Kaylyn Kirkpatrick is the Technical Brewing Projects Coordinator for the Brewers Association (BA). Before starting at the BA, Kaylyn managed the Cornell University Brewing Extension program, which provides analytical lab services, educational content, and brewing resources to the craft beer community in New York State. Kaylyn earned her Bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Colorado State University and a Master’s degree in food science from Oregon State University, where she studied in the Brewing Science Lab. She has a brewing and distilling diploma from the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in London and previously worked as a beer chemist at New Belgium Brewing Co. in Fort Collins, Colorado.
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Overview and Courses
The craft brewing industry provides more than 150,000 jobs in the United States alone and has been rapidly expanding for several years now. Whether you’re looking to enter this growing field or are a home brewer, this certificate program will give you the skills you need to create and refine your own beer recipe.
Throughout this program, you will have the opportunity to walk through a hands-on exploration of the four main ingredients used in beer production and their impact on the final product. This in-depth look at each ingredient includes the chemistry and calculations needed to determine the best combination and ratios of ingredients for brewing. You will investigate how malt, hops, yeast, and water impact the aroma and flavor of your beer then determine how to achieve your desired recipe and style. After completing this program, you will be well equipped with the expertise and tools to develop, brew, and refine craft beer.
Note: You will be asked to purchase beer ingredients and other materials for various activities and projects before your courses begin. This may amount to around $100. You will receive a full list of materials at the time of enrollment.
Familiarity with high school-level chemistry, advanced high school-level algebra, and basic calculations will help you be successful in this program.
Course list
It is often said that malt is the soul of beer, and it plays an important role as the source of nutrients and sugars that carry forward into fermentation and your finished product. Selecting the right malt and managing the malt quality are key to a good finished beer. In this course, you will explore different malts and their impact on the wort. You'll then read and interpret malt Certificates of Analysis so that you can choose and purchase the correct malt for each recipe you create. By the end of this course, you'll be better prepared to select the ideal malts to optimize your beer recipe.
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View Course Details- Nov 12, 2025
- Jan 7, 2026
- Mar 4, 2026
- Apr 29, 2026
- Jun 24, 2026
- Aug 19, 2026
- Oct 14, 2026
Hops are a key ingredient that impacts finished beer aroma and flavor, and it's crucial to be able to differentiate among hop varieties. In this course, you will analyze different hop varieties and the unique chemistry they bring to your beer. You will work through calculations to reach the desired level of bitterness and aroma, and explore how different brewery processes can impact a finished beer. By the end of this course, you will be able to use hops to get closer to your desired aroma and flavor.
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View Course Details- Nov 26, 2025
- Jan 21, 2026
- Mar 18, 2026
- May 13, 2026
- Jul 8, 2026
- Sep 2, 2026
- Oct 28, 2026
For consistent excellence in your final beer, you need to successfully manage yeast and microorganisms during fermentation. In this course, you will consider the role of yeast in your beer recipe and how to manage fermentation to produce your desired flavor profile. You'll identify the conditions needed to manage yeast for healthy production and practice evaluating yeast health ahead of fermentation. Finally, you will fine-tune yeast pitching rates and develop the skills to troubleshoot yeast-related issues revealed during fermentation. With this experience, you'll be better positioned to manage the health and vitality of your yeast and to achieve your final beer flavor goals.
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View Course Details- Oct 15, 2025
- Dec 10, 2025
- Feb 4, 2026
- Apr 1, 2026
- May 27, 2026
- Jul 22, 2026
- Sep 16, 2026
Water in beer production has a role in both the flavor of the finished beer and the efficiency of production. The use of water in brewing necessitates practices centered around sustainability. This course focuses on water as an ingredient and how to evaluate its chemical makeup in order to create the water profile that's best for your recipe. In this course, you'll recognize sustainable water sources, what they offer and why they matter, and evaluate your water supply for use as brew water. You will match brew water profiles to beer styles and flavors, then adjust the water composition to meet your recipe requirements.
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View Course Details- Oct 29, 2025
- Feb 18, 2026
- Apr 15, 2026
- Jun 10, 2026
- Aug 5, 2026
- Sep 30, 2026
- Nov 25, 2026
It is time to get your recipe ready for production! In this course, you will explore how production choices influence your beer recipe and outcomes. You'll examine the impact of ingredient interplay during the brewing process, including process aids and nontraditional sources of flavor. The focus is on the chemical processes and reactions that may be harnessed to promote and retain the target characteristics of your beer. Upon completing this course, you'll be ready to refine the production process to manifest your recipe goals.
You are required to have completed the following courses or have equivalent experience before taking this course:
- Malt Evaluation
- Hops Flavor Chemistry
- Yeast and Fermentation
- Water Profiles
View Course Start Dates Hide Course Start Dates
View Course Details- Nov 12, 2025
- Jan 7, 2026
- Mar 4, 2026
- Apr 29, 2026
- Jun 24, 2026
- Aug 19, 2026
- Oct 14, 2026
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How It Works
Format
All Online
Time Commitment
2.5 months with 3-5 hours of study per week
Cost
$1,999
Learn From Top Minds
Courses are developed by Cornell faculty.
Power Your Career
Gain today’s most in-demand skills to stand apart.
Flexibility Fits Your Life
Learn on your schedule without stepping out of your job.
Small-class Experience
Participate in facilitated discussions and live sessions with industry peers.
Real-world Projects
Apply learnings and insights to your work to make an impact right away.
Personalized Feedback
Enjoy meaningful feedback on assignments from expert facilitators.
Format
All Online
Time Commitment
2.5 months with 3-5 hours of study per week
Cost
$1,999
Learn From Top Minds
Courses are developed by Cornell faculty.
Power Your Career
Gain today’s most in-demand skills to stand apart.
Flexibility Fits Your Life
Learn on your schedule without stepping out of your job.
Small-class Experience
Participate in facilitated discussions and live sessions with industry peers.
Real-world Projects
Apply learnings and insights to your work to make an impact right away.
Personalized Feedback
Enjoy meaningful feedback on assignments from expert facilitators.
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Faculty Author
Kaylyn Kirkpatrick
Visiting Lecturer
Cornell University
Visiting Lecturer, Cornell University
Key Course Takeaways
- Investigate the characteristics of different malts to determine which is best for your recipe and beer style
- Explore the properties of hops and determine their impact on beer aroma and flavor
- Analyze the yeasts and microorganisms used in beer fermentation to achieve the desired flavor profile
- Evaluate water and its chemical makeup to create the appropriate water profile for your recipe
- Examine the nuances of ingredient interplay during the brewing process to refine the production of your recipe
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Not ready to enroll but want to learn more? Download the certificate brochure to review program details.
What You'll Earn
- Craft Brewing Certificate from Cornell CALS
- 50 Professional Development Hours (5 CEUs)
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Hear eCornell students share their stories.
Who Should Enroll
- Homebrewers and hobbyists
- Brewery startups
- Equipment vendors
- Malt suppliers
- Homebrew retailers
- Brewery apprentices and career starters
- Brewery employees looking to expand their knowledge
Explore Related Programs
“I love making beer. This course really took my understanding of the process to another level.”
Jamie M.
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Purchase Options
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Craft Brewing
| Select Payment Method | Cost |
|---|---|
| $1,999 | |
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