Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - BISC 373 D100

Brewing Science (3)

Class Number: 3583

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 9:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 16, 2025
    Wed, 8:30–11:30 a.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    60 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

This interdisciplinary course exposes students to the science and art of brewing, including the ingredients and process of brewing. Discussion of malting, barley and hop cultivation, and yeast fermentation, as it relates to the brewing process, as well as business, advertising, marketing of beer will be included. Students may not count this course toward their biological science honours, major, or minor requirements. Breadth-Science.

COURSE DETAILS:

Course Prerequisites: Students should have completed a minimum of 60 credit hours of course-work from a post-secondary institution (university/college)

Course Details:

This course will provide students with a broad understanding of the science of brewing. As an introduction, the history of brewing and its impact on society and discovery of the brewing process will be discussed. This will be followed by a review of the brewing ingredients, the processes that are involved, and the various inputs required. The process of malting and fermentation will be discussed in detail. The by-products of the brewing process and their uses will be presented. Aspects of plant biology and cultivation, biochemistry, and yeast microbiology as it relates to the brewing process will be presented.

There will be several guest lectures on the selection of high-quality ingredients, packaging, marketing and management of products derived from the brewing process.

Outline of Topics:

Introduction and history of brewing

Global brewing industry – statistics

Microbreweries

Brewing ingredients

The malting process

The fermentation process

Chemical conversions and measurements

Quality aspects of brewing

Packaging and marketing

Business planning

Alcohol, health and society




Grading

  • Group discussion 25%
  • Personal project 40%
  • Midterm, quizzes, final exam 35%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

No textbook

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.