UC Davis brewing guru Charlie Bamforth has put his expertise and engaging presence online in a four-course series available through UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education (formerly UC Davis Extension).

“The Pope of Foam’s” Beer Quality Series comprises the university’s first online brewing courses. They cover foam (of course!), flavor, freshness, and color and quality.

Each course has a different starting date and runs for 12 weeks, and students proceed at their own pace through the modules. Enrollment is permitted up to four weeks after the starting date, but the end date remains the same: 12 weeks after the starting date.

Here are the start dates:

• “Beer Quality: Foam” — May 21
• “Beer Quality: Flavor” — July 2
• “Beer Quality: Freshness” — Aug. 6
• “Beer Quality: Color and Clarity” — Oct. 1

Bamforth is the Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences in the Department of Food Science and Technology, and a lead instructor in Continuing and Professional Education’s brewing program. Students continually rate him as one of the university’s top instructors.

“The success or failure of any beer is hugely dependent on its perceived quality: what it looks like, what it tastes like,” Bamforth said. “In these courses, you’ll learn how to achieve great beer every time.”

The fee for each course is $385. More information and the enrollment links are online.

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