Thinking of going back to school...

[Ravenshire]

Got some fan-freaking-tastic news over the weekend. The local comm college has an associates program in fermentation that transfers directly to CSU!! That's gonna save me so much money!

[The Grand Nudger]

Don't need a degree to make your own hooch brother. That being said, sounds awesome! If you're looking into it this seriously - were you aware that many states offer lessened tax or licensing liability for micro-breweries as small agricultural start-ups? In fact, most states have a funds matching system to encourage precisely this sort of business. You should look into it (I'd look into it with you/for you....I've done it before). You can run a brewery -while- you get your degree, woithj the encouragement and assistance of your federal government and state extensions. Talk about a system at work, eh?

[Dystopia]

Putting this in the "General Science" forum for reasons I believe will become clear.

A little back story:
I'm an electrical designer working in the mid-stream oil and gas industry. While it's a good paying job with one of the best companies I've ever worked for, I'm having trouble going to work every day. Part of it is burn-out. I've been doing CADD in one shape of form every working day (and a good number of weekend days) of my life since 1993. The other part is the fact that I am contributing directly to destroying the very planet I count on for my very existence. Far more directly than driving a car or buying some petroleum products. I'm helping the bastard tear it out of the ground (fracking) transport it and refine it. Ugh!

The good news:
Colorado State University is starting a new degree program, "Fermentation Science and Technology." When I heard about this my first thought was "what the fuck?" Then I started thinking. Majoring in this, with a business minor, I could open my own micro-brewery. There's huge demand for micro-brews almost anywhere you go in North America and plenty of locations where there are very few/none at all. At the very least I could land a position with Coors, Budweiser or any of the plethora of existing micro-breweries here in the area and do a job that makes people happy instead of one where I'm helping to kill a whole planet.

The (potential) problem:
There's a ton of science required for this degree. It's a little intimidating at my age (well past 40). Lots of chemistry, biology and math. The math doesn't scare me. I've always been good w/numbers. What I know about chemistry and biology (beyond the very broad strokes) you can fit in a thimble. For the most part, I only have myself to blame since I spent a lot of High School stoned out of my mind and asleep in the back of class. Still, I managed to get an AAS in Drafting Technologies in 1993. So, is the chemistry and biology that hard? Am I freaking myself out over nothing? I really want to do this.

Maybe a name change is in my future. GalacticBrewMaster has a nice ring to it.

Well I can't really help you on those classes since I'm studying law, not at all related with maths, chemistry and biology, but I think those subjects are though on college level. However reading some manuals to give you the basis before taking the course will certainly help you, most highschool basis material that provides and sustains/precedes college is easy to learn in a few weeks (I've noticed that a semester of introduction to economics taught me more than 2 years of highschool economics - And the semester only has 3 months of classes, didn't show up for a single one and read the whole textbook containing the material, the highschool exam was easy as a piece of cake) - My advice is to do what makes you passionate, you're never old to enter college, heck I have a 80 year old taking a law degree in my university, it's never too late, just take the risks after measuring the cons.

[Ravenshire]

I know I don't need the degree for brewing, but I do need to know one end of the business from the other, hence the dual major. Besides, as I've said before, I like the learning and knowing what's really going on behind the processes.

Also, four years surrounded by hot college co-eds while learning about making beer (wine, spirits, cheeses and others)? What could possibly go wrong?!?

Thanks for the other info. I'll definitely be looking into it, especially the agricultural start-up angle. Sure would be nice to get back a little from Uncle Sam after all the years paying in.

[The Grand Nudger]

Yup, pay special attention to programs promoting local production, sustainability, and resource conservation. You may find, for example, that you don't need a liquor license to sell or serve from your establishment - provided that you grow your own hops on site. That organizations are willing to give you access to or possession of equipment in return for very rigorous practical data mining of some associated process they're developing or championing(conservation grps). Things like fermentation tanks or filtration units.

If you get creative with some of the stuff that states are offering now you'll realize that it's a built in hook. A beer garden with a living hops canopy that's actually the hops in the beer? Somebody say agritourism baby. You could create a little niche for yourself and then start shipping based on that marketing (with choice tax cuts on that shipping).

[eyemixer]

So, is the chemistry and biology that hard? Am I freaking myself out over nothing? I really want to do this.

I can't speak to the bio, but on the Chem I can. I just recently restarted a 4 year program (Mech Eng & Elec Eng dual) and I'm in the process of getting all the prereqs done (Calc & diff Eq, Physics, Chem).

The chem course at least through chem II is not bad. The intro to chem you will probably need is as much about basic science as it is chemistry.

What are significant figures, scientific notation, taking measurements with uncertainties, a lot of that. Properties of matter, reactions, etc...

Last time I took a chem class was high school (1992) and I had no issues keeping up with a little coursebook reading. A big chunk of it was just good general practices I used when I was doing (untitled) engineering work. By the time you get to Chem I you should be caught up to where you need to be, and if not it's a fast way to see if it's the major for you.

And being a student again after so long IS fun & endlessly entertaining