Brewing Innovation Minor
Where Science Meets the Art of Brewing
The Brewing Innovation Minor uses brewing as a hands-on, interdisciplinary platform to teach design thinking and the innovation process, equipping students with transferable skills to develop, prototype, and communicate impactful ideas across any field.
About the Program
Discover how science, creativity, and brewing come together to spark innovation—watch the Brewing Innovation video and see the process in action.
Why Brewing Innovation?
Students participate in collaborative, experiential brewing projects that emphasize both the scientific method and creative exploration, producing tangible results they can taste, analyze, and iterate on.
Learn Innovation by Tackling Real Deal Design Challenges
In these hands-on brewing projects, students actively design, test, and refine their beers.
Experience the Fermentation Innovation Lab
The Fermentation Innovation lab features a 1-barrel (30-gallon) electric brewhouse, smaller pilot systems for experimental brewing, fermenters ranging from 2.5 to 15 gallons with glycol temperature control, an analytical lab for process and product monitoring, a cold room for storage and conditioning, and a dedicated servery for educational tastings.
Learn the Science Behind Taste and Flavor
Through hands-on experimentation and analytical techniques, learn how scientific principles translate into sensory experience, empowering you to intentionally design and refine flavor, appearance, and overall quality.
Student Experience
Hear from students about their experience in the Brewing Innovation Minor.
Daela Montgomery
MAJOR: BIOLOGY
"Perhaps the most important lesson I learned brewing beers is how to adapt. This innovative minor taught me how to think creatively about science in ways I wouldn’t have been able to learn elsewhere, and I got to turn all my lessons into a tangible product I could share with others. ”
Hailey Sandler
MAJOR: Business Admin
"I have genuinely enjoyed my time in the BRIN minor. I have learned so much, and love to share any piece of beer knowledge to anyone who will listen.”
John Schwindt
MAJOR: Business Admin
"Brewing innovation has provided me an opportunity to explore modern marketing and experimental design through a concept that I’m passionate about.”
Ariel Eisen
MAJOR: Journalism
"BRIN has expanded my world and allowed me to combine creativity and science into one. It’s a passion I didn’t know I had but will practice for the rest of my life.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about the Brewing Innovation minor.
Can I take BRIN 221 if I can't/won't complete the minor?
No. Because of limited capacity and high demand, BRIN 221 is reserved for students who have applied to the minor and are admitted and committed to completing the entire BRIN minor course sequence. We are hoping to offer a stand-alone course option in future years.
Who can apply to the minor?
Any student who has completed at least one academic year at university and has a minimum of four academic terms remaining until degree completion. The course sequence runs from Spring of one year through Spring of the following academic year.
Do I have to be over 21 to participate in the minor?
No. The state of Oregon allows students who are 18 years or older to participate, including tasting beers, in our courses. We expect all participants in the program to act responsibly and adhere to all course policies.
What obligations will I have outside the scheduled class sessions?
The brewing process takes longer than can be accommodated in a two-hour class. For each course there is at least one brew session (three sessions for BRIN 322) conducted on Friday that is about five hours long. Students with conflicts will need to make arrangements to resolve those conflicts so they can participate. Brew Days are an essential part of the minor and attendance is both expected and required. Dates and times are posted on the Courses page. In addition to brew days, there will be open lab periods throughout the week where you will need to prepare materials and/or check the progress of your fermentations. We will work with you to schedule open labs that accommodate your schedule.
How can I apply?
Attend an info session or watch the video recording of the most recent info session, or contact the BRIN advisor at brewinginnovation@uoregon.edu. See the Apply page for more details.
How does the selection process work?
There will be an application process each year. Applications will be due in the winter term for admission to the cohort starting in spring term each year. Please see the Apply page to review application and admission requirements.
What is the lab capacity? Course capacity?
All brewing activities will take place in the Fermentation Innovation Lab. Given the hands-on nature of the brewing intensive courses and the limitations inherent to the brewing equipment, enrollment will be limited.
I am not a science major. Can I still join the minor?
Yes! The minor is designed to bring together students from a wide range of disciplines to work in interdisciplinary teams and gain hands-on innovation experience. Students from any major are encouraged to apply. Science concepts and lab skills are taught within the program and are designed to be accessible to students from all academic backgrounds.
What's the deal with electives?
The intention of the minor is that you can use two courses that you normally take as part of your major to complete the elective requirements. Students will choose from a curated list of elective courses. With a few exceptions, you won't have the prerequisites or access to some courses outside your major — so you should plan to use courses within your major as electives. If you have questions or concerns about electives, please discuss those with the BRIN advisor at BrewingInnovation@uoregon.edu.
Do I need previous experience with beer or brewing?
No. Through the courses in the minor, we will help you develop your abilities to taste and evaluate beers and learn basic and advanced brewing techniques.
Will the minor include other fermentable things, along with beer and brewing?
The focus is on beer and brewing in part because the relatively short timeframe for brewing (as little as two to three weeks) and the nearly infinite variations possible through choice of ingredients and recipe make brewing a unique innovation platform. That being said, inspiration for brewing comes from many sources — food, wine, and coffee to name a few.
Why did the Knight Campus develop this minor?
A primary goal of the Knight Campus is to advance innovation training and the translation of new ideas to society. We believe that innovation training is best done in a context — and beer and brewing provide such a context. Brewing is arguably one of humanity's oldest forms of innovation, dating back at least 13,000 years, and remains one of the most innovative industries today. The courses within the minor will help students develop innovation skills that are transferable to a variety of contexts in addition to brewing.
Why should I pursue this minor?
This minor aims to bring together students from a variety of disciplinary backgrounds in a multidisciplinary context for innovation. It will provide students an awesome opportunity to apply their expertise in science, communication, history, entrepreneurship, and design within an applied context in partnership with students from other disciplines. What you learn about innovation — for example, the practice of design thinking — will be applicable throughout your life and career.
Will this minor prepare me for a role in the brewing industry?
Maybe, but perhaps not how you think it will. Of course, you will learn advanced brewing techniques and how to innovate in this space. As a result, you may be in a position to contribute to the brewing industry by bringing creative new ideas to it. However, our goal is not to make you a professional brewer, but to help you hone your skills as an innovator through the lens of beer and brewing. If your goal is to become a professional brewer, there may be other programs that are a better fit to help you achieve that goal.
Still Have Questions?
Our program advisors are here to help. Contact us to learn more about the Brewing Innovation minor: brewinginnovation@uoregon.edu
Upcoming Events
Connect with us at one of our upcoming events.
Info Session
5:00 PM – 6:30 PM PST
Virtual via Zoom
Hear from Knight Campus alumni about their career journeys and get your questions answered.
Brewing Showcase
3:00 PM – 5:00 PM PST
Knight Campus, Room 150
Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring cutting-edge genomics research.
Eugene Beer Week
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM PST
Virtual via Zoom
Learn about the application process, funding, and meet faculty and students.
News and Events
Explore the latest stories, events, and achievements across our program.
Ready to Start Innovating?
Explore the Brewing Innovation Minor course sequence, learn more about the program by reading through our frequently asked questions and apply for the next cohort.