Parents, if you have a high school senior or a college-age student and they tell you (out of the blue) that they want to start taking classes at Colorado State University, make sure you do a little research before you say "Sure"!

It's common knowledge that beer and college go together. But now one university has taken the "beer/college" relationship to the next level. Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, is now offering a major in BEER.

Realizing the growing popularity of the craft beer brewing industry, Colorado State University is quick to point out that the study of beer is a lot more than just hops, yeast and a good pizza.

Before the students even get to the stage of making their own beverage, they must take classes in biochemistry, microbiology, physics and organic chemistry. Students that are majoring in Beer all admit that "making beer is fun and exciting, but also a lot of hard work."

Beer sales continue to increase in the United States with annual sales about $101 billion. Smaller craft breweries also have some pretty impressive numbers. Today the craft beer market is $19.6 billion strong, even though they can boast of a growth of about 22 percent.

But craft beer breweries are seeing the need for the graduating seniors that have majored in Beer. That's why at least one craft beer brewery has even made a $1 million donation to the program at Colorado State University to help train the future beer makers of America.

I know a few parents may have taken what they liked to call "Beer 101" in college, but I would bet there were no diplomas handed out for those courses! Either way, the art of beer making is here to stay and to quote Benjamin Franklin, "Beer is proof that God...wants us to be happy."

 

 

 

 

 

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