Many associate university students as youngin’s who just go out and get drunk at any chance they get, without actually getting anything out of their education. But the Brewniversity at The Curious Squire in Adelaide have set out to prove that beer and education can not only coexist, but go hand in hand too. Having commenced on June 18th, these hour long classes have already taken off in a big way. I spoke with The Curious Squire’s owner Antony Tropeano about these classes and what they can provide beer enthusiasts.
1. How did you come up with the idea of the Brewniversity? Why did you feel the need to start it for?
As part of The Curious Squire, we had beer education for myself and the managers and the frontline staff. We want to be able to offer a product that’s somewhat different so our staff knew what they’re talking about. People are interested in finding out about the beer, all things related to beer. It’s been quite a learning process, and a great opportunity to share that information with customers, and the general public as well. Especially with craft beer growing in past 18 months, there’s more variety on offer. It teaches how brewers make beer, how they offer hundreds of varieties on offer.
2. What do you think is the appeal to beer enthusiasts of these classes?
I think we’re still in very early stages. The first class we held, called Beer 101, is really aimed at people who don’t know anything about beer at all, the basics really. Classes 201 and 301, those classes will go more into specific areas of beer making and particular ingredients of the beer. It’ll lead to probably the 4th or 5th class in the series that appeal to people more into beer. A five class session, we’ll really get into the finer details of beer making and home brewing. People who are already into beer won’t get much out of the first class, but more in the latter classes.
3. Do you have a personal favourite topic from the Brewniversity’s subjects? They all seem like they would be very detailed.
For me, what I got out of it was undertaking the training was the process of how to make beer. I was quite obvilious, how intricate a process it is, and why. I thought wine making was a lexy special process, but what goes into making beer I was very surprised. Again, I’m only just learning from the second and third classes, I wasn’t really a beer nut, it’s a whole new experience for me.
4. What is your favourite beer?
(Laughs) Officially, the James Squire beer amber ale, for our venue. It’ my favourite, been drinking it for 7-8 years.
5. How many people attended the first Brewniversity class back in June?
20-28. We actually had to cap it at 22 from a logistics point of view, and they had room to move. We allowed the extra 4, and we’re booked out for the next Beer 101 session. With the response we’ve had, the staff have really gotten behind it as well, they’re really involved in that process. As they talk to people in the venue, you can’t help but get interested in it.
6. What sort of feedback did you get from them about the Brewniversity? Being aimed at beer lovers, I’d imagine they would’ve had a great night.
In that first class, we drove all those numbers through the staff with advertising to a deverse demographic, and had people knowlegeble about beer. They didn’t get much out they didn’t already know, and people who didn’t know but liked beer got a lot out of it. Everyone enjoyed coming together for the experience of learning about beer and tasting the food. It’s a good value session. For $25, you get your beer and food, and have a good 90 minute session. The majority of the people stayed and kept drinking.
7. Do you feel that classes like these will catch on? I can imagine there being many imitators soon to follow.
With the response we’ve had, we’re in the process of putting together a more polished product that we’re eventually going ot offer to other venues. I think it will, the way I feel it’s going now, it may take on a life of its own, provided we have the right people in the organisation and the venue, these sessions can take place around Australia.
The Brewniversity runs every six weeks at The Curious Squire, and the next class will take place on Tuesday July 30 at 6:30pm.
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