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

Summer Abroad Europe

Brewing and Beer

Belgium, Germany

  • Dates – TBD
  • Max Enrollment – 30
  • Taught In – English
  • Prerequisites – Yes
  • 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, Berlin and Belgium—where brewing science meets rich cultural history. Along the way, you’ll get hands-on experience exploring how key ingredients like barley and hops influence brewing efficiency, flavor and quality, while even crafting brews of your own. You’ll learn directly from internationally recognized brewing experts who will share their techniques, insights and industry knowledge. As you travel through historic breweries and vibrant cities, you’ll discover how beer has shaped governments, religions and cultures for centuries while crafting your own beers and 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 – The world’s oldest brewery, founded in Germany in 1040.
  • BarthHaas Hop Processing (Nuremberg) – Famous for producing some of the world’s most historically significant and popular hop varieties.
  • Versuchs- und Lehranstalt für Brauerei (VLB) Berlin – Tour a center dedicated to research, education, and services for brewing and malting since 1883.
  • Brauhaus Früh am Dom – The second-largest brewery pub in Germany, known for serving Kölsch from traditional wooden barrels.
  • Brasserie Cantillon – A traditional brewing house in Brussels founded in 1900, featuring the last lambic brewery in Brussels.
  • Duvel – An iconic family-owned brand exported to over 40 countries.
  • Sint-Sixtus Trappist Monastery – Brewers of Westvleteren beer, one of the authentic Trappist beers.
  • Poperinge Hop Fields – The source of approximately 85% of Belgium’s hops.

Each visit will provide detailed insight into raw materials, brewing techniques, product sampling, and opportunities to learn directly from professional brewers.

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Tags

Summer Abroad Germany Belgium Study Abroad Food Science and Technology