Four glasses of beer in varying colors, arranged side by side on a wooden surface.

Summer Abroad Europe

Brewing and Beer

Germany, Belgium

  • Dates – June 20–July 17, 2027
  • Max Enrollment – 25
  • Taught In – English
  • Prerequisites – No
  • Academic Area – Food Science & Technology

Program Overview

Ready to take your passion for brewing beyond the classroom? This immersive program takes you on an unforgettable journey through some of the world's most legendary beer destinations—Munich, Germany, and Leuven, Belgium—where brewing science meets centuries of cultural history. You'll get hands-on experience exploring how key ingredients like barley and hops shape brewing efficiency, flavor, and quality, all while crafting brews of your own alongside master brewers in historic breweries that have helped define the craft. Learning directly from internationally recognized experts, you'll pick up techniques, insights, and industry knowledge you can't get anywhere else. As you travel through storied cities and working breweries, you'll discover how beer has shaped governments, religions, and cultures for centuries—all while earning UC Davis credit in a region where history and fermentation are inseparable.

Program Contacts

Program Highlights

The program will include visits to culturally significant breweries, research centers, and hop fields in Germany and Belgium, including:

  • Weihenstephan – Brew your own beer at the world's oldest brewery, founded in Germany in 1040—a working piece of living history. 
  • Brasserie Cantillon – Step into a traditional Brussels brewing house founded in 1900, home to the last lambic brewery in the city. 
  • Duvel – Get an inside look at an iconic, family-owned brand exported to over 40 countries. 
  • Sint-Sixtus Trappist Monastery – Tour the storied home of Westvleteren, one of the world's few authentic Trappist beers. 
  • Poperinge Hop Fields – Walk the fields that supply roughly 85% of Belgium's hops, the source of the ingredient that gives Belgian beer its signature character.

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Tags

Summer Abroad Germany Belgium Study Abroad Food Science and Technology