Responding to the explosion of breweries in Central Virginia, the University of Richmond will begin offering this fall a yearlong program to train professional brewers.

The private university, founded in 1830 by Baptists, is teaming up with 10 area beer companies to provide the new certificate program. The class will start in October in UR’s School of Profes- sional and Continuing Studies (SPCS), according to UR spokeswoman Cynthia Price.

“This program is the first of its kind in the Richmond area, and as far as we know, the state,” said Tom Parfitt, SPCS senior program manager. “This program is not about home brewing. It’s designed for individuals who want to start their own craft beer business or get a job at a brewery.”

He said students will learn the craft brewing business, from the procurement of raw materials to the proper handling, processing, packaging and distribution of the final product. The certifica- tion will include 11 different classes, field experiences and a one-month, 20-hour internship.

Mr. Parfitt said UR’s partners, who see this as creating a pipeline to secure trained personnel, include Hardywood Park Craft Brewery, Strangeways Brewery, Triple Crossing Brewery, The Answer Brewpub, Old Bust Head Brewing Company, Midnight Brewery, Steam Bell Beer Works, Copper Fox Distillery, Lickinghole Creek Farm and Rusty Beaver Brewery.

Details: http://spcs.richmond.edu/noncredit/careers/beer-brewer or call (804) 287-6572.