Explore beer's scientific foundations through brewing chemistry, ingredient profiles, and fermentation processes that shape unique flavors and aromas.
Explore beer's scientific foundations through brewing chemistry, ingredient profiles, and fermentation processes that shape unique flavors and aromas.
This comprehensive course explores the science underlying beer production through 12 detailed modules. Led by academic scientists and brewmasters, students will delve into the chemistry and biochemistry of brewing processes. The course features exclusive insights from Belgian breweries and expert talks from renowned academics and industry professionals. Students learn about the four basic beer ingredients, processing steps in malting and brewing, key biochemical reactions, major beer styles, factors affecting beer quality, and sensory analysis techniques. The course combines theoretical knowledge with practical applications, offering a unique blend of academic expertise and industry insights. Whether you're a brewing enthusiast or professional seeking to deepen your understanding, this course provides a thorough foundation in brewing science.
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Instructors:
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English
What you'll learn
Explain the importance of the 4 basic ingredients of beer in shaping taste and aroma
Understand different processing steps in malting and beer brewing
Understand key biochemical reactions during brewing process
Recognize and describe main beer styles and brewing process contributions
Identify factors affecting beer identity quality and stability
Carry out basic sensory analyses of beers and identify key flavors
Skills you'll gain
This course includes:
PreRecorded video
Graded assignments, exams
Access on Mobile, Tablet, Desktop
Limited Access access
Shareable certificate
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There are 11 modules in this course
This comprehensive brewing science course covers the complete beer production process, from raw ingredients to final product. Students learn about the four main ingredients (malt, water, hops, and yeast) and their impact on beer characteristics. The curriculum explores malting processes, water chemistry, hop varieties, yeast metabolism, and fermentation biochemistry. Advanced topics include filtration techniques, packaging methods, quality control, and sensory evaluation. The course features expert insights from renowned brewmasters and academics, combining theoretical knowledge with practical industry applications. Special attention is given to biochemical reactions during brewing, factors affecting beer stability, and professional tasting techniques.
History and Overview of the brewing process
Module 1
Beer ingredients: Malt
Module 2
Beer ingredients: Water
Module 3
Beer ingredients: Hops and Spices
Module 4
The Brewing Process
Module 6
Fermentation
Module 7
Filtration and Packaging
Module 8
Beer Quality and Stability
Module 9
Beer Assessment and Tasting
Module 10
Final Exam
Module 11
Fee Structure
Instructors

1 Course
Brewing Science and Innovation Expert
Stijn Mertens has established himself as a prominent figure in brewing science and technology, combining academic excellence with industrial expertise. After receiving his MSc in Bioscience Engineering from KU Leuven in 2013, where he earned the Royal Society of Brewing Schools' annual thesis prize, he pursued his PhD at the VIB-KU Leuven lab for Systems Biology under Kevin Verstrepen's leadership. His doctoral research focused on expanding the aromatic profile of lager yeast, during which he also served as head brewer of the university's 5hL pilot brewery. His academic contributions include co-developing the acclaimed MOOC "Beer: The Science of Brewing" at KU Leuven, which bridges fundamental scientific concepts with practical brewing applications and provides insights into Belgium's iconic breweries. The course serves as a preparatory program for KU Leuven's postgraduate program in Malting and Brewing Sciences. Following his postdoctoral research managing industrial projects and the pilot brewery at the Verstrepen lab, he transitioned to Anheuser-Busch InBev (AB InBev) in December 2019 as a Global Process Development Specialist, where he applies his extensive brewing knowledge to industrial-scale production.

1 Course
Yeast Biology and Brewing Science Expert
Karin Voordeckers has established herself as a prominent scientist in yeast research and brewing sciences at KU Leuven. After earning her MSc in Biochemistry from KU Leuven in 2005, she completed her PhD in 2009 under Johan Thevelein's supervision, focusing on yeast nutrient response mechanisms. Her subsequent work at the VIB-KU Leuven Lab for Systems Biology, led by Kevin Verstrepen, has centered on experimental evolution and yeast adaptation to alcohol stress. Currently, she serves as a Staff Scientist at VIB and coordinates multiple research projects, with her work garnering over 2,700 citations. She plays a pivotal role in brewing education as the program coordinator of KU Leuven's postgraduate program in Malting and Brewing Sciences, where she bridges fundamental yeast research with practical brewing applications. Her expertise extends to machine learning applications in brewing science, contributing to groundbreaking research that uses AI to predict and improve beer flavors. She has also been instrumental in developing the popular MOOC "Beer: The Science of Brewing," which has attracted over 24,000 students and combines academic insights with practical brewing knowledge.
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