Not accepting applications

Suspended

No longer offered this term

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Tuition

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My experience at Niagara College in the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program is something I reflect on regularly. From day one it is clear that you have the support of the program, faculty, alumni and classmates. The program has a great mix of practical experience as well as a broad understanding of the industry as a whole to help you thrive in various roles throughout the brewing industry.

Josh Mueller, program graduate

When I originally decided to pursue postsecondary education I chose to attend university and was very disappointed. I just felt like a “number” that was just passing through. Transitioning to Niagara College I have a completely different perspective. Not only do we interact with more hands-on approaches, but I find the teachers always give their 100% all the time and are always willing to help or point you in the right direction. Deciding to attend NC changed my perspective on school and I enjoy attending labs and classes more so than I ever have before in a school setting. I am glad I chose to attend Niagara College!

Michalla, program graduate
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