Careers: Brewing and Wine Making
One of the more popular and less conventional fields of study at community colleges today is a degree in beer crafting or winemaking.
- While these programs may not seem like paths to lucrative professions on the surface, the truth is that the wine and beer industry is a booming one in the U.S. and beyond.
- Check out these community colleges that offer training in a long-standing craft that continues to be highly sought after today.
Canva generated this photo of a craft brewery.
The Booming Business of Beer Crafting
According to a report at Blue Ridge Now, craft beer is a U.S. industry that is growing by leaps and bounds.
- The article cites numbers from the Brewers Association that show the $26.8 billion industry grew to 27 percent of the $100 billion beer market in 2021.
- The total number of craft breweries in 2021 is 9,118.
“I think it’s a great idea for a school to start this kind of program,” Andy Cubbin, co-owner and head brewer at Southern Appalachian Brewery, told Blue Ridge Now. “I think [the craft beer industry] is growing about 15 or 16 percent a year.”
The Community College Times reported earlier this year that providing a degree program in beer crafting gives community colleges another avenue to do what they do best, namely, offer training for employment opportunities right in their neighborhoods.