Durham College has signed an agreement with the Chicago-based Siebel Institute of Technology (Siebel Institute), North America’s oldest and most prestigious brewing school, to deliver its craft brewing courses in Durham Region.

As the only Canadian post-secondary institution currently approved to deliver the institute’s world-renowned brewing curriculum, the agreement will enable DC to deliver three different courses at its Centre for Food (CFF).

“Durham College is bringing the gold standard in brewing education to Ontario’s thriving craft brewing community, which is comprised in large part by entrepreneurs who are looking to further develop both their business and product knowledge,” said Don Lovisa, president, DC. “The industry’s rapid growth has translated into a significant demand for brewers who know what it takes to make, market and sell great beer and DC is answering that call with this agreement.”

Designed for the professional development of people aspiring to build their career in Canada’s craft brewing industry, the three courses are a natural fit for the CFF where faculty and students are already working on a brew line, including related research and recipe development.

“We are excited to be involved in bringing brewing-industry training to Ontario,” said Keith Lemcke, vice-president, Siebel Institute. “We look forward to working with Durham College and the brewing community in Ontario towards helping to train the next generation of great Ontario brewers.”

Providing current and prospective brewing professionals with the practical, hands-on experience required to further develop their skills and expertise, the courses include:

• Brewing Microbiology, which provides the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required to implement an effective microbiological quality control/quality assurance program.
• Brewing Technology, which offers comprehensive knowledge of the brewing process, brewing operation dynamics and issues affecting the industry.
• Sensory Analysis for Flavor Production and Control, which gives brewers the tools they need to effectively identify and control flavours and aromas in beer.

“From our first meeting with the management of Durham College we knew we would be working with professionals who were just as passionate about what was happening in craft brewing culture as they were about education,” said Lyn Kruger, president of Siebel Institute. “The groundwork they developed within the Ontario Craft Brewers Association and the surrounding brewing community has shown us the level of enthusiasm for professional brewing education that exists in Ontario, and we couldn’t be happier to be part of this program.”

The Siebel Institute has been an integral part of international brewing history for over 140 years and is widely recognized as the industry leader in brewing education. The institute’s alumni – which include names like Stroh and Busch – span more than 60 countries and can be found in almost every major brewery on earth.

“Our alliance with the Siebel Institute is all about DC’s ongoing response to an emerging and developing industry in Durham Region and the GTA, in particular the need for craft brewing education here at home,” said Lovisa. “We look forward to working together to effectively deliver the education Ontario microbrewers are telling us they need —training that until now was only available outside of Canada.”