CSU’s Fermentation Science and Technology Program and Whole Foods Market are teaming up with local Fort Collins breweries to create a first-of-its-kind cross-educational and collaborative initiative: BREWniversity, the first event in The Front Range Ferment event series, being held Sept. 10 at participating breweries in Fort Collins.
BREWniversity will pair students from the Fermentation Science and Technology Program with Odell Brewing Co., New Belgium Brewing, Pateros Creek Brewing Co., and Horse & Dragon Brewing Co.
The groups of students will take the knowledge and skills they’ve learned in the classroom and work with industry leaders to create experimental limited-edition beers using ingredients from Whole Foods Market in Fort Collins. Each brewery will showcase its special edition beer between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sept. 10. There will be exclusive tastings, and Whole Foods Market’s Prepared Foods Team will work with the students and brewers to craft food pairings for each of the special-edition beers. Space is limited and those interested in free tickets should visit the event website.
‘Real-world settings’
“The Fermentation Science and Technology program is excited for the awesome opportunity to apply the education we provide with some of our industry partners to craft unique brews to be sampled at the inaugural Front Range Ferment: BREWniversity event,” said Jeff Callaway, director of industry outreach for the Fermentation Science and Technology Program. “We believe this is the first of many similar types of collaborative events where FST students will be able to participate with supportive companies to demonstrate their knowledge and practice their skills in real-world settings, while being able to share the awesomeness of food and beverage fermentation with the public.”
The Front Range Ferment event series will allow students to collaborate with other companies in the fermented food vertical of the natural & organic food industry: cheese, kombucha, yogurt, etc. The series will act as an educational platform, highlight community collaboration and connect students in the CSU Fermentation Science and Technology Program with potential future employers.
“It is no secret how important the craft brewing industry is to Fort Collins, and how active in the community they are,” said Travis Harkness, who handles regional marketing and community relations for Whole Foods Market in Colorado. “Being able to partner with these companies and CSU echoes our commitment to working with and nurturing local communities. We are excited to forge this partnership with CSU’s Fermentation and Technology Program and create more events that celebrate the science of fermentation for other foods beyond beer.”
The Fermentation Science and Technology Program is in the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition in CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
